Skip to main content

Full text of "Histories of the several regiments and battalions from North Carolina, in the great war 1861-'65"

See other formats 


(fforneU  Uttiuctaitg  ffiibtarg 

Stt^aca,  S^etu  ^atk 


THE  JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

COLLECTION 

CIVIL  WAR  LITERATURE 


THE   GIFT  OF 

JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

CLASS  OF    1889 

1919 


The  date  shows  when  this  volume  was  taken, 

Torenev  this  book- cony  th^  eall  No/andgive  to      ' 
the  librarian.  ^ 

I ■  V 

" , ..„...'...... HOME   USE  RULES 

/^  All  Books  subject  to  recall 

All  borrowers  must  regis- 

ter  in  the  library  to  borrow    ^ 

books  for  home  use. 
' All   books   must   be   re- 
turned  at    end   of^  college 

"•"" year    for     inspection     and 

-repairs. 

Limited  books  must  be 

returned    within    the   four 

week  limit  and  not  renewed. 

■••■■; 'Students  must  return  all 

books  beforp  leaving  town. 

' Officers  should  arrange  for 

the  return  of  books  wanted 
during  their  absence  from 

town. 

Volumes    of    periodicals 

and  of  pamphlets  are  held 

in  the  library  as  much  as 
possible.    For  special  pur- 
poses they  are  given  out  for 
a  limited  time. 

Borrowers  stould  not  use 

their  library  privileges  for 

r ' the  benefit  of  other  persons. 

TBooks   of   special    value 

and  gift  books,     when  the 

_ giver    wishes    it,    are    not 

allowed  to  circulate. 
Readers  are  asked  to  re- 
port    all    cases    of    books 
"' marked  or  mutilated. 

Po  not  deface  books  by  marks  and  writing. 


CORNELL  UNIVERSTY  LIBRARY 


3   1924  092  908  544 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  tiiis  bool<  is  in 
tine  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924092908544 


HISTORIES 


SEVERAL  REGIMENTS  AND  BATTALIONS 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


GREAT  WAR  1861 -'65. 


WRITTEN  BT  nEMBERS  OF  THE  RESFECTIVE  COnHANDS 


EDITED   BY 

WALTER  CLARK, 

(Lieut. -Colonel  Seventieth  Regiment  N.  C.  T.  ) 


VOL.  II. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  STATE. 


NASH  BEOTHERS, 

BOOK   AND  JOB  PRINTEBS, 

GOLDSBOBO,    N.    C. 


'^ 


C0NTE/1TS. 


PAGE. 

Seventeenth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant.  WUeon  G.  Lamb 1 

Eighteenth  Regiment,  by  Jid^utant  WiUianL  H.  McLaurin 16 

Eighteenth  Regiment,  by  Piirale  Thomas  H.  SuUon 65 

Nineteenth  Regiment,  (Second  Cav.)  by  Captain  W.  A.  Oraham.  . .  79 
Nineteenth   Rbqiment,    (Second  Oav.  )  by  Brigadier- General  Wil- 
liam P.   Roberts 99 

Twentieth  Regiment,  by  Brigadier-Oeneral  Thomas  F.  Toon Ill 

Twenty-First  Regiment,  by  Major  James  F.  Beall 129 

Twenty-First  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Powers     147 

Twenty-Second  Regiment,  by  Adjutant  Oraham  Daves  161 

Twenty-Thiud  Regiment,  by  Captain  V.  E.  Turner  and  Sergeant  H. 

a  Wall 181 

Twenty-Fourth  Regiment,  by  Coi-poral  W.  N.  Rose 269 

Twenty-Fifth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  Oarland  S.  Ferguson 291 

Twenty-Sixth  Regiment,  by  Assistant  Surgeon  Oeorge  0.   Underwood  303 

Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  by  Captain  James  A.  Graham 425 

Twenty-Eighth  Regiment,  by  Brigadier- General  J.  H.  Lane 465 

TwENTY-NiNTtt  Regiment,  by  Brigadier-Oeneral  Robert  B.  Vance....  485 

Thirtieth  Regiment,  by  Colonel  P.  M.  Parker 495 

Thirty-First  Regiment,  by  Adjutant  E.  K.  Bryan  and  Sergeant  E. 

H.  Meadows 507 

Thirty-Second  Regiment,  by  Private  Henry  A.  London 521 

Thirty-Third  Regiment,  by  Major  J.  A.   Weston 537 

Thirty-Fourth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  T.  D.  Liattimore 581 

Thirty-Fifth  Regiment,  by  Captain  William  H.  8.  Burgioyn  591 

Thirty-Sixth  Regiment,  (Second  Art.  )  by  Colonel  William  Lamb  639 

Thirty-Seventh    Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  Oclavius  A.   Wiggins....  658 

Thirty-Eighth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant- Colonel  Oeorge  W.  Flowers  675 

Thirty-Ninth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  Theo.  F.  Davidson 699 

Thirty-Ninth  Regiment,  by  Lieutenant  John  M.  Davidson 727 

Fortieth  Regiment  (Third  Art.),  by  Sergeant  T.  C.  Davis 745 

Forty-First  Regiment  (Third  Cav.),  by  Sergeant  Joshua  B.  Hill..  767 

Forty-Second  Regiment,  by  Major  T.  J.  Brown 789 


SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 


1.  William  F.  Martin,  Colonel. 

2.  John  C.  Lamb,  Lieut.-Colonel, 

3.  Wilson  G.  Lamb,  ad  Lieut.,  Co.  F. 


4.    Gilbert  Elliott,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt. 
(Builder  of  the  "Albemarle.") 


SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 


By  WILSON  G.   LAMB,  Second  Lieut.  Company  F. 


With  the  exception  of  two  companies  garrisoning  Fort  Bar- 
tow on  Roanoke  Island,  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  cap- 
tured at  Fort  Hatteras  on  the  27th  of  August,  1861,  by  the 
United  States  naval  and  land  forces,  commanded  respectively 
by  Commodore  Stringliam  and  General  B.  F.  Butler.  The 
Seventeenth  Regiment  was  officered  as  follows: 

W.  F.  Maetiw,  Colonel. 

Geokge  W.  Johnson,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Heney  a.  Gilliam,  Major. 

Gilbert  Elliott,  Adjutant. 

John  S.  Dancy,  Quartermaster. 

L.  D.  Staeke,  Commissary. 

Wyatt  M.  Beown,  Surgeon. 

Fort  Clark,  commanded  by  Captain  John  C.  Lamb,  a  mile 
up  the  beach,  and  Fort  Hatteras,  near  the  inlet,  under  the  im- 
mediate command  of  Colonel  Martin,  constituted  the  defenses 
of  Hatteras  Inlet.  The  garrison,  numbering  less  than  1,000 
men,  was  attacked  by  the  overwhelming  land  and  naval  forces 
of  the  Federals,  and  after  an  heroic  defense  surrendered  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Shortly  thereafter  the  enemy,  under  Gen- 
eral Burnside,  moved  upon  Roanoke  Island.  The  two  com- 
panies constituting  the  balance  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  gar- 
risoned Fort  Bartow,  and,  under  the  splendid  leadership  of 
Captain  Fearing  and  Lieutenant  C.  G.  Elliott,  the  latter  af- 
terwards the  gallant  and  efficient  Adjutant  General  to  Gen- 
erals Martin  and  Kirkland,  succeeded  by  the  accurate  fire  of 
their  guns  in  keeping  back  the  Federal  fleet,  and  only  surren- 
dered after  the  landing  of  the  Federal  troops  upon  another 
part  of  the  island,  pushing  back  the  Confederates  under 


2  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Colonel  Shaw,  and  completely  flanking  the  fort.  I  am  in- 
debted to  Captain  C.  G.  Elliott  for  an  incident  of  this  bat- 
tle which  is  worthy  of  being  preserved.     He  writes : 

"During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Bartow  a  cannon  shot 
cut  down  the  flag-staff.  Instantly  Lieutenant  Thomas  H. 
Gilliam  sprang  upon  the  parapet,  amid  the  storm  of  shot  and 
shell,  and  firmly  planted  the  beautiful  silk  color  of  the  John 
Harvey  Giiards  which  waved  until  the  order  to  retire  was  re- 
ceived." An  historical  parallel  to  the  brave  act  of  Sergeant 
Jasper  at  Fort  Moultrie. 

Thus  the  whole  regiment  in  these  two  engagements  be- 
came prisoners  of  Avar.  After  being  exchanged,  the  Seventh 
Volunteers  (as  it  was  first  called)  was  re-organized  at  Camp 
Mangum  and  became  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  N.  C.  T. 

The  organization  was  as  follows : 

Colonel,  W.  F.  Martin;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  John  C. 
Lamb;  Major,  Thos.  H.  Sharp;  Adjutant,  Gilbert  Elliott; 
Sergeant  Major,  Wilson  G.  Lamb ;  A.  Q.  M.,  John  S.  Dancy ; 
Commissary,  L.  D.  Starke;  Surgeon,  E.  K.  Speed. 

Company  A — Captain  William  Biggs. 
Company  B — Captain  James  J.  Leith. 
Company  C — Captain  William  B.  Wise. 
Company  D — Captain  J.  M .  C.  Luke. 
Company  E — Captain  John  L.  Swain. 
Company  F- — Captain  George  B.  Daniel. 
Company  G — Captain  Thos.  J.  ISTorman. 
Company  H — Captain  Stewart  L.  Johnson. 
Company  I — Captain  A.  J.  M.  Whitehead. 
Company  K — Captain  Howard  Wiswall. 
Company  L — Captain  Lucius  J.  Johnson. 

The  Adjutant  of  the  regiment,  Gilbert  Elliott,  was  detailed 
and  under  his  supervision  the  iron-clad  ram  "Albemarle," 
which  contributed  so  largely  to  the  capture  of  Plymouth,  was 
constructed.  Lieutenants  M.  A.  Cotten  and  Wilson  G.  Lamb 
filled  his  place  as  Adjutant  of  the  regiment.  The  Seven- 
teenth was  assigned  to  service  in  Eastern  North  Carolina  and 


Seventeenth  Regiment.  3 

performed  picket  duty  watching  the  enemy  at  New  Bern, 
Washington  and  Plymouth.  In  December,  1862,  a  detach- 
ment from  the  regiment  with  a  squadron  of  cavalry  from 
Colonel  Evans'  regiment  (Sixty-third  North  Carolina)  and 
Moore's  Battery,  all  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lamb,  cap- 
tured Plymouth.  Another  detachment  drove  the  enemy  from 
Washington,  N.  C.  Many  minor  raids  and  surprises  of  the 
enemy's  outposts  cleverly  managed  by  Captain  William 
Biggs,  Lieutenants  Hardison,  Grimes,  Cotten  and  others  gave 
indication  of  what  might  be  expected  of  the  regiment  when  it 
should  have  the  opportunity  of  displaying  its  fighting  quali- 
ties. 

In  1863  the  regiment  was  brigaded  with  the  Forty-second, 
Fiftieth,  and  Sixty-sixth  Regiments,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Brigadier-General  James  G.  Martin,  and  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Branch,  Kinston  and  Wilmington,  and  was 
thoroughly  drilled  and  disciplined  by  that  splendid  organizer 
find  disciplinarian. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  1864,  the  regiment  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lamb  with  the  Forty-second, 
Colonel  Brown,  P  arris'  Battery  of  six  guns  and  a  squadron  of 
cavalry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jeffords,  the  whole  under  com- 
mand of  General  J.  G.  Martin,  attacked  the  enemy's  forts  at 
Newport.  After  the  capture  of  their  block  houses  and  driv- 
ing in  of  their  outposts,  the  command  moved  upon  their 
,forts  and  entrenchments.  The  Seventeenth  N.  C.  on  the 
right  assailed  their  columns  in  splendid  style  and  pouring 
over  the  works  captured  their  guns  and  barracks.  The  brave 
Captain  Leith  of  Company  B,  was  killed.  The  enemy  fled  in 
dismay  over  the  river  and  did  not  stop  until  safely  under  the 
guns  of  Fort  Macon.  Ten  pieces  of  artillery,  78  prisoners 
and  a  large  qiiantity  of  stores  were  the  fruits  of  this  victory. 
The  railroad  bridge  was  burned  and  the  railroad  occupied 
to  prevent  re-inforcements  from  Beaufort  and  Fort  Macon 
being  sent  to  New  Bern.  Owing  to  the  failure  of  General 
Pickett's  command  to  capture  New  Bern,  General  Martin's 
troops  were  withdrawn  the  next  day.  In  reference  to  this 
battle  I  quote  from  the  official  report  of  the  Federal  General, 


4  ;N"oeth  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

J.  M.  Palmer,  commanding  at  ISTew  Bern  under  date  of  Feb- 
ruary  7,  1864. 

"Martin  performed  his  part  well." 

The  great  campaign  of  1864  was  now  about  to  open  and 
the  desperate  struggle  to  capture  the  capital  of  the  Confed- 
acy  to  begin.  Grant  crossed  the  Eapidan  on  the  4th  of 
May,  with  his  army  of  140,000  men  and  moved  overland 
upon  Richmond.  Butler,  with  30,000  men  and  a  large  naval 
armament,  ascended  the  James  and  occupied  the  Bermuda 
Hundreds  Peninsula,  threatening  both  Richmond  and 
Petersburg.  To  meet  this  movement  the  Confederate  forces 
operating  in  IvTorth  Carolina  with  troops  from  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia  were  rapidly  concentrated  at  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  and  placed  under  General  Beauregard's  com- 
mand. 

On  the  11th  of  May,  the  Seventeenth  (1,100  strong)  fol- 
lowed by  the  Forty-second  and  Sixty-sixth  N.  C,  marched 
through  the  streets  of  Petersburg  with  their  bright  bayonets 
reflecting  the  morning  sunlight  to  join  in  the  mighty  struggle 
then  impending.  The  battle  of  Drewry's  Bluff  on  the  17th 
resulted  in  forcing  Butler  back  upon  his  fortified  base  at  Ber- 
muda hundreds.  On  the  20th  the  Confederates  were  or- 
dered to  assault  this  line  of  entrenchments.  Mai*tin's  bri- 
gade was  upon  the  extreme  Confederate  right,  and  the  Seven- 
teenth, IST.  C,  was  Martin's  right  regiment  sO'  it  devolved 
upon  this  regiment  to  lead  the  assault.  Them  its  thorough 
drilling  and  discipline  proved  of  great  value.  Emerging 
from  the  woods  into  the  open  field  with  unbroken  front  and 
without  a  halt,  at  double  quick  step,  its  onset  was  not  stopped- 
until  the  enemy's  works  were  won  and  the  Confederate  ban- 
ner waved  in  triumph  over  Butler's  stronghold.  The  charge 
was  taken  up  along  the  line  with  equal  gallantry  and  success 
and  Butler's  forces  were  driven  to  shelter  under  the  pro- 
tection of  their  gunboats  in  the  James  and  Appomattox. 
Thus  the  "bottling  up  of  Butler,"  so  graphically  detailed  by 
General  Grant,  was  complete.  The  regiment  suffered  very 
heavily  in  this  assault,  losing  about  175  ofiicers  and  men 
killed  and  wounded.     The  brave  and  youthful  Lieiitenant- 


Seventeentpi  Regiment.  5 

Colonel  Lamb  fell  mortally  wounded  upon  the  enemy's  works 
and  died  a  few  days  thereafter.  • 

Our  fighting  commissary,  Captain  L.  D.  Starke, .  now  of 
Norfolk,  Va.,  is  entitled  to  special  notice,  having  sent  his 
wagons  to  the  rear  and  joined  the  boys  in  the  front,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  with  distinguished  bravery.  A  more 
gallant  soldier  never  lived. 

By  the  death  of  Colonel  Lamb,  Major  Sharp  became  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and  Captain  Lucius  J.  Johnson,  Company  L, 
became  Major. 

A  division  was  created  for  General  R.  F.  Hoke  composed 
of  the  brigades  of  Martin,  Colquitt,  Hagood  and  Clingman 
and  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  R.  E.  Lee. 

The  battles  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania  had  been 
fought,  and  Grant  in  his  turning  movement  had  ordered 
Sheridan's  cavalry,  supported  by  Warren's  Corps,  to  seize 
the  heights  at  New  Cold  Llarbor. 

"Anderson  came  up  on  the  first  of  June,  with  Kershaw's 
and  Hoke's  Divisions,  and  attacking  Sheridan  drove  him 
back  toward  Old  Cold  Harbor,  and  secured  the  heights  around 
JSTew  Cold  Harbor  and  Gaines'  Mill,  which  he  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  fortify."  The  importance  and  value  of  this  suc- 
cess can  only  be  realized  when  it  is  understood  that  had 
Grant's  order  been  carried  out  the  Federals  would  have  occu- 
pied the  ridge,  and  the  Confederates,  instead  of  defending, 
would  have  been  compelled  to  assail  them,  inasmuch  as  it  was 
the  key  to  the  Confederate  Capital.  The  great  and  decisive 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  on  3  June,  followed  these  prelim- 
inai'y  engagements,  and  resulted  in  the  bloodiest  repulse 
of  the  Federals  known  in  the  history  of  the  war.  The  Seven- 
teenth was  upon  the  right  of  the  line,  and  supported  Grandy's 
(Va.)  battery.  In  its  front  the  enemy's  dead  were  so  thickly 
strewn  that  one  could  have  walked  on  tlieir  bodies  its  whole 
extent.  In  this  battle  Lieutenant  M.  A.  Gotten  and  Private; 
Benjamin  Andrews  greatly  distinguished  themselves,  bring- 
ing into  our  works  the  flag  of  a  New  York  regiment,  of  Ty- 
ler's Brigade.  The  enemy  assaulted  our  lines  several  times, 
and  during  the  interval  between  the  assaults,  this  flag  was 
brought  in  and  temporarily  planted  upon  our  works.     This 


6  ISToETH  Oaeolina  Teoops^  1861-'65. 

incident  unquestionably  misled  the  brave  Hancock,  who  in 
his  official  report  of  the  battle  claimed  that  his  troops  had 
carried  our  line,  "having  seen  through  his  field  glasses  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  floating  from  the  enemy's  works." 

After  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  General  Grant  transferred 
his  army  to  the  south  bank  of  the  Appomattox  and  attempted 
a  coup  d'etat  at  Petersburg. 

General  Lee,  on  the  14th,  moved  Hoke's  Division  near 
Drewry's  Bluff,  in  order  that  it  might  be  in  position  to  act  as 
reserve  for  his  army  or  go  to  the  support  of  General  Beaure- 
gard  at  Petersburg.  The  Federals  under  General  Smith  had 
advanced  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Petersburg  and  had  swept 
away  all  our  forces  in  their  front  and  the  city  was  in  im- 
minent danger  of  capture.  The  brigades  of  Hagood  and 
Colquitt  had  been  sent  forward  by  rail  and  Martin  with 
Clingman  was  pressing  forward  by  forced  marches  and  ar- 
rived  after  midnight  of  the  15th  and  commenced  to  entrench. 

The  Confederates  now  numbered  about  10,000  men  behind 
their  hastily  entrenched  line.  The  Federal  General  Smith 
had  been  reinforced  by  Bumside's  Corps  which  came  up  at 
noon  and  raised  the  Federal  forces  to  66,000. 

The  morning  of  the  16th  was  spent  in  skirmishing  and 
artillery  fire.  In  the  afternoon  General  Hancock,  now  in 
command  of  the  Federals,  assailed  with  all  his  forces  and 
just  at  sunset  broke  through  General  Wise's  lines,  whose 
troops  went  streaming  to  the  rear.  These  brave  men  had 
fought  unceasingly  for  two  days  and  were  much  exhausted 
and  only  yielded  when  completely  overwhelmed.  As  many 
of  the  men  of  our  division  as  could  be  spal-ed  were  hastily 
gathered  from  various  points  on  the  line  and  with  the  rem- 
nant of  Wise's  brigade  being  organized  in  a  compact  body 
were  hurled  upon  the  victorious  Federals — the  right  wing 
of  the  Seventeenth  joining  in  the  attack.  The  Federals  were 
driven  out  and  our  line  re-established.  Warren's  Corps  had 
now  come  up,  which  increased  the  Federal  army  to  four  corps 
— numbering  90,000 — and  no  reinforcements  had  reached 
General  Beauregard  from  General  Lee. 

The  battle  re-opened  on  the  17th,  at  noon.  Three  times 
were  the  Federals  repulsed  but  as  often  resumed  the  offen- 


SEVENTEENTH  BEQIMENT. 

1.    L.  J.  Johnson,  Major  2.    Geo.  B  Daniel,  Captain,  Co  F 

3     William  Biggs,  Captain,  Co.  A. 


Seventeenth  Regiment.  7 

sive.  At  dusk  on  the  extreme  right  our  lines  "were  again 
broken  and  partially  restored  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Gracie's 
Brigade,  the  conflict  raging  until  11  o'clock. 

During  these  engagements  Beauregard's  engineers  had 
been  at  work  selecting  a  line  nearer  the  city — shorter  and 
stronger,  being  the  line  afterwards  held  during  the  siege.  Af- 
ter midnight  our  troops  were  withdrawn  to  this  new  line.  Our 
skirmishers  being  left  in  the  old  works  with  instructions  to  de- 
lay the  advance  of  the  enemy  in  order  to  gain  as  much  time 
as  possible  for  our  troops  to  fortify  the  new  line.  The  writer 
of  this  had  the  honor  of  commanding  the  skirmishers  of  his 
regiment  and  can  testify  to  their  brave  and  determined  resist- 
ance, in  connection  with  other  commands,  which  resulted  in 
keeping  back  the  enemy  until  3  o'clock  p.  m.  of  that  day 
(18th). 

Fortunately  about  this  time  Field's  and  Kershaw's  Divis- 
ions of  General  Lee's  army  arrived,  which  swelled  the  Con- 
federate forces  to  20,000  against  90,000  of  the  enemy's. 

About  3  p.  m.  a  general  and  final  assault  was  given.  It 
was  urged  with  as  great  pertinacity  and  was  resisted  with 
equal  determination  as  those  preceding.  Before  dark  it 
ended  in  a  complete  repulse  of  the  Federals  along  the  whole 
of  our  front.  In  these  series  of  engagements  the  regiment 
lost  many  of  its  most  valued  officers  and  brave  men.  Lieu- 
tenants Perry,  Hobbs,  Pope  and  others  were  among  the 
killed. 

The  writer  would  desire  to  appear  not  ungrateful  to  his 
comrade  and  friend.  Lieutenant  W.  J.  Hardison  (now  sheriff 
of  Martin  county)  and  at  the  risk  of  being  personal,  wishes 
to  place  on  record  the  act  of  his  brave  friend,  who,  at  the  risk 
of  his  own  life,  sprang  over  our  breastworks  during  the  ene- 
my's last  assault  and  bore  his  wounded  friend  in  his  arms  to 
safety  behind  them. 

I  am  indebted  to  General  Hagood's  recent  address  for 
much  information  as  to  data,  etc.,  of  these  battles  and  note 
with  pleasure  his  closing  words :  "I  have  told  the  story  of 
Petersburg  without  comment.      The  narrative  itself  is  an  im- 


8  NoETH  Caeolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

mortelle  and  a  reverently  lay  it  upon  the  tomb  of  Beaure- 
gard, the  soldier." 

Foiled  in  his  attempt  to  carry  Petersburg  by  storm  Gen- 
eral Grant  now  laid  siege  to  the  city.  I  cannot  better  de^ 
scribe  the  hardships  endured  by  the  brave  soldiers  than  to 
make  extracts  from  the  recent  address  of  Captain  Elliott. 

"At  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  June  20th,  the  report  of 
Martin's  Brigade  occupying  Colquitt's  salient  showed  2,200 
men  for  duty.  In  September,  when  they  were  relieved,  the 
total  force  was  700,  nothing  but  living  skeletons.  Occupy- 
ing the  sharp  salient,  the  work  was  enfiladed  on  both  flanks 
by  direct  fire  and  the  mortar  shells  came  incessantly  down 
from  above.  Every  man  was  detailed  every  night,  either  on 
guard  duty  or  to  labor  with  pick  and  spade  repairing  works 
knocked  down  during  the  day.  There  was  no  shelter  that 
summer  from  sun  or  rain.  JSTo  food  could  be 'cooked  there 
but  the  scanty  provisions  were  brought  in  bags  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  men  from  the  cook  yard  some  miles  distant.  The 
rations  consisted  of  one  pound  of  pork  and  three  pounds  of 
meal  consisted      'iwcbe 

meal  for  three  days — no  coffee,  no  sugar,  no  vegetables,  no 
grog,  no  tobacco,  nothing  but  the  bread  and  meat.  No  won- 
der that  the  list  of  officers  was  reduced  to  three  Captains  and 
a  few  Lieutenants  with  but  one  staff  officer,  (spared  through 
God's  mercy)  to  this  brigade  of  700  skeletons.  But  every 
feeble  body  contained  an  unbroken  spirit  and  after  the  Fall 
months  came  those  who  had  not  fallen  into  their  graves  or 
been  disabled,  returned  to  their  colors  and  saw  them  wave 
in  victory  in  their  last  fight  at  Bentonville." 

In  July  their  beloved  Brigade  Commander,  General  Mar- 
tin, was  transferred  to  North  Carolina  and  General  Kirkland 
became  his  successor.  General  Martin  was  greatly  beloved 
by  his  soldiers.  They  had  the  most  tmbounded  confidence 
in  his  military  skill  and  admiration  for  his  personal  bravery 
illustrated  on  every  battlefield  where  they  had  followed  him. 
In  October  the  brigade  was  sent  to  the  Kichmond  front  and 
participated  in  the  minor  engagements  of  Henrico  C.  H., 
Charles  City  Road  and  others,  maintaining  its  high  reputa- 
tion for  bravery. 

Advices  having  reached  General  Lee  of  the  preparation  by 


Seventeenth  Regiment.  9 

the  Federals  of  a  land  and  naval  expedition  for  the  capture 
of  Fort  Fisher,  Hoke's  division  was  sent  to  its  relief.  The 
Seventeenth  and  parts  of  the  Forty-second  and  Sixty-sixth 
reginaents  were  the  advance  of  the  division  and  reached  Wil- 
mington at  1  a.  m.  on  24  December,  and,  after  being 
lunched  at  the  depot  by  the  patriotic  ladies  of  that  city, 
took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Fort  Fisher,  the  Seventeenth 
bivouacking  there  on  the  night  of  the  same  day.  The  enemy 
having  edEEected  a  landing  at  Fort  Gatling  on  the  ocean 
side,  the  regiment  was  withdrawn  from  Fort  Fisher  on  the 
morning  of  the  25th,  and  moving  down  the  military  road 
were  ordered  to  attack  Butler's  troops.  ISTorman's  company 
in  front,  supported  by  the  balance  of  the  regiment,  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  assailed  the  enemy.  General  Kirkland  in  his 
official  report  said : 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  Sharp,  Seventeenth  N".  C,  pressed 
close  upon  and  drove  their  skirmish  line  back  upon,  their 
main  body,  which  was  covered  by  the  guns  of  at  least  thirty 
men  of  war  lying  broadside  to  the  beach.  Captain  Norman, 
Company  G,  deserves  special  notice." 

A  Lieutenant  and  ten  men  were  captured.  The  regiment 
lost  three  men  killed  and  twenty  wounded  in  this  engage- 
ment. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  balance  of  our  division,  Butler 
had  re-embarked  his  troops  and  thus  ended  the  powder-ship 
fiasco  and  the  military  career  of  this  modern  Falstaff — he 
being  relieved  by  General  Grant. 

The  ease  with  which  this  land  and  naval  attack  was  re- 
pulsed, undoubtedly  created  in  the  mind  of  General  Bragg 
an  undue  feeling  of  security.  Not  anticipating  a  renewal  of 
the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  unfortvinately  the  division  was 
withdrawn  to  Wilmington. 

On  the  afternoon  of  14  January,  whilst  the  regiments 
of  the  division  were  on  dress  parade  in  Wilmington,  the 
enemy  had  reappeared  before  Fort  Fisher  and  were  land- 
ing their  forces,  and  before  the  division  could  be  transported 
to  Sugar  Loaf,  the  bulk  of  the  Federal  forces  had  landed  and, 
pushing  that  night  across  the  peninsula,  constructed  a  line 
of  field  works  from  the  ocean  to  the  Cape  Fear,  thus  cutting 


10  ISToETH  Oaeoliwa  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

off  all  land  eominuiiication  between  Hoke's  Division  and  Fort 
Fisher.  This  line  of  works  was  held  by  a  negro  division, 
commanded  by  General  Paine  and  a  white  brigade  tinder 
General  Joseph  C.  Abbott,  who  afterwards  misrepresented 
North  Carolina  in  the  United  States  Senate. 

At  4  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  15th,  the  skirmishers 
of  Kirkland's  Brigade,  which  was  on  the  left  of  our  line, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Lamb,  were  ordered  to  drive 
back  the  enemy's  pickets  to  enable  Generals  Bragg  and  Hoke, 
to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  position.  The  effort 
was  only  partially  successful,  owing  to  several  of  the  enemy's 
ships  which  were  lying  close  to  the  shore,  having  opened  a 
terrible  enfilading  fire  upon  our  skirmishers  so  soon  as  they 
appeared  on  the  open  sand  beach;  but  further  to  the  right 
where  the  small  undergrowth  was  some  protection,  the  ene- 
my's skirmish  line  was  driven  in  and  their  rifle-pits  occu- 
pied, giving  opportunity  for  an  examination  of  the  enemy's 
position.  The  writer  recalls  the  calm  and  heroic  bearing  of 
the  modest  and  gallant  Hoke  who  withdrew  from  the  recon- 
noissance with  two  bullet  holes  through  his  coat.  For  rea- 
sons satisfactory,  I  presume,  to  General  Bragg,  no  assault 
was  made,  notwithstanding  at  this  moment  the  enemy  had 
withdrawn  Abbott's  Brigade  and  a  portion  of  Wright's  negro 
Brigade  to  join  in  the  assaunlt  upon  Fort  Fisher,  which  was 
then  in  progress. 

The  troops  at  the  time  in  our  front  were  all  negroes  and 
did  not  number  more  than  2,500,  defending  a  line  of  a  mile 
in  extent.  That  evening  Fort  Fisher  after  a  most  gallant  de- 
fense, surrendered,  and  the  last  port  of  the  Confederacy  was 
closed  forever. 

Several  small  engagements  approaching  closely  to  the  dig- 
nity of  battles  followed  the  fall  of  Fisher,  in  all  of  which  the 
enemy  were  repulsed.  The  rapid  advance  of  Sherman  from 
the  South  made  the  evacuation  of  Wilmington  a  mere  quesr 
tion  of  time  and  on  22  February,  Kirkland's  Bri- 
gade, forming  the  rear  guard  of  our  army,  marched  sadly 
and  leisurely  through  the  streets  of  our  "City  by  the  Sea," 
and  Wilmington  passed  under  Federal  control.  Continuing 
our  retreat  up  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  the 


Seventeenth  Eegiment.  11 

army,  after  crossing  the  North  Kiver,  halted  for  the  night. 
The  enemy's  cavalry  pursued  up  to  this  point  and  attempted 
by  sudden  dash  to  prevent  the  burning  of  the  bridge  over  the 
railroad.  They  were  promptly  encountered  by  our  rear 
guard,  under  the  brave  Captain  0.  G.  Elliott,  and  were  re- 
pulsed, sustaining  heavy  loss.  The  next  day  the  march  was 
resumed  and  without  further  fighting  the  army  reached 
Groldsboro  a  few  days  thereafter. 

And  now  the  closing  scenes  of  the  bloody  drama  of  the 
Civil  War  was  to  be  enacted  upon  the  soil  of  N"orth  Carolina. 
Goldsboro  became  the  objective  point  of  three  armies.  Sher- 
man with  T0,000  men  was  advancing  northward.  Schofield 
with  his  army  corps  of  21,000  raised  the  Federal  forces  to 
30,000  at  Wilmington ;  and  Cox's  Division  arriving  at  New 
Bern  increased  Palmer's  command  to  15,000.  These  differ- 
ent armies  aggregating  115,000  men,  if  allowed  to  concen- 
trate, would  make  short  work  of  the  Confederate  forces  whose 
total,  including  the  remnant  of  Hood's  army,  did  not  reach 
40,000  men.  The  hope  of  successful  resistance  was  indeed 
forlorn  and  the  only  chance  of  any  success  was  to  fight  these 
armies  separately. 

The  column  under  General  Cox  advancing  from  New  Bern, 
was  encountered  near  Wise's  Fork  on  the  8th  of  March,  by 
Hoke's  Division,  reinforced  by  the  Sixty-seventh  and  Sixty- 
eighth  North  Carolina,  and  the  Junior  and  Senior  reserves. 
Leaving,  at  midnight,  tlieir  entrenchments  along  the  line  of 
a  creek,  Kirkland's,  Hagood's  and  Colquitt's  Brigades  under 
the  guide  of  Colonel  Nethercut  of  the  Sixty-sixth  North  Car- 
olina, (who  was  familiar  with  the  country)  found  themselves 
at  day  dawn  on  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  forming 
line  of  battle  in  echelon  of  brigades,  Kirkland's  leading,  burst 
upon  the  surprised  enemy  and  drove  them  in  rapid  flight  to 
the  rear,  capturing  1,000  prisoners  and  4  pieces  of  artillery. 
The  enemy  had  been  driven  nearly  a  mile  when  Palmer's 
Division  appeared  upon  our  right  flank.  The  Seventeenth  was 
on  our  extreme  right  and  its  advance  having  thus  become 
arrested  immediately  changed  front  to  meet  the  enemy,  and 
not  knowing  their  force,  boldly  charged  the  division  and 
drove  back  that  part  of  it  in  our  front,  wounding  their  com- 


12  ISToETH  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

mander,  General  Palmer.  Finding  itself  overlapped  right 
and  left,  it  deployed  as  skirmishers  with  both  wings  reversed, 
and  held  its  position  until  reinforcements  were  brought  up 
under  the  personal  command  of  General  Hoke,  and  thus  had 
the  honor  of  preventing  the  flanking  of  our  army.  Later  a 
congratulatory  order  from  General  Kirkland  was  read  to  the 
regiment  on  dress  parade  at  Goldsboro  complimenting  it 
upon  its  splendid  achievement. 

The  enemy  proceeded  to  fortify  their  position,  and  on  the 
10th  General  Bragg  sought  to  employ  the  same  strategy  in 
again  attacking  the  enemy.  It  was  contemplated  by  recon- 
noissance  in  force  to  develop  the  enemy's  extreme  left  and 
renew  our  turning  movement  of  two  days  before.  Kirk- 
land's  Brigade  was  assigned  this  duty,  supported  by  the  other 
brigades  of  the  division.  Our  skirmishers  were  thrown  out, 
supported  by  the  brigade,  and  engaging  the  enemy's  pickets, 
drove  them  rapidly  before  us.  The  enemy's  works  were  de- 
veloped and,  not  knowing  that  it  was  intended  that  we  should 
not  assault,  we  rushed  upon  the  works  under  the  heaviest  fire 
which  we  had  ever  received.  Notwithstanding  the  brigade 
had  lost  one-half  of  its  number,  it  reached  the  abatis  and 
slashing  and  held  its  position  until  ordered  to  withdraw.  In 
this  assault  the  heroic  Captain  Elliott  added  another  gem  to 
the  crown  of  his  military  fame.  The  gallant  Lieutenant 
Grimes,  distinguished  in  many  battles,  had  been  desperately 
wounded  and  became  a  prisoner.  This  is  the  only  battle  in 
which  the  regiment  was  ever  repulsed,  and  even  here  it  felt 
that  if  it  had  received  support  its  colors  would  have  been 
planted  upon  the  enemy's  works.  Sherman  having  reached 
Averasboro  it  became  necessary  to  concentrate  all  available 
troops  in  his  front  and  Hoke's  Division  was  withdrawn  and 
sent  by  rail  to  Smithfield  Depot  and  marched  thence  via 
Smithfield  to  Bentonville.  The  army  of  General  Sherman 
was  moving  from  Averasboro  to  Goldsboro,  upon  two  roads 
running  parallel  and  about  ten  miles  apart.  Otir  division 
swelled  our  army  to  about  15,000  men,  against  Sherman's  70,- 
000.  On  tlie  morning  of  the  19th  Jefferson  C.  Davis'  and  Slo- 
cum's  Corps,  numbering  about  35,000  men  were  attacked  by 


Seventeenth  Regiment.  13 

our  troops  and  driven  back  a  considerable  distance,  three 
guns  and  nine  hundred  prisoners  falling  into  our  hands. 

The  other  corps  of  Sherman's  army  came  up  and  v^^ere 
thrown  on  our  left  flank,  which  had  become  much  advanced 
in  the  battle  of  the  previous  day.  In  consequence  of  this 
movement  it  became  necessary  to  change  the  position  of  our 
army.  The  brigade  of  Kirkland,  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
held  the  enemy  in  check  while  the  entire  army  changed  front, 
and  thereafter  occupied  a  position  in  the  centre  and  joined 
in  the  repulse  of  the  many  and  furious  charges  of  the  Feder- 
als. In  this  battle  Captain  William  Biggs,  Company  A,  was 
greatly  distinguished  for  his  intrepid  bravery.  The  brigade 
received  the  special  commendation  of  General  Jos.  E.  John- 
son for  its  valued  services  in  this  engagement. 

Thus  closes  the  volume  of  the  bloody  record  of  the  Seven- 
teenth North  Carolina  troops  and  their  brave  companions  of 
associated  commands. 

The  army  was  withdrawn,  retiring  through  Raleigh  and 
Chapel  Hill  and  was  surrendered  to  General  Sherman  at 
Centre  Church,  Randolph  county,  at  the  final  capitulation. 

Supplementing  this  record  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  state 
that  the  flag  of  the  Seventeenth  North  Carolina  Troops 
saved  at  the  surrender  by  Private  Abel  Thomas,  of  Com- 
pany A,  was  unfurled  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Confederate 
monument  at  Raleigh  on  20  May,  1895,  and  beneath  its 
tattered  and  bulletrriddled  folds  the  veteran  survivors 
marched  to  do  honor  to  their  dead  heroic  comrades. 

Wilson  G.  Lamb^ 
Second  Lieutenant  Company  Y. 

WiLLIAMSTON,    N.    C, 

26  April,  1901. 


EIGHTEENTH  EEGIMENT. 

1.    John  D.  Barry,  Colonel.  4.    Win.  H.  McLaurin,  let  Lient.  and  Adjt 

8.    E.  H.  Cowan,  Colonel.  5.    Evander  N.  Robeson,  1st  Lieut    Co  K 

3.    Marcus  W.  Buie,  Captain,  Co.  B.  6.    Alex.  E.  Smith,  Sergeant  Co  P 


EIGHTEENTH  REGIME/^T. 


By  WILLIAM  H.  McLAURIN,  Adjutant. 


In  the  stirring  times  of  1860-61  North  Carolina  was  de- 
votedly attached  to  the  American  Union. 

Her  election  in  August,  1868,  for  State  officers  showed  the 
bias  of  her  people,  and  when  Governor  Ellis  in  February, 
1861,  issued  a  call  for  a  convention  and  election  of  delegates 
thereto,  they  not  only  voted  down  the  convention,  but  elected 
a  majority  of  delegates  who  were  pronounced  unionists, 
many  of  them  the  most  trusted  leaders  of  the  State.  Had 
they  assembled  in  Convention  their  deliberations  would  have 
been  on  broad  lines  and  fearless. 

Our  action  encouraged  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  whose  con- 
ventions deliberated  long  and  well. 

"Let  us  reason  together"  was  the  method  of  North  Carolina, 
and  she  sent  peace  commissioners  to  Washington  not  to  cringe 
and  fawn  but  to  use  every  honorable  means  to  avoid  bloody 
war.  All  that  could  be  done  was  unavailing,  and  all  the  ave- 
nues of  adjustment  were  closed  by  President  Lincoln  on  the 
15  April,  1861,  by  calling  for  75,000  troops  to  coerce  the 
seceding  States. 

This  effectually  settled  all  differences  of  opinion  with  us 
as  to  what  should  be  done.  The  most  ardent  union  men  of  the 
State  joined  the  most  fiery  secessionist,  in  saying  to  our  sis- 
ter States,  "Thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  thy  God  my  God," 
and  right  nobly  did  they  redeem  the  pledge. 

On  receipt  of  the  call  for  troops,  Virginia  promptly  passed 
her  ordinance  of  secession,  and  Tennessee  followed  in  a  few 
days. 

The  call  for  a  convention,  and  election  of  delegates,  was 
sustained    with    practical    unanimity,  .  and    on    20    May, 


16  North  Carolina  Troops.   1861-65. 

1861,  North  Carolina  seceded.  Volunteer  companies  had 
been  formed  all  over  the  State,  and,  generally,  waited  for 
State  authority  for  mobilization.  Some  companies  and  reg- 
iments, however,  went  to  the  front  as  soon  as  formed. 

The  Legislature  which  met  1  May  provided  for  ten  regi- 
ments of  State  troops  for  the  war,  the  officers  appointed  by  the 
governor  and  ten  regiments  of  Volunteers  for  one  year,  the 
officers  elected  by  companies,  and  field  officers  elected  by  com- 
pany officers. 

Of  the  companies  that  assembled  around  Wilmington,  on 
the  Cape  Fear  defences,  four  from  the  coimty  of  New  Hano- 
ver (three  of  them  from  Wilmington),  two  from  Bladen,  one" 
from  Robeson,  and  one  from  Richmond  were  formed  into  the 
Eighth  Regiment  of  volunteers,  viz : 

Company  A — Captain  C.  Cornehlson,  Wilmington. 
Company  B — Captain  Robert  Tait,  Bladen. 
Company  C — Captain  Forney  George,  Colimibus. 
CoiEPANY  D — Captain  William  S.  Norment,  Robeson. 
Company  E — Captain  John  R.    Hawes,   jSTew   Hanover, 
(now  Pender). 

Company  F — Captain  Charles  Malloy,  Richmond. 
Company  G — Captain  Henry  Savage,  Wilmington. 
Company  H — Captain  I).  H.  Gore,  Columbus. 
CoiiPANY  I — Captain  O.  P.  Meares,  Wilmington. 
Company  K — Captain  George  Tait,  Bladen. 

Of  these  companies  A,  G,  and  I  were  organized  companies 
many  years  before  the  war. 

Company  A,  "The  German  Volimteers,"  Avas  the  only  com- 
pany in  the  State  of  distinctively  foreign  citizenship.  Com- 
pany G,  "The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,"  and  Company  T, 
"The  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,"  being  up  on  tactics,  fur- 
nished many  officers  for  companies  and  regiments  throughout 
the  State,  and  the  personnel  of  their  officers  and  men  were 
frequently  changed.  At  one  time  Company  I  was  composed 
of  one  hundred  men  ranging  from  16  to  22  years  of  age,  and 
only  one  married  man  among  them. 

Company  F,  "The  Scotch  Boys,"  when  mustered  into  ser- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  17 

(^ice  had  94  ofRcers  and  men.  Sixty  of  them  were  6  feet  to 
6  feet  4  inches  high,  24  over  5  feet  10  inches,  7  over  5  feet  8 
inches,  and  3  under  5  feet  8  inches,  making  an  average  height 
for  the  whole  company  of  6  feet  1%  inches,  believed  to  be  un- 
precedented for  so  large  a  company,  in  the  Confederate  or 
Federal  armies,  if  it  does  not  challenge  the  armies  of  the 
world,  for  a  company  not  especially  selected. 

Nine  of  the  above  companies  were  moved  from  their  sev- 
eral rendezvous  to  Camp  Wyatt,  named  in  honor  of  H.  L.  Wy- 
att,  the  first  soldier  killed  in  regular  battle  in  the  Southern 
army,  on  the  lands  of  James  Burriss,  near  the  head  of  the 
sound  (about  one  mile  from  the  present  site  of  Carolina 
Beach,  a  popular  resort),  and  about  1  July  elected  field  of- 
ficers. 

Major  James  D.  Radcliff,  who  had  been  a  principal  of  a 
military  school  in  Wilmington  for  several  years,  and  was 
then  connected  with  the  engineer  department  of  the  Cape 
Fear  defences,  was  elected  colonel.  Captain  0.  F.  Meares, 
Company  I,  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel,  and  Captain 
George  Tait,  of  Company  K,  who  was  stationed  at  a  bat- 
tery near  Federal  Point  lighthouse,  was  elected  Major. 

Charles  D.  Myers,  of  Company  G,  was  appointed  Adju- 
tant; Anthony  D.  Cazaux,  Company  I,  was  appointed  Cap- 
tain, and  A.  Q.  M. ;  Duncan  McNeill,  Company  F,  Captain 
and  A.  C.  S. ;  Dr.  James  A.  Miller,  Company  G,  Surgeon ; 
Dr.  Charles  Lesesne,  Company  K,  Assistant  Surgeon ;  Dr. 
Simpson  Russ,  Company  K,  Assistant  Surgeon;  Rev.  Colin 
Shaw,  Company  K,  Chaplain. 

Colonel  Radcliffe  was  an  excellent  drill  master  and  disci- 
plinarian, and  soon  had  the  regiment  in  good  shape. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  Companies  F  and  I'  were 
sent  to  Fort  Fisher,  and  Company  K  from  its  vicinity,  was 
sent  across  New  Inlet  channel  to  a  battery  on  Zeke's  Island. 
A  few  weeks  later  the  other  seven  companies  joined  F  and  I 
and  engaged  in  laying  the  foundation  of  Fort  Fisher,  that 
later  proved  to  be  one  of  the  strongholds  of  the  Confederacy. 

Confusion  arising  from  numbering  both  classes  of  troops 
from  1  to  10,  it  was  decided  by  the  State  authorities  to  change 
the  numbers  of  tlie  volunteer  regiments,  enumerating  them 
2 


18  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

from  11  to  20.  Thus  the  Eighth  volunteers  became  the 
Eighteenth  ISTorth  Carolina  troops,  and  was  afterwards  th\is 
known. 

On  7  November,  orders  were  received  to  go  to  the  aid 
of  Port  Royal,  S.  C,  and  in  a  few  hours  all  of  our  equipage 
was  on  the  banks  of  the  Cape  Eear,  at  Sugar  Loaf 
Landing,  awaiting  transportation,  where,  by  a  miscarriage 
of  orders,  steamer  after  steamer  passed  us  by,  and  we  re- 
mained thirty-six  hours.  During  this  time  Company  K, 
that  was  to  remain  on  Zeke's  Island,  kept  its  water-craft  busy 
crossing  the  inlet,  and  offered  all  sorts  of  inducements  to  any 
company  to  exchange  places,  but  no  proposition  would  be  en- 
tertained by  either  company  or  any  individual  to  remain.  We 
had  acquired  the  soldier  habit  of  complaining  that  we  were 
not  supplied  with  camp  necessities,  but  in  the  light  of  after 
experiences  our  baggage  and  kitchen  equipment  was  simply 
immense. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  our  nine  companies  had  more  cooking 
utensils  than  A.  P.  Hill's  corps,  to  which  we  afterward  be- 
longed, had  at  any  time  in  1863-64-65. 

At  Wilmington  we  were  again  delayed  a  day,  also  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.  Here  we  heard  of  the  downfall  of  Beau- 
fort. Our  disappointment  was  great.  Enthusiastic  expecta- 
tion changed  to  abject  despair.  Would  the  war  really  close 
before  we  got  a  chance  at  battle  ?     Alas !  no.  ' 

We  disembarked  at  Pocataligo,  midway  between  Charles- 
ton and  Savannah,  and  spent  the  winter  at  Camp  Stephens, 
on  Huguenin's  farm,  drilling  and  guarding  the  lagoons  of 
the  coast  below  the  Coosahatchie,  assisted  by  Trenholm's  bat- 
tery and  Colonel  John  C.  Calhoun's  regiment  of  cavalry,  a 
part  of  the  time  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General 
Robert  E.  Lee,  whose  headquarters  were  two  or  three  miles 
distant. 

The  amateur  talent  of  the  regiment  relieved  the  monotony 
of  camp  life  with  entertainments — drama,  charade,  bur- 
lesque. Especially  enjoyable  was  a  "Review  of  the  Army," 
in  which  oiir  Irish  wit,  Ned  Stanton,  "riding  on  an  ass'  colt," 
easily  took  rank  as  the  burlesque  reviewer  of  the  war. 

Altogether,  we  spent  a  pleasant  winter,  playing  soldier  in 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  19 

that  genial  clime,  though  greatly  disappointed  several  timos 
by  the  cavalry  making  false  alarms  of  the  Yankees  landing, 
and  pillaging  the  coast  plantations. 

Coloned  Radcliffe  put  a  stop  to  these  alarms  by  sending 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Meares  down  the  coast  with  three  com- 
panies and  a  week's  rations. 

The  first  night  Corporal  W.  H.  McLaurin  Avas  in  charge  of 
the  outpost  at  a  landing  near  Donkey  Island,  which  outpost 
was  reached  by  a  dam  across  the  marsh,  and  a  hundred  yards 
or  more  from  high  land.  About  10  o'clock  the  "yanks"  be- 
gan assembling  at  the  island.  The  cavalryman,  who  was  on 
duty  to  act  as  courier,  explained  their  tactics,  and  the  posi- 
tion of  the  different  landings.  Splash !  Splash ! !  Splash ! ! ! 
Their  oars  are  distinctly  heard  coming  our  way. 

Let  me  go  for  the  reserve,  plead  the  cavalryman.  Wait 
till  we  see  something  was  replied.  There  was  a  lull  in  the 
oaring,  which  was  accounted  for  by  him  as  landing  a  part  be- 
low us,  when  a  part  would  go  to  a  landing  above,  and  cap- 
ture all  of  us.  This  appeared  to  be  true — the  oaring  began 
again,  nearly  all  the  boats  taking  a  different  channel  from 
the  one  we  wore  on. 

The  cavalryman  started  for  his  horse,  on  the  mainland,  ro 
go  for  the  companies,  and  was  so  persistent  that  we  had  to 
threaten  to  shoot  him  to  get  him  back.  The  men  were  ar- 
ranged so  as  to  receive  them,  warmly,  at  the  landing.  We 
all  lay  flat  on  our  corntops,  taken  from  a  nearby  corn  field, 
and  arranged  behind  an  embankment  to  keep  us  out  of  the 
mud,  only  one  head  above  the  bank  as  an  outlook.  The  oar- 
ing again  ceased.  "Thes  lan-lan-landing !  le-le-let  me  go  mis- 
ter !"  The  reply  was  in  equally  jerky  tones.  "Sta-sta-stay-right 
there."  A  death-like  silence  reigned  around,  except  that  the 
loose  ends  of  the  cornstalks,  from  some  cause,  rustled  like  a 
cane-brake  in  a  storm.  Scared,  but  determined,  we  lay 
awaiting  the  landing  of  the  raiders.  A  minute  seemed  an 
hour — the  tension  is  at  last  relieved.  Splash !  Splash : ! 
Splash ! ! !  A  school  of  porpoises  rose  in  front  of  our  land- 
ing, and  went  ^merrily  on  their  way. 

We  welcomed  our  midnight  relief,  laughed  heartily  at  the 
cavalryman  and  had  no  more  alarms. 


20  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'U5. 

In  March,  1862,  Major  George  Tait  resigned  and 
Captain  Forney  George,  Company  C,  was  promoted 
Major;  Lieutenant  C.  C.  Gore  became  Captain  of  Compa- 
ny C. 

On  14  March  orders  came  for  the  regiment  to  go  to 
ISTew  Bern,  IST.  C,  and  in  a  few  hours  everything  was  on 
the  cars,  and  speeding  for  that  ill-fated  Athens  of  JSTorth 
Carolina.  At  Wilmington  we  heard  of  its  fall.  Here  wo 
were  joined  by  Captain  T.  J.  Purdie,  with  Company  K,  froin 
Zeke's  Island.  The  regiment  proceeded  to  Kinston,  where 
the  New  Bern  garrison  was  encamped,  under  command  of 
General  L.  O'B.  Branch.  These  troops  with  the  reinforc<i' 
ments  sent  them  were  formed  into  two  brigades  the  last  days 
of  March,  the  First  brigade  commanded  by  General  Robert 
Ransom  and  the  Second  by  General  Branch.  The  latter  was 
composed  of  the  Seventh,  Eighteenth,  Twenty-eighth,  Thirty- 
third  and  Thirty-seventh  North  Carolina  regiments,  from 
that  time  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

On  24  April,  1862,  the  regiment  was  reorganized,  with 
almost  an  entire  change  of  officers.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Robert  H.  Cowan,  of  the  Third  North  Carolina,  was  elected 
Colonel.  Captain  Thomas  J.  Purdie,  Company  K,  was 
elected  Lieiitenant-Colonel  and  Major  Forney  George  was  re- 
elected. 

Lieutenant  Samuel  B.  Waters,  of  the  Third  North  Caro- 
lina, was  appointed  Adjutant,  Captain  A.  D.  Cazaux  remained 
as  Quartermaster,  ex-Captain  Robert  Tait  was  appointed  A. 
C.  S.,  Dr.  James  A.  Miller  remained  Surgeon,  with  former 
assistants.  Chaplain  Colin  Shaw  became  Chaplain  to  the 
Sixty-first  North  Carolina  regiment. 

Private  Thomas  W.  Brown,  Company  I,  was  elected  Cap- 
tain of  Company  A,  Lieutenant  Wilie  J.  Sikes,  Company  B, 
elected  Captain ;  Lieutenant  W.  K.  Gore  was  elected  Captain 
of  Company  C ;  First  Sergeant  M.  C.  Lee  was  elected  Cap- 
tain of  Company  D ;  Second  Lieutenant  Fred  Thompson  was 
elected  Captain  of  Company  E;  Second  Lieutenant  Daniel 
M.  McLaurin  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  F;  Captain 
Henry  Savage  was  re-elected  Captain  of  Company  G;  Lieu- 
tenant M.  A.  Byrne  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  H ;  Pri- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  21 

vate  John  D.  Barry  was  elected  Captain,  of  Company  I ;  Lieu- 
tenant R.  M.  DeVane  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  K. 

A  few  of  the  Lieutenants  were  retained  in  the  same  or  ad- 
vanced to  a  higher  grade,  but  generally  new  men  were  selected 
for  officers. 

On  2  May  the  brigade  broke  camp  and  embarked  for 
Virginia  in  sections.  The  Eighteenth  Regiment  left  on 
the  7th  and  arrived  at  Richmond  next  day,  bivouaced  a 
couple  of  days  at  Howard's  G-rove,  then  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  incorporation,  now  a  populous  section  of  the  city,  and  ar- 
rived at  G-ordonsville  on  the  10th.  In  a  few  days  we  marched 
towards  the  valley  to  join  Stonewall  Jackson.  Every  foot 
moved  with  a  light  and  steady  step  and  the  expression  of  sat- 
isfaction was  on  the  countenance  of  all. 

When  about  to  cross  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Massanutten  Gap 
orders  were  received  to  return  to  Gordonsville.  The  next 
week  the  same  route  was  gone  over.  A  few  days  after  our 
second  return  our  baggage  was  loaded  on  the  train  and  wo 
started  towards  Richmond.  At  Hanover  Court  House  we 
again  went  into  camp.  Here  Branch  was  reinforced  with 
Colonel  Hardeman,  Forty-fifth  Georgia,  part  of  Latham's 
artillery  and  some  of  Robertson's  regiment  of  cavalry. 

The  sick,  and  the  extra  aaggage,  were  sent  to  Richmond, 
and  on  the  26th  Branch  marched  towards  the  Chickahominy, 
Johnston's  left  camping  that  night  between  Peake's  turnout 
and  Slash  Church. 

On  the  27th  Branch  fought  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court 
House  with  about  4,000  men,  engaging  General  Porter's  reg- 
ulars and  Sedgwick's  command  of  about  12,000.  Colonel 
James  H.  Lane,  with  the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  was  sent 
back  to  hold  the  crossing  at  Taliaferro's  Mill,  where  two 
companies  of  the  Thirty-seventh  were  on  duty. 

Porter  came  in  between  the  brigade  and  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Regiment  on  a  road  leading  towards  Mechanicsville. 
The  Eighteentli  and  Thirty-seventh  Regiments  were  sent  to 
Lane's  relief  and  found  Porter's  pickets  at  Peake's,  which 
they  drove  back  upon  the  line  of  regulars  at  the  aforemen- 
tioned road. 

Colonel  Cowan  was  placed  with  the  Eighteenth  on  the 


22  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

right  of  the  Hanover  road  and  Colonel  Lee  with  the  Thirty- 
seventh  was  sent  through  a  wood  to  his  right  to  attack  Por- 
ter's flank.  About  this  time  a  train  arrived  with  the  Twelfth 
North  Carolina,  Colonel  Wade,  which,  with  the  Thirty-third, 
was  placed  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  drove  back  to  the  road 
the  flankers  put  out  by  Porter.  As  Porter  had  no  line  be- 
yond the  road  these  regiments  had  no  further  engagement. 

The  Eighteenth  Regiment  made  a  splendid  attack  on  Por- 
ter's front  line  and  drove  it  back  to  the  Mechanicsville  road, 
where  the  ditch  bank  and  wicker  fence  afforded  fine  defen(\^. 
From  this  cover  Porter's  volleys  did  great  damage,  and  th'^ 
Eighteenth  was  compelled  to  move  by  the  right  flank  to  a 
wood  some  200  yards  to  the  right,  to  get  some  protection. 
From  this  wood  the  unequal  fight  was  carried  on.  The 
Thirty-seventh  was  further  to  our  right  and  engaged  with  lis 
till  ordered  to  withdraw. 

We  lost  very  heavily  in  this  action,  some  companies  losing 
50  per  cent,  in  killed  and  wounded.  Our  first  experience  in 
war  was  a  bloody  baptism.  "The  Bloody  Eighteenth"  was  a 
well  earned  title. 

General  Branch,  in  his  report,  says  of  it :  "Colonel  Cowan 
with  the  Eighteenth  made  the  charge  most  gallantly,  but  the 
enemy's  force  was  much  larger  than  had  been  supposed,  and 
strongly  posted,  and  the  gallant  Eighteenth  was  compelled  to 
seek  shelter.  It  continued  to  pour  heavy  volleys  from  the 
edge  of  the  woods  and  must  have  done  great  execution.  The 
steadiness  with  which  this  desperate  charge  was  made  re- 
flects the  highest  credit  on  officers  and  men.  The  Thirt;y- 
seventh  found  the  xindergrowth  so  dense  as  to  retard  its  pro- 
gress, but  when  it  reached  its  position  it  po^lred  a  heavy  and 
destructive  fire  upon  the  enemy.  This  combined  volley  from 
the  Eighteenth  and  Thirty-seventh  compelled  the  enemy  to 
leave  his  battery  for  a  time,  and  take  shelter  behind  a  ditcli 
bank." 

After  stating  the  positions  of  his  forces  and  the  purposes 
of  his  engagement,  continuing,  he  says:  "Finding  I  could 
no  longer  remain  without  being  surrounded,  and  hearing  of  no 
remforceanents,  and  feeling  assured  from  the  firing  that  Lane 
had  made  good  his  retreat  to  Hanover  Coxirt  House,  I  deter- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  23 

mined  to  draw  off.  This,  always  difficult  in  the  presence  of 
a  superior  enemy,  was  rendered  comparatively  easy  by  the 
precaution  I  had  taken  not  to  engage  my  whole  force.  Camp- 
bell was  ordered  to  place  the  Seventh  across  the  road  so  as  to 
receive  the  enemy  if  they  should  attempt  to  follow.  Orders 
were  then  sent  to  Lee  and  Cowan  to  withdraw  in  order.  They 
were  hotly  engaged  when  the  order  was  received,  but  promptly 
withdrew.  Colonel  Cowan,  in  an  especial  manner,  attracted 
my  attention  by  the  perfect  order  in  which  he  brought  out  his 
regiment,  notwithstanding  the  severe  and  long  continued  fire 
he  had  received  from  both  infantry  and  artillery.  The  regi- 
ment marched  to  the  rear  without  haste  or  confusion  and 
went  up  the  Ashland  road." 

The  command  reached  Ashland  during  the  night,  and  the 
next  day  marched  to  the  left  of  Johnson's  line,  inside  the 
Chickahominy,  near  Chamberlain's.  The  Eighteenth  guard- 
ed the  crossing  several  days.  Here  an  occurrence  took  place 
that  had  its  influence  on  this  and  other  North  Carolina  bri- 
gades during  the  war,  perhaps  accounting  for  their  scant 
newspaper  notoriety,  in  contrast  with  certain  other  com- 
mands. 

When  Richmond  papers  came  into  camp  two  of  them  had 
communications  relative  to  the  engagement  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh,  gingerly  criticising  General  Branch  for  withdrawing 
without  fighting  all  his  force  for  all  they  were  worth,  vigor- 
ously protesting  that  that  was  what  the  troops  were  there  for, 
etc.     This  was  breezy. 

Greneral  Branch  sent  his  aide.  Major  Blount,  to  the  edi- 
tors, and  got  each  article,  then  sent  for  Captain ,  of 

the  Thirty-seventh,  and  Lieutenant  ,  of  the  Thirty- 
third,  to  come  to  headquarters. 

He  received  them  in  that  open,  easy  manner  of  which  he 
was  master,  and  entertained  them  with  such  courtesy  as  put 
them  entirely  at  ease.  Handing  each  his  communication  he 
asked  "Is  that  your  signature  for  the  purpose  therein  ex- 
pressed," with  the  deliberation  of  a  clerk  in  chancery  probat- 
ing, a  paper. 

They  recognized  that  a  condition,  not  a  theory,  confronted 


24  North  Carolina  Troops,  18t)l-'65. 

them,  sweated  the  great  sweat  of  confusion  and  acknowl- 
edged their  deeds. 

He  then  handed  Captain the  following  and  asked 

him  to  read  it  aloud : 

HeADQUAKTEKSj 
AeMY  of  N'oETHEEISr  VlEGINIA^ 

June  3rd,  1862. 
Brigadier  General  L.  O'B.  Branch,  Commanding,  Etc. : 

The  report  of  your  recent  engagement  with  the  enemy  ft 
Slash  Church  has  been  forwarded  by  Major  General  Hill.  I 
take  great  pleasure  in  expressing  my  approval  of  the  manner 
in  which  you  have  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  in 
which  you  were  placed,  and  of  the  gallant  manner  in  which 
your  troops  opposed  a  very  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  I 
beg  you  will  signify  to  the  troops  of  your  command,  which 
were  engaged  on  that  occasion,  my  hearty  approval  of  their 
conduct,  and  hope  that  on  future  occasions  they  will  evince  a 
like  heroism  and  patriotic  devotion. 

I  am  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant. 

RoBEET  E.  Lee. 

Through  Major  General  A.  P.  Hill. 

They  frankly  deferred  to  the  opinion  of  General  Lee,  as 
to  the  merits  of  Branch's  actions  in  the  engagements  of  the 
27th,  and  the  pardon  they  asked  he  freely  gave  them. 

They  returned  to  their  commands  with  a  changed  opinion 
as  to  what  they  knew  about  war,  fully  resolved,  thereafter,  to 
attend  to  the  duties  that  lay  next  to  their  door.    , 

General  Lee's  letter  of  approval  was  read  that  evening  to 
each  regiment  of  Branch's  brigade  on  dress  parade,  and  there 
were  two  men  who  looked  very  intently  at  something  on  the 
ground  in  front  of  them  during  its  reading. 

The  story  spread  through  camp  and  we  had  no  more 
war  correspondents. 

Wait  till  you  hear  from  General  Lee  was  the  rule  with 
the  North  Carolina  troops,  leaving  to  others  to  make  reputa- 
tion by  printers  ink. 

Colonel  Lane  with  the  Twenty-eighth,  had  hard  fighting  to 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  25 

keep  from  capture,  and  being  cut  off,  made  quite  a  detour  to 
get  into  the  line  of  the  Chickahominy,  taking  two  or  three 
days.  After  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  on  the  31st,  in  which 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  .was  severely  wounded.  General 
R.  E.  Lee  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  Brigadier-General  Ambrose  Powell  Hill,  for  gal- 
lantry in  that  battle,  and  others  of  the  Peninsular  campaign, 
was  made  Major-General,  and  six  brigades  assigned  to  his 
division,  that  of  Branch  among  them. 

From  Chamberlain's  we  were  moved  to  Brook  Church  on 
the  pike  near  Richmond,  and  did  duty  at  Crenshaw,  Meadow 
Bridge  and  telegraph  road  crossings. 

On  25  June  the  brigade  moved  to  Crenshaws,  and 
next  morning  crossed  the  Chickahominy  above  the  Meadow 
Bridge  road.  Near  Atlee's  station,  a  part  of  the  Seventh  and 
Thirty-third  Regiments,  in  driving  in  the  enemy,  had  a  few 
men  wounded.  They  captured  a  flag  and  a  lot  of  prisoners. 
This  was  the  first  blood  spilled,  and  trophy  of  the  gory  seven 
day's  fight.  Branch  turning  their  right  caused  the  Yankees 
alarm,  and  A.  P.  Hill  crossed  the  division  at  the  lower  roads 
with  comparative  ease. 

McClellan  made  a  stand  at  Mechanicsville,  and  a  brisk  en- 
gagement was  carried  on,  till  night  put  a  stop  to  it.  The 
Eighteenth  was  on  the  left  of  the  line,  under  cannonading, 
from  which  we  lost  three  men. 

During  the  night  the  enemy  withdrew  their  main  forces, 
and  their  rear  guard  only  was  encountered  next  morning. 
Pursuit  was  made,  and  the  enemy  found  at  Gaines'  Mill, 
or  Cold  Harbor,  where  General  McClellan  had  concentrated 
his  troops  in  a  naturally  very  strong  position. 

Branch's  brigade  was  among  the  first  in  the  battle  and 
did  good  service.  The  Eighteenth  fought  on  the  right  of  a 
road,  crossing  a  swamp,  and  found  the  enemy  strongly  en- 
trenched on  the  high  bluff  on  the  opposite  side,  with  abatis  iti 
front  We  charged  with  vigor,  but  did  not  succeed  in  carry- 
ing the  position.  Falling  back  into  the  marsh  we  would  re- 
form and  return  to  the  charge,  with  like  result. 

Colonel  Cowan  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  says :  "Friday 
afternoon  at  4  o'clock  we  were  put  in  the  fight  at  Cold  Harbor. 


26  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

By  your  order  my  line  of  battle  was  formed  on  tlie  right  o£ 
the  road  and  in  this  order  I  advanced  through  the  dense 
woods,  in  which  the  enemy  were  posted.  A  small  ravine, 
deep  and  boggy,  compelled  ug  to  flank  still  further  to  the 
right.  By  this  means  I  became  separated  from  the  remain- 
der of  the  brigade,  Avhich  had  been  formed  on  the  left,  and  for 
a  long  time  was  wholly  without  assistance  in  my  attempts 
upon  the  enemy's  position.  Again  and  again  was  that  posi- 
tion assailed,  and  again  and  again  were  we  repulsed  by  vastly 
superior  numbers.  Regiment  after  regiment  sent  into  the 
same  attack,  shared  the  same  fate,  and  it  was  not  until  late  in 
the  afternoon  when  the  continuous  arrival  of  fresh  troops 
had  given  xis  something  like  an  equality  of  forces,  that  any 
decided  impression  was  made  upon  the  enemy.  His  posi- 
tion was  carried  in  that  last  charge  which  swept  his  whol'} 
army  from  the  field  in  a  perfect  rout.  In  this  fight  though 
I  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of  my  regiment,  the 
position  of  the  enemy  was  such  that  we  were  exposed  to 
heavy  fire  from  the  flank  as  well  as  from  the  front,  and 
though  the  regiment  was  frequently  broken,  and  compelled 
to  fall  back,  yet  I  did  not  once  lose  command  of  it.  The 
men  re-formed  with  alacrity,  and  my  commands  were  obeyed 
with  the  promptness,  if  not  the  precision  of  drill." 

In  the  last  charge  that  we  made  the  writer,  with  others, 
passed  through  the  abatis,  and  got  protection  from  the  ene- 
my's fire,  under  the  bank  their  breastworks  were  on.  Though 
the  regiment  did  not  capture  their  strong  position,  as  it  re- 
tired we  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  Yanks  abandon 
their  works — a  drawn  fight,  as  it  were. 

We  ascended  the  hill  to  the  field  in  rear  of  their  breast- 
works, and  were  there  when  Whiting's  division  of  Jackson's 
forces,  came  on  the  field  in  column,  the  Texas  brigade  in 
front. 

We  looked  up  our  kinsman,  Lieutenant  James  T.  McLau- 
rin.  Company  B,  Fourth  Texas,  and  marched  along  with 
him  some  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  before  retiirning  to  our 
command.  The  enemy  appeared  to  have  abandoned  their 
works,  for  at  least  a  half  a  mile  along  this  swamp,  as  the  re- 
sult of  the  determined  attacks  that  had  been  made  upon 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  27 

them,  and  had  fallen  back  behind  a  deep  ravine  running  into 
it,  where  Whiting  found  them.  Tliere  was  little  firing  any- 
where at  that  time. 

Soon  after  I  left  the  Texas  brigade,  the  battle  was  opened 
by  AVhiting,  and  the -rattle  of  musketry  was  incessant  till 
well  in  the  night,  such  as  was  rarely  heard  on  any  battle 
field.  The  Confederates  displayed  their  fighting  qualities 
on  all  this  field  but  to  Whiting's  division  belongs  the  credit  of 
the  rout  of  ''the  little  giants" — mighty  men  of  valor,  not 
that  his  troops  did  it  alone,  but  he  gave  them  the  grand 
bounce — the  Texas  brigade  being  the  first  to  break  their  lines 
and  with  the  assistance  of  gallant  comrades  McOlellan's  army 
was  kept  moving.  Night  put  distance  between  him  and  that 
horrible  rebel  yell,  and  he  abandoned  much  valuable  army 
supplies.  The  field,  next  day,  gave  abundant  evidence  of 
desperate  fighting  on  both  sides.  Saturday  was  spent  in 
burying  the  many  dead  upon  the  field,  and  gathering  the 
trophies  of  battle. 

Monday  evening,  the  30th,  the  enemy  was  overtaken  at 
Frazier's  farxn  and  about  4  p.  m.,  our  brigade  was  engaged 
on  the  right  of  the  road,  charging  the  enemy's  line  that  was 
strongly  posted  and  well  defended.  Sweeping  across  an 
open  field,  the  Eighteenth  Kegiment  charged  a  battery  in  the 
yard  of  a  farm  house,  strongly  supported  by  infantry.  They 
gave  us  a  warm  reception  with  grape,  canister,  and  minie, 
and  were  greatly  aided  by  those  on  their  left,  who  gave  us  a 
galling  flank  fire — so  trying  at  all  times — ^before  becoming 
engaged  with  those  on  our  right,  who  did  not  advance  as 
quickly  as  we  did.  With  a  yell  and  a  rush,  everything  was 
carried  before  us,  and  at  a  fearful  cost  in  killed  and  wounded. 
At  the  woods  beyond  the  house  the  regiment  was  re-formed 
and  advanced  again,  with  the  brigade,  through  a  strip  of 
woods,  and  another  field,  routing  the  enemy.  On  Tuesday, 
1  July,  we  were  not  actively  engaged  at  Malvern  Hill — 
simply  held  the  position  assigned  us,  when  we  came 
on  the  field  in  the  afternoon.  We  were  under  fire  of 
the  land  batteries  and  the  gunboats,  a  shell  from  the  latter 
wounding  a  few  men.  The  rest  of  the  week  we  spent  on  Mc- 
Olellan's flank  clearing  it  of  straggling  parties  and  on  Sunday 


28  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

bivouaced  near  Charles  City  C.  H.,  in  a  thicket  of  old  field 
pines.  Here  a  strange  accident  occurred.  A  musket  fell 
from  a  stack  of  guns  and  was  discharged,  wounding  Lieuten- 
ant George  W.  Huggins,  Company  I,  in  the  foot.  He  was 
asleep.  It  was  a  rude  awakening,  and  from  it  he  goes  limp- 
ing through  life.  There  was  no  one  near  the  guns,  and  on 
being  examined  it  was  at  half-cock,  and  very  hot.  Had  the 
hammer  been  on  the  cap  it  would  have  been  readily  accounted 
for,  by  its  hitting  the  ground.  It  was  evidently  a  rare  case 
of  sunheat-shooting.  Had  any  one  been  reasonable  near  it 
would  have  been  too  strong  a  case  of  circumstantial  evidence 
for  him  to  have  escaped  punishment. 

From  Charles  City  C.  H.,  we  returned  to  near  Richmond 
and  remained  in  camp  till  the  first  week  of  August,  when  A. 
P.  Hill's  division  reinforced  Stonewall  Jackson,  who,  in  com- 
mand of  two  divisions,  had  gone  to  the  vicinity  of  Orange  C. 
H.,  to  watch  Pope's  advance,  threatening  our  railroad  con- 
nections at  G-ordonsville.  Hill  reached  Orange  on  the  7th, 
and  on  the  8th  only  a  few  miles  march  was  made,  the  weather 
being  oppressively  hot,  and  there  being  some  misunderstand- 
ing of  the  order  of  march. 

On  the  evening  of  the  9th,  was  fought  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain.  Branch's  Brigade  came  on  the  field  after  the  bat- 
tle began,  and  was  hastily  formed  on  the  left  of  the  Culpep- 
per road,  to  support  Jackson's  first  line,  and  ordered  to  ad- 
vance. It  had  gone  but  a  little  distance  when  it  met  the 
"Stonewall  Brigade,"  that  splendid  body  of  troops  that  at 
First  Manassas  gave  renown  and  "a  name"  to  the  idol  of  the 
army,  fleeing  in  iitter  rout  and  confusion  before  an  exultant 
foe.  Nothing  daunted  by  the  imfavorable  condition  of  af- 
fairs Branch's  "Tar  Heels"  met  the  enemy  unflinchingly,  and 
drove  them  back  in  great  disorder. 

Of  this  charge  General  Branch  in  his  report,  says:  "My 
brigade  opened  upon  them,  and  quickly  drove  the  enemy 
back  from  the  woods  into  a  large  field. 

"Following  up  to  the  edge  of  the  field,  I  came  in  view  of 
large  bodies  of  the  enemy,  and  having  a  very  fine  position,  I 
opened  upon  them,  with  great  effect.  The  enemy's  cavalry 
attempted  to  charge  us  in  two  columns,  but  the  fire  soon  broke 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  29 

them,  and  sent  them  fleeing  across  the  field  in  every  direction. 
The  infantry  then  retreated  also.  Advancing  into  the  field, 
I  halted  near  the  middle  of  it,  in  doubt  which  direction  to 
take.  Just  at  that  moment.  General  Jackson  came  riding  up 
from  my  rear,  alone.  I  reported  my  brigade  as  being  solid, 
and  asked  for  orders.  My  men  recognized  him,  and  raised 
a  terrific  shout,  as  he  rode  along  the  line  with  his  hat  off.  He 
evidently  knew  how  to  appreciate  a  brigade  that  had  gone 
through  a  hot  battle,  and  was  then  following  a  retreating 
enemy,  without  having  broken  its  line  of  battle,  and  remained 
with  me  directing  my  movements  until  the  pursuit  ceased. 
*  *  *  *  We  gained  a  splendid  victory,  and  the  credit 
is  due  to  my  brigade.  I  was  among  my  men  all  during  the 
fight  and  they  were  brave  and  cool." 

Branch's  success  enabled  General  Taliaferro,  on  the  right 
of  the  road,  to  reform  his  left,  that  was  giving  away,  and  hold 
his  ground. 

Generals  Pender  and  Archer  were  forming  on  Branch's  left 
and  advanced  before  they  were  properly  aligned ;  success  at- 
tended an  advance  on  the  whole  line  and  the  field  was  ours. 
Jackson  started  for  Culpepper  that  night,  but,  after  going 
two  or  three  miles,  went  into  camp,  his  scouts  reporting  that 
Pope  hiid  rec'.'ived  heavy  reinforceiments. 

The  dead  were  buried  and  in  a  few  days  Jackson  took 
position  south  of  the  Rapidan,  the  Eighteenth  camping  near 
Orange  C.  IT. 

On  the  20th  the  Rapidan  was  again  crossed,  and  we  had  a 
skirmish  near  Brandy  Station. 

The  fords  of  the  Rappahannock  were  strongly  guarded  by 
Pope's  command,  Jackson  forced  a  crossing  at  one  of  them 
and  attracted  their  attention  in  that  direction  whilst  by  such 
defiles  as  afforded  cover,  he  ascended  the  right  bank  to  War- 
renton  Springs  and  on  the  22nd  crossed  over  a  small  com- 
mand. In  that  engagement  the  Eighteenth  supported  a  bat- 
tery on  the  south  side  and  sustained  but  slight  injury.  The 
troops  were  v.  ithdra'wn  from  the  north  side  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  2Cth,  before  day,  Jackson  "lit-out"  with  his  foot- 
cavalry  to  go  aroimd  Pope.  When  we  reached  Hazel  river 
we  waded  up  that  stream  to  keep  the  dust  of  the  road  from 


30  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

betraying  oar  route,  and  crossing  the  Blue  Eidge  we  got  a 
few  hours  rest  that  night  around  Orleans.  JSText  day  JSTew 
Salem  was  passed  and  the  Blue  Ridge  recrossed  at  Thorough- 
fare Gap.  That  night  about  1  o'clock  Jackson  camped  in 
Pope's  rear  around  Bristoe  Station. 

On  the  morning  of  27  August,  Branch's  brigade 
had  a  briish  with  cavalry  and  artillery  near  Manassas  Junc- 
tion, running  it  back  across  Bull  Run,  captuidng .  sozne  200 
prisoners. 

The  Eighteenth  regiment  was  not  in  the  pursuit,  being 
detached  after  tlie  fight  to  guard  Manassas  depot,  and  hun- 
dreds of  cars  loaded  with  supplies  for  Pope's  army — a  rich 
trophy  indeed. 

Supplies  were  taken  out,  not  only  for  Jackson's  troops,  but 
also  for  Lee's  army  that  was  following,  and  had,  two  days  af- 
terward to  fight  its  way  through  Thoroughfare  Gap.  All 
the  supplies  were  taken  that  could  be  disposed  of  and  the 
torch  applied,  about  midnight,  to  that  which  could  not  be  util- 
ized. At  1  o'clock  a.  m.  the  Eighteenth  followed  Jackson 
across  Bull  Run  and  in  the  early  morn  reached  the  fortifi- 
cations at  Centreville  erected  in  1861.  After  resting  a  few 
hours  the  march  was  resumed,  and  we  recrossed  Bull  Run  at 
the  Stone  bridge  taking  position  in  line  similar  to  that  occu- 
pied by  the  Federals  in  1861,  at  the  First  Manassas  battle. 
We  were  under  heavy  artillery  firing  for  some  time,  and 
had  some  casualties.  The  Eighteenth  was  again  detached 
from  the  brigade  and  sent  to  the  right  to  the  support  of  a 
part  of  EWell's  command. 

Ewell's  troops  repulsed  the  attack  on  them  before  our  arri- 
val and  we  returned  without  being  actively  engaged.  On 
the  morning  of  the  29th  we  made  quite  a  march,  returning 
during  the  day  near  where  we  started  from,  too  fatigued  for 
the  hard  service  that  fell  to  our  lot.  We  were  placed  on  the 
left  near  Sudley  Ford,  behind  the  unfinished  Alexandria 
and  Manassas  Gap  Railroad  and  being  in  the  second  line,  as 
supports,  had  ample  action  in  different  places  without  any 
protection.  Branch's  brigade  was  fought  that  day  in  sec- 
tions, and  like  foot-cavalry,  was  at  all  parts  of  the  line.  The 
Eighteenth  was  sent  across  the  railroad  to  cheek  a  flank  move-  ■ 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  31 

ment,  then  to  the  assistance  of  Gregg's  brigade,  that  occupied 
the  key  to  Jackson's  position,  where  desperate  fighting  had  to 
be  done  to  hold  it  against  the  hosts  that  were  hurled  upon  it, 
in  a  vain  effort  to  rum  Jackson's  left.  Again  the  Eighteenth 
was  sent  to  A.  P.  Hill's  right,  to  the  support  of  Archer's  and 
a  Louisiana  Brigade,  which  occupied  a  railroad  cut.  The 
Eighteenth  fought  iu-an  open  oak  woods  imniediately  in  their 
rear,  and  when  an  attack  was  repulsed,  we  could  not  charge 
and  follow  them.     Jackson  held  his  ground. 

It  was  evidently  Pope's  intention  to  overwhelm  Stonewall 
and  crush  him  before  Lee  could  come  to  his  assistance. .  Long- 
street  met  vigorous  resistance  at  Thoroughfare  Gap,  but 
forced  his  way  through,  and  by  pressing  in  the  direction  of 
Jackson's  guns,  arrived  on  his  right  near  Groveton  in  time 
to  give  needful  help.  Every  part  of  the  line  was  held,  and 
Pope's  efforts  frustrated.  On  the  30th  we  were  to  the  left 
of  the  heavy  fighting,  not  actively  engaged,  simply  holding 
the  place  assigned  us.  The  attacks  of  the  enemy  were  re- 
pulsed, and  in  the  afternoon  an  advance  along  the  line  drove 
them  back  on  Bull  Run.  The  Confederates  were  victors  on 
almost  the  identical  ground  from  which  the  Federals  were 
driven  pell-mell  in  1861. 

During  the  night  Pope's  army  crossed  Bull  Run,  more  de- 
liberately than  it  was  crossed  in  1861,  but  equally  defeated. 

A  heavy  rain  falling  that  night,  pursuit  was  not  made. 
The  31st  was  used  in  burying  the  dead  and  gathering 
the  spoils  of  war,  principally  by  Longstreet,  as  Jackson 
crossed  the  historic  Bull  Run  at  Sudley  Ford  and  camped 
that  night  near  Little  River  Turnpike.  On  1  September 
marched  along  the  pike  towards  Fairfax  Court  House.  At 
Ox  Hill  the  enemy  was  met  that  afternoon,  advancing  from 
the  direction  of  Centreville.  Branch  was  formed  parallel  to 
the  pike,  and  advancing  through  a  field,  drove  the  enemy 
from  a  wood  into  a  large  field  beyond.  In  the  edge  of  this 
opening.  Branch  halted  and  held  his  position  (which  was 
apart  from  the  brigade  that  advanced  with  him,  but  on  a 
diverging  line)  though  heavily  assailed  in  front  and  flank. 
Our  ammunition  being  exhausted  and  the  ordnance  wagons 
not  accessible,  we  were  ordered  to  hold  our  position  at  the 


32  North  Gakolina  Tkoops,  1861-65. 

point  of  the  bayonet.  The  battle  was  on,  during  a  blinding 
wind  and  rain-storm,  and  the  enemy  was  satisfied  with  the 
assaults  made  upon  us.  Towards  night  we  were  withdrawn, 
and  rested  on  the  pike.  On  the  5th  the  army  crossed  the 
Potomac  above  Leesburg,  Va.,  and  camped  a  week  on  the 
Monacacy,  near  Frederick  City,  Md.  Here  the  Eighteenth 
received  a  large  number  of  raw  recriiits  from  North  Caro- 
lina, without  arms  or  accoutrements. 

On  13  September,  Jackson  was  off  on  another  flank 
movement,  and  crossing  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport,  came 
down  upon  Martinsburg,  which,  after  some  resistance  was 
evacuated,  leaving  a  good  quantity  of  supplies  in  our  hands. 

General  White  retreated  to'  Harpers  Ferry,  which  Jackson 
attacked  the  evening  of  the  14th.  Night  put  an  end  to  it, 
and  was  taken  advantage  of  to  get  into  position.  It  was 
after  midnight  when  Branch  got  in  the  rear  on  Boiivar 
Heights,  and  some  brigades  had  equally  as  great  difiiculty  in 
getting  into  position.  When  the  fog  lifted  on  the  15th  and 
Jackson's  artillery  opened  from  the  heights,  theretofore  con- 
sidered inaccessible,  it  was  not  long  before  the  white  flag  was 
raised  and  12,000  surrendered,  with  a  splendid  equipment  of 
guns,  ammunition  and  supplies.  Our  raw  recruits  were  sup- 
plied with  guns.  Up-to-date  Springfield  rifles,  replaced  our 
smooth-bores,  and  A.  P.  Hill's  division  was  left  to  guard  the 
post,  parole  prisoners,  etc.  Stonewall  Jackson  rejoined  the 
army  with  the  rest  of  his  conraiand,  and  the  heavy  firing  that 
could  be  distinctly  heard  proclaimed  his  need.  On  the  17th, 
Hill's  light  division  was  marched  rapidly  to  Sharpsburg, 
crossing  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown,  and  arrived  on  the 
field  just  in  time  to  save  Lee's  lines,  that  were  giving  away 
at  all  points  on  the  right  and  centre.  An  half  hour  later 
would  have  been  fatal. 

Branch's  brigade  fought  about  midway  between  Sharps- 
burg and  the  Antietam,  in  a  com  field  running  northerly  from 
the  creek  to  the  town. 

The  Eighteenth  was  left  in  reserve,  at  first,  behind  a  ridge 
near  some  straw  stacks,  in  a  stubble  field.  The  corn  was  visi- 
ble from  these  straw  stacks,  to  the  Antietam,  as  we  approach- 
ed. About  the  time  that  Branch  ordered  the  Eighteenth  into 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  33 

action  he  was  killed  near  these  stacks.  The  Eighteenth 
crossed  the  ridge  to  the  left  of  the  stacks  and  as  we  descended 
into  the  valley  beyond,  we  saw  the  thin  gray  line  retreucing 
from  a  wooded  ridge,  some  300  yards  over  the  corn,  into  a 
valley  that  extended  towards  the  town,  with  Burnside's  victo- 
rious blue  coats  in  vigorous  pursuit.  The  lines  met  in  this 
corn-covered  valley,  and  the  conflict  was  terrific,  decisive. 
Burnside  was  hurled  back  and  a  rout  prevented.  There  was 
no  more  fighting  that  evening.  The  Eighteenth  fought 
apart  from  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  and  re-formed  on  the  edge 
of  the  corn  field  behind  a  part  stone,  and  part  rail  fence 
with  skirmishers  in  the  valley.  About  night  the  brigade  was 
gotten  together  by  Colonel  James  H.  Lane,  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  North  Carolina,  and  formed  on  an  extension  of  this 
fence, with  the  Eighteenth  on  its  left,  nearer  the  town,  where 
we  lay  all  next  day  roasting  in  a  scorching  September  sun,  or 
drenched  by  downpours  of  rain,  with  now  and  then  a  minie 
ball  salute  from  the  wooded  ridge  beyond  the  corn.  Our 
hard  march  from  Harper's  Ferry,  wading  the  Potomac  in 
fours,  our  clothing  saturated  with  water  from  the  hips  down, 
the  effort  to  close  up  to  the  head  of  the  column,  making  it  an 
up-hill  foot-race  from  the  river  to  the  battle-field,  caused  none 
but  those  of  unquestioned  endurance  to  be  there  to  go  into 
action. 

Burnside's  corps  was  on  the  field  all  day  resting.  That  was 
its  first  action,  and  flushed  with  victory,  it  should  have  swept 
us  off  the  earth,  the  mere  handful  that  we  were  to  thciu  in 
numbers.  How  Hill's  divisioii  stood  before  them  -"xas  won- 
derful, but  it  liad  gone  there  to  fight  and  was  too  tirotl  to 
run.  There  was  no  pursuit.  Nature  has  its  limits,  and  we 
had  reached  ours,  with  fearful  sacrifice. 

Lee  with  his  army,  matchless  by  equal  numbers,  lay  on  the 
field  during  the  18th,  and  was  not  attacked  by  the  vastly  out- 
numbering foe.  During  the  night  Lee  withdrew  his  forces 
and  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Virginia.  Branch's  brigade, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Lane,  covered  the  retreat.  Repulsing 
the  enemy,  then  falling  back  till  pressed  again,  the  rear  was 
effectively  covered.  We  crossed  the  ford  below  Boteler's 
3 


34  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

mill  in  good  order,  under  fire  of  a  pursuing  enemy,  and  went 
into  camp  two  or  three  miles  away. 

During  the  night  the  enemy  crossed  a  corps,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  20th,  A.  P.  Hill's  division  was  sent  back  to 
attend  to  it.  The  heights  on  the  Maryland  side  command 
the  Virginia  side,  and  were  bristling  with  artillery.  A  few 
rounds  showed  that  our  artillery  was  not  in  it,  and  it  got  out 
of  range,  so  that  it  was  purely  an  infantry  fight  on  our  part. 
Hill  charged  with  three  brigades,  supported  by  the  other 
three,  and  drove  the  enemy  to  the  river,  capturing  many 
prisoners.  From  the  start  the  artillery  had  our  range,  accu- 
rately, and  their  shells  plowed  through  the  Eighteenth  several 
times  during  the  advance..  Reaching  the  river  the  Eigh- 
teenth occupied  a  bluff  overlooking  Boteler's  mill  dam,  and 
from  it,  shot  blue  coats  crossing  the  dam,  till  a  detail  sent 
down  captured  all  under  the  bluff. 

The  artillery  practice  became  so  accurate  that  they'd  hit  a 
litter  carrying  oft'  our  wounded  or  our  canteen  men,  going 
across  a  ridge  in  our  rear  for  water.  We  had  to  lie  close  all 
day,  and  withdraw  after  night.  The  enemy  that  got  across 
the  river  had  also  to  lie  close  in  the  canal  all  day.  It  was 
full. 

We  camped  aroiind  Bunker  Hill,  and  in  October  worked  a 
few  days  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  beyond  Mar- 
tinsburg,  and  left  a  couple  of  sections  about  Hedgersville 
and  North  Mountain  depot  in  splendid  disorder.  Colonel 
Lane  was  promoted  brigadier,  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  Branch's  brigade,  and  remained  with  it  during  the 
war.  Colonel  Robert  H.  Cowan,  of  the  Eighteenth  Regi- 
ment, resigned,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas  J.  Purdie 
became  Colonel,  Major  Forney  George,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
and  Cajrtain  John  D.  Barry,  Company  I,  Major  of  the  regi- 
ment. 

About  the  middle  of  November  the  Eighteenth  had  an  en- 
gagement with  the  enemy  at  Snicker's  Gap,  and  the  last  days 
of  the  month,  Jackson  followed  Tjongstreet  towards  Fred- 
ericksburg to  meet  Burnside's  movements.  There  was  an 
abundance  of  rain,  sleet  and  snow  during  the  march,  and 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  35 

many  of  the  men  were  barefooted,  as  well  as  thinly  clad,  but 
they  had  the  stuff  of  heroes  in  them. 

On  10  December  we  camped  below  Fredericksburg,  near 
the  Massaponax,  and  on  the  12th  went  into  line  above 
that  stream,  A.  P.  Hill's  right  being  at  Hamilton's 
crossing  and  his  left  near  Deep  Run;  Fields,  Archer,  Lane 
and  Pender  in  the  front  and  Gregg  and  Thomas  in  the  second 
line  as  supports.  From  Hamilton's  the  railroad  is  the 
cord  of  the  curving  ridge  that  extends , from  that  place  to  Fred- 
ericlcsburg  and  runs  between  the  foothills  and  the  Port  Royal 
road. 

Archer  occupied  a  part  of  the  railroad  track,  and  to  his  left 
was  a  stretch  of  wooded  marshland,  500  or  600  yards  between 
his  left  and  Lane's  right.  This  gap  Lane  and  Archer  tried  to 
get  filled,  and  subsequent  results  showed  the  unwise  neglect  of 
their  superiors  in  not  heeding  their  entreaties. 

The  railroad  track  to  the  left  of  the  marshland,  wliich 
Lane  occupied,  ran  through  a  low  place  with  a  ridge  to  the 
right,  some  seventy-five  or  a  hundred  yards,  high  enough  to 
shut  out  a  view  of  the  plain  in  front,  from  all  of  the  brigade, 
save  part  of  the  Thirty-seventh  on  the  right,  and  the  Seventh 
on  the  left.  Several  pieces  of  artillery  were  on  this  ridge  in 
front  of  the  Seventh  and  of  Pender  on  its  left. 

When  the  fog  lifted  on  the  13th,  the  artillery  duel  from 
the  enemy,  with  these  guns  and  those  on  the  ridge  in  our  rear, 
put  lis  under  a  heavy  fire.  When  the  enemy  advanced,  tliey 
were  repulsed  at  the  crest  of  the  ridge  in  our  front.  The  gap 
between  Lane  and  Archer  was  discovered  and  in  their  next 
advance,  a  heavy  force  against  that  part  of  the  line,  forced 
back  Archer's  left  and  Lane's  right,  and  penetrated  to  Gregg's 
line.  Lane's  right  regiments  held  their  ground  tenaciously, 
each  retiring  only  as  compelled  to  do  so.  Colonel  Purdie 
threw  back  the  right  wing  of  the  Eighteenth  to  the  woods 
some  seventy-five  or  one  hundred  yards  in  our  rear,  and  made 
a  determined  stand.  Here  the  enemy  was  checked,  Thomas 
coming  to  our  assistance. 

Gregg  was  said  to  have  been  killed  before  he  knew  that  the 
troops  advancing  on  him  were  enemies.  His  gallant  brigade 
rcovered  from  a  temporary  confusion  and  joined  with  Law- 


36  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ton  and  Hoke  were  sent  to  Archer's  relief,  and  Thomas  and 
Lane  on  its  left.  The  whole  line  advanced,  and  drove  back  the 
enemy  with  great  loss.  Reaching  the  railroad  the  left  of  the 
Eighteenth  and  the  Seventh,  that  had  held  their  position, 
joined  in  the  advance.  The  division  was  reformed  on  the 
railroad  line  and  gotten  in  readiness  for  a  night  attack.  At 
nightfall  we  took  position  at  the  crest  of  the  rising  ground 
in  front  and  were  ready  at  the  appointed  time,  but  Jack- 
son's desire  for  a  night  attack  was  overruled,  and  the  order 
was  countermanded  in  the  nick  of  time.  We  occupied  thi 
front  line  till  about  midday  of  the  14th,  when  we  were  sent 
back  to  the  top  of  the  ridge  for  a  night's  rest. 

On  the  15th  we  were  again  in  line,  ready  for  any  emer- 
gency. On  that  night,  Burnside  withdrew  his  forces  to  the 
north  side  of  the  Eappahannock.  Jackson's  corps  moved 
down  the  Port  Eoyal  road  to  Corbin's  Neck,  and  went  into 
winter  quarters. 

On  30  April  camp  was  broken,  and  we  marched  to  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  next  day  we  engaged  with  the  enemy  across 
the  Orange  plank  road,  near  Chancellorsville. 

On  the  morning  of  2  May,  1863,  I  was  sent  to  recall  our 
skirmishers,  and  follow  to  the  left.  Jackson  marched  by 
the  left  flank,  going  by  the  Iron  Furnace,  around  Hook- 
er's army,  and  crossed  the  Orange  plank  road  some  three 
miles  west  of  Chancellorsville.  Facing  east  the  line  was 
ready  to  advance  and  no  time  was  lost.  Striking  the  Elev- 
enth corps  in  flank  and  rear,  it  was  routed  and  driven  back, 
and  by  sundown  Jackson's  troops  were  near  Chancellorsville. 
Part  of  A.  P.  Hill's  division  marched  in  column  do-wn  the 
plank  road  and  at  sundown  Lane  was  ordered  to  form  his  bri- 
gade across  the  road,  and  charge  Chancellor's  Hill,  on  which 
Hooker  was  massing  his  artillery,  and  forming  his  line,  with 
troops  that  had  not  been  engaged. 

Our  artillery  opened  on  them,  and  was  replied  to  by  the 
guns  in  position.  A  severe  cannonading  prevented  Lane 
from  forming  line  till  our  artillery  was  stopped  and  the  firing 
ceased. 

The  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  was  formed  on  the  left 
of  the  road  and  the  Seventh  and  Thirty-seventh  on  the  right, 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  37 

the  Thirty-third  was  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  covering 
the  brigade.  The  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  were  moved 
forward  near  the  skirmishers  (which  we  did  not  know  at  that 
time  were  in  our  front) ,  and  before  the  Seventh  and  Thirty- 
seventh  were  brought  opposite  us,  a  Yankee  officer  came  into 
the  right  regiment  and  asked  wjiat  troops  it  was.  Waving  a 
handkerchief,  he  claimed  flag  of  truce  rights,  but  was  not 
allowed  to  go  back.  Lane  was  informed  at  once  of  the  troops 
moving  on  his  right  flank  and  went  to  investigate  before  ad- 
vancing, though  Jackson  and  Hill  had  again  ordered  the 
advance.  ■  We  had  orders  at  first  to  be  careful  as  our  cavalry 
would  cross  at  Ely's  or  U.  S.  Fords,  and  might  come  in  from 
its  circuit  in  our  front.  Later  we  had  orders  to  shoot  any- 
thing from  the  front. 

Whilst  General  Lane  was  investigating  the  situation  on 
his  right,  which  took  some  time,  and  resulted  in  retaining 
the  ofiicer  who  was  parleying,  and  the  capture  of  his  regi- 
ment— One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Pennsylvania — Colonel 
Purdie,  hearing  something  in  our  front,  called  me  with  him, 
and  we  went  forward  carefully  on  the  edge  of  the  road  some 
50  or  60  yards,  and  found  Captain  George  W.  Sanderlin,  of 
the  Thirty-third,  who  gave  us  our  first  information  that  that 
regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers.  We  told  him  of  our 
orders,  and  the  complication  that  had  arisen  on  the  right.  He 
crossed  the  road  with  us  where  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cowan 
was  and  whilst  talking  with  him  Captain  Joe  Sanders  came 
up  looking  for  Colonel  Avery  to  tell  him  of  the  troops  moving 
on  the  right  of  his  skirmish  line.  In  a  few  minutes  a  few 
shots  were  fired,  apparently  two  or  three  hundred  yards  in 
our  front,  to  the  right  of  the  road,  then  extending  towards 
the  right  of  the  brigade.  At  this  juncture  Colonel  Purdie 
and  myself  started  for  our  line,  making  our  steps  fast  and 
long.  Firing  began  along  the  brigade.  Before  we  reached 
the  Eighteenth  it  fired  a  terrific  volley.  How  we  escaped 
was  wonderful.  Horses  with  riders,  and  horses  without, 
came  into  the  line  with  us. 

We  are  friends,  cease  firing !  rang  out,  but  too  late.     Stone- 


38  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

wall  Jackson  and  some  of  the  staff  wounded,  and  some  two  or 
three  couriers  killed,  was  the  result  of  that  volley. 

Lane's  ambulance  corps  was  in  our  immediate  rear,  and 
was  called  into  use.  A  blanket  was  placed  over  General 
Jackson  to  keep  his  wounding  from  being  known,  as  he  was 
carried  to  the  rear. 

I  pulled  the  cape  of  his  overcoat  over  the  head  of  one  of 
Hill's  couriers,  that  fell  about  where  I  had  last  seen  Colonel 
Purdie.  They  were  about  the  same  size  and  resembled  each 
other  very  much.  In  the  darkness  I  was  mistaken.  Purdie  was 
safe  and  sound  at  the  left  of  the  regiment.  About  a  half  hour 
after  the  wounding  of  Jackson,  another  firing  took  place 
along  the  line,  and  A.  P.  Hill,  who  had  gone  to  the  front  on 
foot  to  look  for  something  that  was  left,  where  Jackson  was 
wounded,  was  shot  in  the  calf  of  his  leg.  Hill  was  much 
displeased,  and  was  reproving  us  for  firing  at  a  noise,  etc.  A 
company  B  back-woodsman  laconically  remarked :  "Every- 
body knows  the  Yankee  army  can't  run  the  'Light  Division,' 
and  one  little  general  needn't  try  it."  This  sally  restored 
him  to  normal  condition  and  he  limped  down  the  road,  stay- 
ing on  the  field  till  General  J.  E.  B.  Stewart,  the  chivalrous 
cavalryman,  came  from  near  Ely's  ford  when  he  turned  the 
command  over  to  him.  Hill  may  have  had  a  contiision  from 
a  bursting  shell  as  mentioned  by  various  writers  of  the  inci- 
dent, but  he  certainly  got  a  minie  ball  in  his  leg  after  Jack- 
son was  wovinded. 

How  Jackson  and  Hill,  their  staff  and  couriers  got  in  front 
was  never  satisfactorily  explained.  Neither  of  them  was  in 
the  habit,  day  or  night,  of  riding  or  otherwise  going  in  front 
of  the  skirmishers,  or  line,  when  they  ordered  an  advance, 
and  the  enemy  known  to  be  at  a  short  distance  on  that  night 
they  certainly  woiild  not  knowingly  have  put  themselves  be- 
tween the  lines  at  such  a  time.  Such  a  body  of  horsemen 
could  not  have  ridden  through  any  part  of  Lane's  brigade 
that  night  without  its  being  known.  We  were  never  more 
on  the  alert,  and  wide  awake  than  that  night,  and  I  don't  re- 
member to  have  ever  heard  of  a  member  of  the  brigade  say- 
ing that  he  knew  they  had  gone  in  our  front. 

My  recollection  is  that  when  Hill  and  Jackson  came  for- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  39 

ward  to  know  why  Lane  did  not  advance  and  again  directed 
him  to  do  so,  they  went  to  the  rear,  to  a  large  field,  on  the  left 
of  the  road,  where  Rodes,  Colston,  Trimble  and  others  were 
reforming  their  commands.  It  was  more  than  probable  that 
the  delay  occurring  by  the  complication  on  Lane's  right, 
caused  them  to  ride  forward  on  the  mountain  road,  leading 
towards  Chancellorsville,  passing  beyond  Lane's  left,  and 
they  were  thus  in  our  front,  when  the  firing  began.  What- 
ever may  be  the  true  statement  of  how  they  got  in  that  posi- 
tion, there  was  nothing  more  certain  than  that  they  came 
from  our  front  when  the  firing  began. 

It  was  generally  conceded  that  the  Eighteenth  Regiment 
fired  the  fatal  shots.  None  regretted  the  occurrence  more 
than  we  did,  and  the  army  did  not  blame  us  for  the  manner 
or  measure  of  our  discharge  of  our  duty,  though  others  did. 

The  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  were  transferred  to 
the  right  of  the  brigade  about  11  o'clock  and  repulsed  an  at- 
tack made  upon  that  flank,  capturing  many  prisoners  in  addi- 
tion to  the  regiment  captured  there  earlier  in  the  night.  The 
skirmish  lines  were  not  far  apart,  and  the  least  noise  brought 
on  a  volley. 

With  empty  stomachs  we  slept  on  our  arms,  as  best  we 
could,  between  the  firings. 

Our  ears  caught  the  rumbling  of  artillery  wheels  and  the 
clatter  of  many  axes,  making  us  painfully  aware  that  Clian- 
eellorsville  Hill  was  fortified  for  the  morrow's  work.  Stu- 
art gave  orders  that  the  attack  be  made  at  4  o'clock  next  morn- 
ing. At  early  dawn  Hill's  division,  commanded  by  Heth, 
was  put  in  motion.  The  right  of  Lane  being  deflected  was 
wheeled  to  the  left  to  get  in  line.  The  first  and  second  breast- 
works were  carried  before  sunrise.  Hill's  right  brigades 
found  the  enemy  entrenched  where  Lane  had  fought  them  the 
night  before,  and  had  to  fight  into  position  to  advance.  Be- 
ing thtis  detained  Lane  was  exposed  on  his  right,  and  lost 
heavily  at  the  second  breastworks. 

Colonel  Purdie  was  killed,*and  Lieutenant-Colonel  George 
wounded.  Major  Barry  had  a  captain  left  to  command  the 
right  and  a  lieutenant  to  command  the  left  wing  of  the  regi- 
ment, a  fearful  loss,  and  he  was  the  only  one  of  thirteen  regi- 


40  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

mental  officers  present  with  the  brigade,  not  killed  or 
wounded.  Color  Bearer  Richardson,  of  the  Eighteenth, 
was  wounded  in  the  night  fighting,  and  Prophet  and  Ed- 
wards were  killed,  successively,  at  the  second  breastworks 
next  morning. 

The  writer  was  wounded,  through  the  upper  third  of  left 
thigh,  just  as  these  works  were  carried,  and  got  nearly  ofE 
the  field  by  using  two  muskets  as  crutches,  before  the  enemy 
rallied  and  retook  the  works.  Out  of  ammunition  and  no 
reinforcements  arriving,  the  brigade  was  unable  to  hold  its 
position,  and  retreated  to  the  first  line  of  works,  where  it 
remained  till  supplied  with  ammunition.  The  enemy  rein- 
forced, and  stubbornly  held  this  strong  position,  repulsing 
several  attacks  made  upon  it.  It  was  near  10  o'clock  before 
Chancellor's  Hill  was  carried,  when  Lee's  and  Stuart's  line 
were  joined  and  Hooker's  army  forced  beyond  the  Planl?;  road 
into  the  tangle  of  that  wilderness  country,  from  which  he  re- 
crossed  the  Eapidan.  Lane's  loss  in  this  fight  was  909,  about 
one-third  of  the  loss  of  Hill's  division. 

In  his  book  clearing  up  the  odium  that  attached  to  the 
Eleventh  corps  for  its  disaster  in  this  battle,  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel A.  C.  Hamlin,  brother  of  Vice-President  Hannibal  Llam- 
lin,  historian  of  that  much  abused  command,  says  of  Lane's 
brigade:  "This  brigade  faced  the  Federal  front  in  line  of 
battle,  and  although  twice  exposed  to  the  fire  of  forty-three 
cannon,  it  never  faltered,  nor  called  for  help,  until  its  flank 
and  rear  were  threatened  by  Sickles  about  midnight.  The 
history  of  this  command  under  its  dauntless  leader,  through- 
out the  war,  and  ending  at  Appomattox,  will  always  be  ad- 
mired, and  respected  by  those  who  believe  in  American  man- 
hood. And  the  student  who  seeks  to  discover  a  higher  degree 
of  courage  and  hardihood  among  the  military  organizations 
of  either  army  will  look  over  the  true  records  of  the  war  for 
a  long  time,  if  not  in  vain.  Investigation  shows  that  the  bri- 
gade was  composed  of  young  men,  of  the  best  stock  the  Old 
North  State  contained,  and  sent  to  represent  it,  in  that  bul- 
wark of  secession,  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  The  rec- 
ords show  that  it  was  in  all  of  the  principal  battles  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  that  its  blows  were  severe 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  41 

and  its  losses  were  frightful.  In  the  battles  around  Rich- 
mond in  1862,  the  brigade  lost  800  men,  killed  and  wounded, 
at  Chancellorsville  it  lost  nearly  800  men  killed  and  wounded, 
and  of  its  thirteen  field  officers,  all  but  one  were  struck  down. 
At  Gettysburg  it  formed  the  left  of  Longstreet's  charge 
and  although  it  had  lost  nearly  40  per  cent,  in  its 
three  days  fighting,  it  marched  off  the  field  in  excel- 
lent order  when  Pickett  was  routed  and  took  position 
in  support  of  the  rebel  (Confederate)  batteries,  which 
some  of  the  brigades  of  that  charge  did  not  do.  This  organ- 
ization was  among  the  last  soldiers  of  Lee's  army  to  re- 
cross  the  Potomac  after  both  Antietam  and  Gettysburg. 
North  Carolina  furnished  more  men  than  any  other  State 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  lost  more  in  action  than  any  of  its 
sister  States,  and  the  records  show,  or  seem  to  show,  that  her 
mountaineers  struck  many  of  the  hardest  blows  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  received  from  the  Army  of  JSTorthern  Virginia." 

These  generous  words  from  a  foe,  are  true,  and  show  that 
those  who  met  us  on  the  field  of  battle,  could  recognize  "foe- 
men  worthy  of  their  steel." 

His  figures  of  killed  and  wounded  are  supposed  to  be  taken 
from  the  Surgeon  General's  Hospital  report,  and  the  differ- 
ence between  that  and  the  brigade  and  the  regimental  reports 
is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  a  great  many  slightly 
wounded  men  never  passed  through  the  hospitals,  where  a 
record  was  kept. 

Jackson's  corps  returned  to  its  camp  and  after  his  death,  it 
and  Longstreet's  were  reorganized  and  three  corps  formed, 
under  Longstreet,  Ewell  and  A.  P.  Hill.  When  A.  P.  Hill 
was  made  Lieutenant-General,  Brigadier-Generals  W.  D. 
Pender  and  Harry  Heth  were  made  Major-Generals.  Colonel 
Alfred  M.  Scales  succeeded  Pender  as  Brigadier-General.  To 
Major-General  Pender's  "Light  Division"  was  assigned  the 
Worth  Carolina  brigades  of  Lane  and  Scales,  McGowan's  (S. 
C.)  and  Thomas'  (Georgia)  brigades. 

Being  a  member  of  the  ISTorth  Carolina  Legislature,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Forney  George  resigned,  and  Major  John  D. 
Barry  became  Colonel.     Captain  John  W.  McGill,  Company 


42  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

B,  was  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  Thos.  J. 
Wooten,  Company  K,  major. 

Lee  put  his  army  in  motion  and  on  25  June  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Shepherdstown.  On  1  July  the  brigade 
marched  from  Cashtown  to  Gettysburg  and  formed  on  the 
left  of  the  pike.  After  advancing  a  mile  or  more,  it 
was  transferred  to  the  right  to  support  Heth,  and 
again  advanced.  The  lines  diverging,  Lane  became  uncov- 
ered, and  met  the  enemy  in  his  own  front,  forcing  his  lines 
back  towards  Cemetery  Heights.  On  the  2nd  the  Eighteenth 
was  sent  to  support  a  battery,  near  the  Theological  college, 
and  was  again  with  the  brigade  in  its  advance  in  the  even- 
ing- 

On  the  3rd  Heth's  division,  under  Brigadier-General  Pet- 

tigrew  and  Lane's  and  Scales'  brigades,  temporarily  under 
Major-General  Trimble,  were  sent  to  Longstreet,  who  placed 
Pettigrew  in  front,  supported  by  Trimble,  whilst  Pickett  with 
two  brigades  in  front  on  line  with  Pettigrew,  was  supported 
by  his  third  brigade,  and  Wilcox's  brigade  attached  to  him  to 
protect  his  flank. 

It  was  a  high  compliment  to  Lleth's  division  and  Pender's 
two  brigades,  who  had  done  hard  service  on  the  1st  and  2nd, 
to  be  selected  to  make  the  attack  on  the  3rd,  and  be  pitted 
with  Pickett's  division  that  was  fresh  upon  the  field,  and 
had  not  had  a  good  whiff  of  powder  since  the  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor  in  June,  1862.  It  did  duty  arovind  Petersburg,  and 
in  JvTorth  Carolina,  and  had  missed  the  hardships  of  the 
Maryland  campaign,  and  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville.  Thoroughly  recruited  and  full,  it  was  in 
fine  condition  for  this  fight.  Pettigrew's  brigade  was  simi- 
larly fortunate,  as  to  the  last  year's  campaign,  but  at  the 
reorganization  of  the  corps,  was  taken  f  roan  its  picnic  grounds 
and  put  into  the  division  of  Heth,  with  which  it  had  fought 
on  the  1st  and  2nd.  (One  regiment  of  Pettigrew's  brigade, 
and  one  brigade  of  Pickett's  division  was  left  in  Virginia. ) 

The  first  arrangement  and  order  of  battle  was  for  Hill's 
troops  to  support  Longstreet's  Corps,  in  its  attack,  but  by  the 
final  arrangement  two  of  Longstreet's  divisions  were  not  put 
in  and  Pickett  had  but  two  brigades  on  the  front  line. 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  43 

The  whole  of  Heth's  division  under  Pettigrew  was  on  the 
front  line,  and  only  two  brigades  of  Pender's  under  Trimble, 
to  support  it.  When  the  advance  was  made  Pickett  and  Pet- 
tigrew's  lines  diverged,  Pettigrew's  supports  uncovered,  and 
Pickett's  supports  also.  Pickett's  front  brigades  and  supports 
became  so  far  apart  when  the  fighting  line  was  reached 
that  General  Stannard  seeing  the  opportunity,  threw  his 
command  forward  from  the  Federal  lines,  and  cutting  a  part 
off,  made  large  captures.  Having  about  half  the  distance  to 
go  Pickett  reached  musketry  range  before  Pettigrew  and  was 
repulsed,  whilst  Pettigrew  was  advancing.  When  Pettigrew 
reached  the  works  he,  like  Pickett,  was  without  support,  on 
account  of  difference  of  direction  of  his  line  and  support 
some  diverging,  some  crowding,  and,  when  his  support 
(Trimble,  with  Lane's  and  Scale's  brigades)  passed  beyond 
and  reached  the  works  it  was  like  Pickett  and  Pettigrew,  un- 
able to  live  in  that  maelstrom  of  death. 

Each  command  broke  the  enemy  at  some  point  in  its  front, 
and  Trimble's  and  Pettigrew's  dead  and  wounded  were  found 
in  the  orchard  beyond  the  stone  fence,  and  at  the  stone  fence, 
the  height  of  a  man's  chin,  eighty  yards  further  in  their 
front  than  the  stone  fence  about  21/2  feet  high,  in  front  of 
Pickett's  line. 

When  leaving.  Lane's  brigade  rallied  its  remnant  in  the 
hollow  by  the  Emmettsburg  road,  and  marched  off  in  order, 
the  last  troops  to  leave  the  field. 

This  charge  of  the  Confederates  stands  out  in  history  in 
its  uniqueness  for  boldness  and  gallantry  and  the  chaplet  of 
honor  should  encircle  the  brow  of  all  the  troops  engaged  in  it. 
Those  who  were  there  and  surrendered  deserve  credit ;  those 
who  were  there  and  fought  with  their  commands,  can  not  be 
sufiiciently  rewarded,  and  those  who  so  gallantly  poured  out 
their  life  blood,  a  libation  on  their  country's  altar,  should 
be  immortalized  in  song  and  story  as  the  highest  type  of 
American  manhood. 

There  is  no  disposition  on  the  part  of  those  engaged  to  de- 
tract from  the  merit  of  Pickett's  men,or  dim  the  lustre  of  the 
charge.  As  a  whole  the  charge  was  brilliant — in  isolated  in- 
stances it  was  not  what  it  ought  to  have  been.     Brocken- 


44  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

brough's,  Va.,  brigade  did  not  come  up  to  its  usual  standard, 
and  the  shafts  of  detraction  were  hurled  at  all  its  comrades 
under  Pettigrew,  on  that  account. 

General  Gr.  E.  Pickett  made  the  mistake  of  not  going  with 
his  division.  His  presence  would  have  been  helpful,  and 
might  have  saved  his  large  number  of  prisoners.  His  briga- 
diers did  as  well  as  they  could,  but  a  division  needs  its  com- 
mander to  get  its  best  result. 

The  casualties  of  each  command  is  the  test  of  services,  and 
Pettigrew's  command  welcomes  the  token,  as  the  statistics  of 
Gettysburg  show,  viz. : 

Pickett  and  his  support  lost:  Killed,  266  ;  wounded,  1,546  ; 
total  killed  and  wounded,  1,812;  prisoners,  1,756;  grand 
total,  3,568. 

Pettigrew  and  his  supports  lost:  Killed,  554;  wounded, 
2,470;  total  killed  and  wounded,  3,024;  prisoners,  627; 
grand  total,  3,651.  More  than  twice  as  many  killed,  nearly 
twice  as  many  wounded  and  a  little  more  than  one-third  as 
many  prisoners. 

Pickett's  heaviest  loss  was  in  Armistead's  brigade  of  Vir- 
ginia: Killed,  84;  wounded,  491;  total  killed  and  wounded, 
575 ;  prisoners,  643 ;  grand  total,  1,218.  Five  regiments 
more  than  half  prisoners. 

Pettigrew's  heaviest  loss  was  in  his  own  brigade  of  ISTorth 
Carolina:  Killed,  190;  wounded,  915;  total  killed  and 
wounded,  1,105 ;  prisoners,  00 ;  four  regiments  and  no  pris- 
oners.    Killed  and  wounded,  nearly  2  to  1. 

One  regiment  of  this  brigade,  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Car- 
olina, lost:  Killed,  86  ;  wounded,  502  ;  killed  and  wounded, 
588 ;  prisoners,  00 ;  grand  total,  588 ;  or  13  more  killed 
and  wounded  than  Armistead's  brigade. 

Nearly  half  of  Pickett's  loss  was  prisoners,  whilst  Petti- 
grew lost  but  one-sixth  in  prisoners,  viz :  Archer,  517 ; 
Scales,  110;  total,  627. 

These  figures,  obtained  from  volume  26,  part  2,  pages  339, 
343,  4,  5,  Official  Eecords  Union  and  Confederate  Armies, 
show  that  Pickett's  charge  did  not  fail  because  he  was 
not  supported  by  Pettigrew,  and  that  Pettigrew  really  did  the 
fighting  of  the  day. 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  45 

North  Carolinians  were  satisfied  with  doing  their  duty  and 
"We  envy  not  others  their  merited  glory." 

Lee  withdrew  from  the  field  on  the  night  of  the  4th  and  re- 
mained at  Hagerstown  a  week.  On  the  13th  crossed  the  Po- 
tomac at  Falling  Waters  where  Lane  acted  as  rear  guard. 
The  Eighteenth  and  part  of  the  Twenty-eighth  were  deployed 
as  skirmishers  and  those  of  the  Twenty-eighth  were  the  last 
to  cross.  A  week  was  spent  in  camp  near  Culpepper  Court 
House,  when  the  army  returned  to  the  line  of  the  E,apidan, 
the  Eighteenth  camping  near  Orange  Court  House. 

After  the  death  of  Major-General  Pender  from  wounds  at 
Gettysburg,  Brigadier-General  Cadmus  M.  Wilcox  was  pro- 
moted, and  assigned  to  his  command.  On  22  September 
the  Eighteenth  marched  with  the  command  and  was 
at  a  skirmish  at  Jack's  Shop,  near  Madison  Court  House, 
and,  after  that,  camped  at  Liberty  Mills,  the  left  of  the  army. 
On  the  9  th  the  army  advanced,  Hill  marching  by  Madison 
Court  House  and  Warrenton  to  Bristoe  Station  where  Heth 
had  a  fight  with  the  enemy.  Cooke's  and  Kirkland's  North 
Carolina  brigades  were  sent  against  a  strong  position  on  the 
railroad,  and  gallantly  went  into  a  slaughter  pen.  Before 
reinforcements  could  go  to  their  assistance  they  were  deci- 
mated. Wilcox  was  under  shelling  from  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery with  slight  casualties.  We  again  had  a  job  on  the  rail- 
road, and  destroyed  it  to  the  Rappahannock,  and  camped  a 
week  on  its  south  side. 

After  leaving  Brandy  Station  on  the  8th  the  Yankee  cav- 
alry pursued  in  force.  We  laid  an  ambush  for  them  near 
Culpepper,  using  one  of  the  North  Carolina  companies  of 
the  Eleventh  Virginia  cavalry  as  decoys.  It  played  its  part 
well,  fighting  better  than  cavalry  was  expected  to,  and  nearly 
succeeded  in  drawing  a  regiment  of  blue-coat  cavalry  into  a 
field,  where,  covered  by  some  woods,  the  Eighteenth  was 
placed  to  get  in  their  rear.  The  trap  was  discovered  in  time 
to  escape  with  a  lot  of  empty  saddles,  and  a  loss  to  the  Eigh- 
teenth of  one  killed  and  a  half  dozen  wounded. 

The  Eighteenth  returned  to  Liberty  Mills,  and  built  com- 
fortable winter  quarters.  On  28  November  marched  to 
Mine  Run,  where  Meade  had  crossed.    We  lay  in  line  of  bat- 


46  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

tie,  and  built  breastworks,  but  were  not  engaged,  more  than 
on  the  skirmish  line.  The  weather  was  fearfully  cold,  and  the 
pickets  were  relieved  every  two  hours,  as  they  could  not  stay 
longer  without  fire.  The  skirmish  lines  were  not  far  apart, 
and  exposure  was  dangerous.  In  a  thicket  of  old  field  pines, 
between  the  lines,  a  flock  of  wild  turkeys  lit  down.  A  fine, 
large  gobbler  lost  his  life  there  by  this  rashness,  and  lay  in 
full  view  of  both  picket  lines.  Disregarding  the  danger, 
each  side  determined  to  capture  that  turkey,  and  several  men 
were  gobblerized  during  the  day.  After  sun  down  George  W. 
Corbett  in  charge  of  the  Eighteenth  skirmishers,  played  tac- 
tics to  bring  him  in.  Picking  a  man  to  help  him,  they  ap- 
proached in  different  directions,  and  succeeded  in  bagging  the 
game,  as  well  as  in  getting  a  new  overcoat  and  blanket  off  of 
an  equally  venturesome,  but  less  successful  blue-coater  that 
lay  near  by.  The  pot  boiled  that  night.  A.  P.  Hill's  division 
was  massed  Tuesday  night,  1  December,  to  attack  next  morn- 
ing, but  during  the  night  Meade  recrossed  the  river.  We 
gladly  returned  to  our  winter  quarters  at  Liberty  Mills  and 
spent  the  winter  there. 

Who  that  saw  it,  will  ever  forget  the  snow-ball  battle  that 
started  in  fun,  and  spread  from  regiment  to  brigade,  then 
division  and  corps,  till  the  line  from  Liberty  Mill  to  Orange 
Court  House  was  engaged  in  the  exhiliarating  sport  ? 

Some  disgruntled  spirit,  at  last,  threw  a  rock  in  his  snow- 
ball and  brought  blood.  This  dastardly  act  was  promptly  re- 
sented, and  went  to  such  an  extent  that  the  men  rushed  for 
their  arms,  and  it  took  the  best  efforts  of  the  officers  and 
level-headed  men  for  a  while  to  prevent  the  rebel  yell,  and 
snow-ball  from  being  followed  by  real  powder  and  ball. 

During  the  winter  Grovernor  Vance  made  a  tour  of  the  army 
in  his  candidacy  for  re-election  as  governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina. He  received  an  ovation  wherever  he  went  and  captured 
the  army  in  toto. 

General  Grant's  successes  in  the  western  army  made  him 
commander  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States  in  the  field. 
During  the  winter  he  came  east,  and  personally  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  Most  favorably  situated, 
and  with  carte-blanche  he  supplied  his  command  with  every- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  47 

tiling  he  wanted.  It  was  a  spectacle  worth  beholding,  and 
calculated  to  swell  the  bosom  of  any  man  with  pride,  to  look 
upon  the  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  men,  with  which 
he  crossed  the  Rapidan,  4  May,  1864,  as  splendidly  equipped 
a  body  of  men  as  ever  trod  the  face  of  the  earth.  Well  might 
he  have  said : 

"Behold  them,  in  their  glory, 
You  will  soon  read  our  story, 
On  to  Richmond ! ! !" 

General  Lee  had  sixty  thousand  men  scantily  supplied  with 
everything,  save  grit,  with  which  to  meet  this  mighty  host. 

The  disparity  of  numbers,  and  condition  was  appalling, 
but  the  ragged  Confederates  did  not  faint  or  falter. 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  Heth  and  Pender's  divisions  of 
Hill's  corps,  some  5,000  men,  engaged  Birney's,  Mott's,  Gib- 
bon's and  Barlow's  divisions,  Hancock's  corps,  with  Getty's 
division  of  the  Sixth  corps,  say  40,000  men,  and  did  good 
service. 

The  Eighteenth  was  sent  to  the  front  and  on  the  right  of 
the  Orange  plank  road,  near  a  mile  from  it,  found  the 
Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina  hotly  engaged  with  Hancock's 
troops.  Colonel  Barry  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ashford 
fought  their  regiments,  as  emergency  required,  in  various 
positions,  till  nightfall,  when  I  was  sent  back  to  report  their 
condition  and  get  instructions.  Shifting  position  so  often 
during  the  evening  I  had  lost  my  bearings,  and  in  the  dark- 
ness got  into  Hancock's  corps  and  had  to  tack  variously  to 
get  out.  About  11  o'clock  I  got  into  Wilcox's  troops,  on  a 
straight  run  down  the  planl?;  road.  Before  I  stopped  my 
run,  I  recognized  General  Wilcox's  white  horse,  and  going  to 
him  fotmd  Wilcox.  Out  of  wind,  and  gasping  between 
words,  I  told  him  that  I  was  just  out  of  Hancock's  corps,  and 
that  there  was  not  a  man  between  him  and  Hancock's  skir- 
mishers. He  evidently  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it,  and  was 
not  over  polite  in  letting  me  know  it.  I  found  where  my 
command  was  and  went  to  it.  General  Lane,  Colonels  Barry, 
Avery  and  others  believed  my  statement,  and  went  to  Wilcox 


48  North  Carolina  Troops,    l861-'65. 

to  get  a  picket  line  established  in  front.  He  assured  them 
that  there  was  a  division  in  his  front,  and  told  them  not  to 
disturb  the  men,  let  them  rest  till  morning.  The  regiments 
bivouacked  without  regard  to  alignment,  as  they  assembled 
from  the  different  parts  of  the  field,  on  which  they  had 
fought. 

In  the  morning  Colonel  Avery  had  gotten  part  of  the 
Thirty-third  in  line,  when  Hancock's  corps  and  Sedwick's 
division  struck  us,  and  fought  them  like  tigers.  The  tempor- 
ary check  made  where  they  were,  gave  little  time  for  the  bri- 
gade that  was  forming  to  get  together,  and  Wilcox  was  caught 
all  out  of  joint  all  along  his  line.  Though  we  had  little  or  no 
alignment,  the  regiments  and  squads  fell  back  fighting  as 
best  they  could.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  Han- 
cock flushed  us,  we  were  fired  into  by  the  division  that  Wil- 
cox thought  was  in  his  front  the  night  before  and  it  retreated 
without  waiting  to  let  us  pass  by  it. 

There  were  fifty  or  seventy-five  in  the  squad  that  I  fell 
back  with,  a  part  from  the  plank  road  (the  most  of  the  bri- 
gade were  near  it).  About  a  half  mile  back  we  were  cov- 
ered by  the  right  of  the  Texas  brigade,  as  it  advanced,  the 
first  of  Longstreet's  troops  that  got  into  action.  Our  squad 
composed  of  men  from  all  of  Lanes  regiments,  joined  the 
Fourth  Texas  under  Captain  Jas.  T.  McLaurin,  Company  B, 
and  went  with  it  in  the  charge  that  drove  Hancock  back  to 
the  position  of  the  morning  near  the  Brock  road. 

It  was  near  midday  when  we  rejoined  our  command  in  the 
left  of  the  Plank  road,  where  it  had  assembled  after  the  morn- 
ing's experience.  Though  caught  at  a  disadvantage  the  men 
fought  well,  as  the  casualties  show,  and  delayed  their  assail- 
ant's advance. 

Ewell  did  splendid  fighting  that  afternoon  on  the  left  of 
the  army  and  drove  the  Federal  right  some  distance.  About 
9  o'clock  that  night  the  rebel  yell  was  set  up  on  the  right  and 
extended  to  the  left  of  the  army. 

The  volume  and  duration  of  sound  exceeded  anything  that 
we  had  then  heard  or  have  heard  since.  Prisoners  taken 
afterwards  reported  great  demoralization  from  it  in  Warren's 
and  Sed-wick's  corps.     General  Horace  Porter  in  his  "Cam- 


ElGHTKENTH    ReGIMENT.  49 

paign  With  Grant,"  gives  a  graphic  account  of  the  attack  on 
these  commands  after  dark,  and  of  the  battle  says :  "All  cir- 
cumstances seemed  to  combine  to  make  the  scene  one  of  un- 
utterable horror.  At  times  the  wind  howled  through  the  tree 
tops,  mingling  its  moan  with  the  groans  of  the  dying,  and 
heavy  branches  were  cut  off  by  the  fire  of  the  artillery  and 
fell  crashing  upon  the  heads  of  the  men,  adding  a  new  terror 
to  battle. 

"Forest  fires  raged,  ammunition  trains  exploded,  the  dead 
were  roasted  in  the  conflagration,  the  wounded,  roused  by  its 
hot  breath,  dragged  themselves  along  with  their  torn  and 
mangled  limbs,  in  the  mad  energy  of  despair,  to  escape  the 
ravages  of  the  flame,  and  every  bush  seemed  hung  with  shreds 
of  blood-stained  clothing.  It  was  as  though  Christian  men 
had  turned  to  fiends,  and  hell  itself  had  usurped  the  place  of 
earth." 

We  Avere  direct  opposites  at  that  time  in  action  and  prin- 
ciples. I'm  not  inclined  to  combat  his  sentiment.  Sheol 
was  not  far  off  that  day. 

On  the  8th  left  the  Wilderness  and  had  a  little  skirmish- 
ing near  the  Po.  On  the  10th  arrived  at  Spottsylvania 
Court  House  and  on  that  and  the  following  day  built  breast- 
works on  different  parts  of  the  line,  being  moved  several 
times.  Our  lines  being  nearly  at  right  angles  to  Ewell's 
corps,  we  built  traverses  to  protect  ourselves  from  shots  in 
that  direction. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  11th,  Lane's  brigade,  which  was 
the  left  of  A.  P.  Hill's  corps,  was  thrown  forward  to  the 
front  and  left  to  connect  with  Ewell's  line.  Our  left  regi- 
ments, Twenty-eighth  and  Eighteenth,  were  beyond  a  branch 
and  thrown  forward,  at  an  obt\ise  angle  to  the  rest  of  the 
brigade,  to  connect  with  Stewart's  brigade  of  General  Edward 
Johnson's  division,  that  was  thrown  back  in  a  curve  from 
that  division  to  connect  with  the  Twenty-eighth,  forming  a 
salient,  knoAvn  as  the  Horseshoe  angle. 

During  the  night  our  artillery  was  withdrawn  from  John- 
son's line,  and  Hancock's  and  Burnside's  corps  were  massed 
at  the  salient,  with  orders  to  attack  it  at  4  o'clock.  The  artil- 
4 


50  North  Caromna  Troops,  1861-65. 

lery  was  returning  to  Johnson's  line,  but  had  not  gotten  in 
position  when  Hancock  attacked  at  daylight.  Edward  John- 
son's left  and  Eobert  D.  Johnson's  brigade  that  were  sup- 
porting it,  were  swept  away.  That  let  Hancock  into 
Stewart's  rear,  and  the  rear  of  the  Twenty-eighth  and  Eigh- 
teenth who  were  engaged  with  those  to  the  right  of  the 
angle. 

The  artillery  and  Stewart's  brigade  were  captured.  When 
the  Twenty-eighth  and  Eighteenth  found  that  Hancock  was 
in  their  immediate  rear,  it  was  too  late  to  escape  and  about 
one-third  of  the  Twenty-eighth  and  near  half  of  the  Eigh- 
teenth were  made  prisoners.  Of  those  who  escaped,  the 
writer,  adjutant  of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina,  ral- 
lied a  handful  at  the  left  of  the  breastworks  of  the  previous 
day  and  recklessly  dashing  into  Hancock's  host  that  poured 
into  the  woods,  through  Johnson's  opening,  produced  a  panic, 
that  adding  to  its  own  demoralization,  drove  his  serried  num- 
bers back  beyond  the  branch,  stampeding  even  the  guards  in 
charge  of  the  prisoners.  Some  of  the  Eighteenth's  prisoners 
taking  advantage  of  the  stampede,  escaped  and  rejoined  the 
regiment.  J.  C.  Kinlaw,  of  Company  K,  in  a  subsequent 
charge,  recovered  his  knapsack  and  accoutrements,  of  which 
he  had  been  stripped  preparatory  to  being  carried  to  the  rear. 
This  stampede  gave  time  for  the  Thirty-seventh,  Seventh  and 
Thirty-third  to  be  formed  on  the  crest  south  of  the  branch, 
and  the  remnant  of  the  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  re- 
formed on  their  left  where  Lane  repulsed  Hancock's  next  ad- 
vance, and  saved  the  right  of  the  army.  Scales'  North  Caro- 
lina brigade  coming  to  his  assistance,  another  attack  was 
repulsed. 

After  this  Gordon,  in  command  of  Early's  division,  joined 
our  left,  and  by  hard  fighting  the  line  was  advanced  and  held 
near  the  apex  of  the  angle.  On  the  left  of  the  angle  Daniel's 
North  Carolina  brigade  stopped  the  break  of  Ewell's  line  and 
Eamseur's  North  Carolina  brigade  taken  from  Daniel's  left, 
retook  the  line  to  Daniel's  right.  Colonel  R.  T.  Bennett's 
Fourteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment  was  taken  from  Ram- 
seur's  left  and  gallantly  extended  Ramseur's  right.  Harris' 
Mississippi  brigade  unfalteringly  extended  Bennett's  right, 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  51 

McGowan's  South  Carolina  brigade  was  sent  from  Hill's 
front  near  the  court  house  to  extend  Harris'  line,  and  partly 
lapped  upon  it.  McGowan  was  wounded  before  getting  to  the 
breastworks. 

Harris'  and  McGowan's  brigades  fought  Hancock  and  his 
reinforcements  over  the  breastwork  all  day,  snatching  the 
muskets  from  each  other  across  the  works.  There  was  an 
oak  woods  to  their  rear,  and  an  oak  tree  twenty  inches  in 
diameter  was  so  riddled  with  minie  -  balls,  several  feet 
from  the  ground,  that  its  top-weight  wrung  it  down.  I  saw 
the  tree  next  day  and  the  many  dead,  on  each  side  of  the 
breastworks  were  silent  witnesses  of  the  fighting  qualities 
of  both  armies.  (The  two  sections,  above  and  below  of  this 
or  a  similar  tree,  were  cut  off  and  after  the  war  were  on  exhi- 
bition at  the  War  Department  in  Washington  where  I  saw 
them  in  1866.     Ed.) 

During  the  day  a  white  flag  appeared  on  the  breastworlis, 
firing  ceased,  and  each  side  began  jumping  over  claiming  the 
others  as  prisoners.  The  matter  was  settled  by  the  blue-coats 
and  Johnnies  getting  back  on  their  own  side  and  the  fight  be- 
gan again.  A  new  line  was  built  across  the  angle  from 
Daniel's  to  Lane's,  and  word  passed  down  the  line  to  Harris' 
and  McGowan's  men  to  fall  back  to  it.  After  night  the 
firing  slackened  and  about  midnight  ceased;  both  sides  had 
quietly  gone  away  and  the  fought-over  works  were  abandoned 
by  both  sides. 

Lane's  brigade  was  taken  off  the  line  to  the  right  of  the 
angle,  carried  into  some  woods  to  the  left  of  the  court  house 
and  got  a  few  hours  rest  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  In  the 
afternoon  it  was  taken  by  Major-General  Mahone  with 
his  old  brigade.  Colonel  Weisiger,  to  feel  a  force  which 
was  assembling  to  the  right  of  the  salient,  behind 
the  branch  above  mentioned.  Though  Weisiger  had 
not  been  engaged  that  day  and  Lane  had  been  fighting  all  the 
morning.  Lane's  small  brigade  was  put  in  front  to  attack  and 
Weisiger  to  support.  When  Lane  advanced,  Mahone  rode 
back  to  the  court  house.  Lane's  attack  was  successful,  though 
Weisiger  did  not  support  him  and  when  sent  for  did  not 
come.     Lane  turned  the  captured  battery  upon  the  enemy, 


52  North  Cabolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

but  had  to  abandon  it  or  be  captured.  He,  however,  carried 
back  four  or  five  hundred  prisoners  and  several  flags. 

The  Eighteenth  captured  the  flag  of  the  artillery. 

When  we  got  back  to  the  lines,  near  the  court  house,  Ma- 
hone  rode  out  and  claimed  the  flags,  which  were  refused  him. 
He  afterwards  had  a  correspondence  through  army  headquar- 
ters concerning  them,  which  was  "held  up"  on  account  of 
"unparliamentary  language"  that  got  into  it.  General  Lee 
and  the  Secretary  of  War  acknowledged  receipt  of  the  flags 
from  Lane's  brigade,  a  feAV  days  after  the  battle. 

The  Kichmond  papers  teemed  with  accounts  of  Mahone's 
magnificent  achievements  in  the  afternoon  and  accredited  to 
other  Virginia  commands  the  honor  of  stopping  the  break 
in  the  lines  of  the  morning. 

Pertinent  to  this,  though  personal,  the  following  extract 
from  the  narrative  of  a  Michigan  colonel  is  inserted  here. 
After  stating  how  his  company  was  captured  and  recaptured 
at  Chancellorsville,  3  May,  1863,  and  for  supposed  gal- 
lantry, he  was  promoted  major,  which  he  protested,  continu- 
ing, says: 

"As  nothing  else  would  do,  I  was,  in  a  manner,  forced  to 
accept  this  promotion  and  in  a  few  days  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel  'for  gallantry  and  meritorious  cond^ict  in 
the  presence  of  the  enemy.'  In  the  following  winter  I  was 
appointed  to  the  colonelcy  of  a  'crack'  regiment.  I  would 
not  be  speaking  the  truth  if  I  should  say  that  these  promo- 
tions did  not  touch  my  vanity  and  make  me  zealous,  not  only 
to  maintain  but  to  acquire  more  of  the  'bubble  reputation  at 
the  cannon's  mouth.' 

"It  was  with  an  assumed  feeling  of  arrogance  and  con- 
tempt of  danger  that  I  led  my  regiment  to  the  attack  on  Lee's 
salient  12  May,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 
By  the  crack  of  dawn  on  that  morning,  before  the 
Johnnies  were  fully  awake,  we  were  right  in  among  them  in 
a  hand  to  hand  encounter,  capturing  a  great  number  of  pris- 
oners and  quickly  had  possession  of  all,  or  nearly  all  of  both 
wings  of  this  famous  salient,  the  breastworks  of  which  faced 
to  the  front  and  rear.  We  had  Lee's  army  now  practically 
cut  in  two,  an  advantage  which,  if  it  had  been  followed  up 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  53 

promptly,  would,  as  I  have  thought,  have  had  the  effect  of 
terminating  the  war  at  a  much  earlier  date.  While  we  were 
engaged  in  arranging  to  hold  our  newly  acquired  position  in 
the  captured  Confederate  works,  and  in  reforming  the  troops 
for  a  further  advance,  an  attack  was  made  on  our  flank  and 
rear,  which  by  its  suddenness  and  vigor  struck  panic  to  the 
troops  between  the  position  held  by  my  regiment  and  the  at- 
tacking party,  which  sent  them  pouring  pell  mell  back  upon 
my  men  in  a  wild,  confused  mass.  Every  soldier  knows 
something  of  the  demoralizing  effect  of  an  enfilade  fire,  such 
as  the  Confederates  had  on  our  line,  and  the  further  fact,  that 
a  stampede  of  panic-stricken  troops  is  as  uncontrollable  as 
that  of  the  herds  on  the  western  plains.  I  was  drawing  out 
my  line  at  an  angle  from  their  former  position  in  order  to 
check  the  Confederate  advance,  when  I  was  shot  down,  re- 
ceiving this  wound  in  the  hip,  from  the  effects  of  which  in  the 
opinion  of  nerve  specialists,  I  will  never  ixdlj  recover.  My 
own  men,  brave  and  tried  soldiers,  though  they  were,  caught 
up  the  contagion  and  joined  in  the  headlong  flight,  for  be- 
fore a  proper  alignment  could  be  made,  the  Confederates  were 
among  them,  sweeping  by  and  beyond  me  as  I  lay  wounded 
upon  the  ground,  and  shooting  to  kill,  as  was  evidenced  by 
the  large  number  of  fallen  Federals  on  the  spot.  I  felt  mor- 
tified and  chagrined  when  I  saw  this  small  body  of  Confed- 
erates, for  they  did  not  number  more  than  about  fifty  or  sixty 
men,  by  brave  and  skillful  management,  put  to  rout  many 
times  their  number  of  our  men.  Biit  I  was  particularly  im- 
pressed by  their  youthful  leader  as  he  passed  by  where  I 
lay,  his  countenance  glowing  with  the  enthusiasm  of  a 
school  boy  going  out  upon  the  play  ground  for  a  game  of 
ball,  shouting  'forward  men !'  rushing  on  with  his  little  band 
like  an  avalanche  to  what  seemed  certain  destruction.  He 
reminded  me  of  the  pictures  I  had  seen  in  my  old  school  his- 
tory in  my  boyhood  days.  I  admire  bravery  even  in  a  foe, 
and  this  I  would  call  true  gallantry  such  as  was  seldom  wit- 
nessed in  either  army  in  the  many  battles  of  the  Civil  War. 
I  am  aware  that  -some  Virginia  troops  claim  by  an  attack  in 
front  of  our  position  to  have  regained  their  lost  ground,  but 
I  know  the  fact  that  their  attack  was  not  made  until  after  I 


54  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

had  fallen,  and  to  this  young  officer  and  his  brave  followers 
belongs  the  honor  of  turning  the  tide  of  battle,  and  of  possibly 
saving  Lee's  army  from  direful  defeat  that  morning.  He  was 
my  ideal  of  a  soldier,  and  as  I  thought  of  him  I  could  but  re- 
flect upon  the  honors  so  unworthily  worn  by  myself,  and  wish 
they  could  have  been  the  reward  of  such  heroism  as  this.  One 
of  his  men  had  fallen  wovinded  within  a  few  feet  of  where  I 
lay,  and  after  the  heavy  fighting  ceased,  the  Confederates 
having  re-established  their  position,  I  was,  though  in  pain, 
so  much  interested  that  I  asked  him  who  his  leader  was. 
Well  do  I  remember  his  reply,  as  it  came  in  a  loud,  emphatic 
tone,  as  if  proud  to  speak  it:  'Captain  Billy  McLaurin,  of 
the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  one  of  the  bravest 
men  iu  Lee's  army !'  I  was  fully  prepared  to  believe  what 
he  said. 

"It  is  a  strange  thing  to  me  that  those  who  write  history  are 
so  full  and  profuse  in  their  records  of  achievements  of  gen- 
erals, to  the  exclusion  of  such  praiseworthy  deeds  on  the  part 
of  subalterns  and  privates  who  bore  the  brunt  of  battle." 

The  testimony  of  a  foe  on  the  ground  is  worth  considering, 
in  giving  proper  credit  to  the  troops  entitled  to  it.  There 
were  not  more  than  three  or  four  dozen  of  us,  in  this  sortie, 
but  it  gave  time  for  Lane  to  get  in  shape  and  hold  the  position 
till  others  could  come  to  his  assistance.  When  Gordon  came 
with  Early's  division,  there  were  Virginians  in  it,  but  they 
were  entitled  to  no  more  credit  than  the  Georgians,  and  oth- 
ers, that  were  necessary  to  help,  and  did  help,  auanfuUy,  to 
hold  the  lines. 

After  the  attack  in  the  afternoon  Lane  was  put  on  a  line 
that  McGowan  was  taken  from  near  a  brick  kiln.  We  were 
shifted  to  different  parts  of  the  liije  till  the  21st  when  we 
had  a  skirmish  near  a  church  two  or  three  miles  to  the  right 
of  the  court  house.  That  night  we  marched  to  the  right,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  23rd  bivouacked  in  an  oak  wood  on  a 
little  stream  that  flowed  into  the  South  Anna  river.  Our 
canteenmen  were  not  long  in  finding  water  and — something 
besides ;  one  of  them  came  running  back,  and  asked  for  my 
'army  colt.'  I  pointed  to  my  belt,  hanging  on  a  nearby  oak. 
Others  were  noticed  hurriedly  leaving  camp.     Pop !   pop  1 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  55 

pop  !  bang !  bang !  bang !  was  soon  heard  down  the  slope.  ISTot 
long  after  an  elderly  gentleman  rode  hurriedly  into  camp 
and  was  directed  to  headquarters.  General  Lane  sent  at 
once  to  have  each  regiment  searched  and  if  any  mutton 
was  found  to  send  mutton  and  man  to  him  under  guard. 
Strict  search  was  made,  but  it  could  no  where  be  found  and 
the  adjutants  were  so  reporting.  When  the  adjutant  of  the 
Thirty-seventh  was  about  to  make  a  similar  report  for  his 
regiment,  Jim  L stepped  up  the  slope  right  near  head- 
quarters with  a  leg  of  mutton  in  his  hand,  in  open  handed 
guilt,  and  he  was  scooped  in. 

Jim  was  the  first  to  return  with  a  trophy  of  the  fusillade 
down  the  branch,  and  was  the  only  man  caught.  The  rest 
who  went  that  way  were  innocent  lambs  and  saw  nothing. 
Jim  was  put  to  walking  a  circle  with  a  billet  of  wood,  and 
the  leg  of  mutton  on  his  shoulder.  This  soon  became  a  bur- 
den and  the  citizen  asked  that  he  be  released  and  allowed  to 
have  the  mutton.  General  Lane  didn't  relent  at  once,  and 
the  kind-hearted  citizen  at  last  insisted  that  Jim  be  not  only 
pardoned,  but  that  the  men  be  allowed  to  go  down  into  his 
clover  field  and  get  the  flock. 

The  incident  of  the  morning,  gave  opportunity  for  one  of 
the  ludicrous  humors  of  war  that  afternoon. 

The  enemy  drove  back  the  guards  from  Jericho  ford  and 
Lane  was  sent  two  or  three  miles  back  to  assist  in  stopping 
them,  and  found  a  corps  had  crossed  and  had  a  hard  fight, 
losing  100  men  killed  and  wounded. 

In  the  midst  of  a  sharp  attack  the  Thirty-seventh  broke, 
and  started  for  the  rear,  leaving  the  Eighteenth  liable  to  be 
cut  off  and  the  Thirty-third  to  be  flanked.  x\s  soon  as  they 
began  leaving  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  began  bleat- 
ing like  sheep.  At  a  short  distance  the  Thirty-seventh  rallied 
and  returned  and  fought  very  well  afterwards.  It  was  ludi- 
crous in  the  extreme — fighting  for  all  we  were  worth  and 
bleating  like  sheep.  We  were  relieved  about  10  o'clock 
and  returned  to  the  station.  Next  morning  we  threw  up 
earthworks  that  were  not  needed.  The  enemy  had  with- 
drawn. 

When  my  negro  boy,  Jack,  came  to  me  from  the  rear  my 


56  North  Carolina  Troops,  186 1-65. 

haversack  had  an  unusual  fullness  about  it.  Whilst  I  was 
ascertaining  the  cause,  General  Lane  came  along  viewing  the 
progress  of  the  works.  I  asked  him  to  share  some  venison 
(  ?)  with  me.  He  was  too  polite  to  refuse  so  rare  a  dish,  and 
said  it  was  good. 

Grant,  like  his  predecessors,  deferred  to  the  objections  that 
General  Lee  rather  forcibly  expressed  to  his  going  direct  to 
Eichmond,  and  with  the  left  flank  movement,  sought  to  ac- 
complished that  end.  On  the  31st  we  had  an  all-day  artil- 
lery and  skirmish  engagement  at  Storr's  farm,  on  the  Toto- 
potamy,  and  on  1  June  supported  the  artillery  on  the  Tur- 
key Ridge  road  in  the  preliminary  arrangements  for 
the  onslaught  of  the  2nd.  The  Eighteenth  fortified  on  the 
ridge  near  the  McGhee  house,  and  was  to  the  right  of  the 
main  point  of  attack  in  the  second  Cold  Harbor  fight,  say  one- 
third  of  a  mile. 

Grant  massed  his  troops  and  hurled  column  after  column 
upon  Lee,  and  was  repulsed  with  such  terrible  slaughter  that 
his  ofiicers  and  men  as  is  well  known  refused  to  charge  that 
position  again. 

Though  not  hotly  engaged,  the  Eighteenth  lost  some  valua- 
ble men  by  skirmishes  and  sharpshooters.  General  Lane 
was  wounded,  and  Colonel  Barry,  of  the  Eighteenth  com- 
manded the  brigade.  On  the  13th  the  Eighteenth  had  a 
skirmish  near  Riddle's  shop.  Night  put  a  stop  to  it.  On 
the  20th  we  crossed  James  river,  and  on  the  22nd  about  three 
miles  beyond  Petersburg  had  a  sharp  fight  with  the  enemy 
who  was  trying  to  reach  the  Weldon  railroad.  On  the  2'3rd 
Barry  was  sent  to  relieve  Mahone's  brigade,  and  it  was  not  out 
of  range  when  the  enemy  advanced.  Though  the  artillery 
and  musketry  firing  was  very  heavy  for  a  while,  it  did  not 
return  to  give  us  the  help  we  so  sorely  needed. 

On  2  July  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  the  north 
side  of  the  James  river  and  made  a  hard,  hot  march 
to  Deep  Bottom,  where  we  had  skii-mishing  almost  daily  till 
the  28th.  At  Gravely  Hill  there  was  a  hot  engagement.  A 
few  days  afterward  Colonel  Barry  was  wounded  by  a  sharp- 
shooter whilst  on  a  reeonnoitering  tour,  and  Colonel  W.  W. 
Barber,  of  the  Twenty-seventh,  commanded  the  brigade  until 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  57 

the  battle  of  Euzzell's  Mill,  16  August.  General  Wright's 
Georgia  brigade  was  deployed  to  hold  a  line,  whilst  Ander- 
son was  taking  another  position.  The  enemy  advancing  in 
heavy  force  captured  Wright's  thin  line,  and  reinforced  their 
attacking  party  with  negro  troops  to  hold  it. 

General  Lee  was  on  the  field  and  ordered  Lane's_  brigade, 
under  Barber,  to  the  retaking  of  the  work,  which  was  done 
handsomely. 

It  was  our  first  encounter  with  negro  troops,  and  there 
were  blue-black  birds  lying  on  that  battle  field.  Colonel  Bar- 
ber was  wounded,  and  Colonel  Spear,  of  the  Twenty-eighth, 
succeeded  to  the  command.  We  recrossed  the  James  and 
were  placed  on  the  right  of  the  line  near  Battery  45,  and 
were  used  to  reinforce  the  cavalry,  and  retake  positions  that 
the  "critter"  companies  would  retire  from.  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Connor  succeeded  Colonel  Spear  in  the  command  of  the 
brigade  by  order  of  General  Lee,  a  few  days  before  the  battle 
of  Reams  station,  on  25  August,  1864.  General  Han- 
cock, who  we  had,  on  previous  occasions,  found  to  be  a 
good  soldier,  and  determined  fighter,  held  a  strong  position  on 
the  railroad  against  the  attacks  made  upon  him,  and  was 
much  encouraged  by  the  previous  success  that  day,  that  he 
would  hold  the  railroad. 

Cooke's,  MacRae's  and  Lane's  North  Carolina  Brigades 
were  selected  to  make  the  final  attack.  It  was  expecting 
much  of  them  to  make  the  assault  where  greater  numbers  had 
been  repulsed,  but  that  expectation  was  realized  to  the  fullest 
extent. 

Elated  by  their  victories,  neither  Hancock  nor  his  men 
thought  of  leaving  those  breastworks  till  the  "Tar  Heels" 
were  crossing  them,  and  Hancock  left  his  coat  tail  in  the 
hands  of  James  W.  Atkinson,  the  gallant  color  bearer  of  the 
Thirty-third  North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  some  2,000  of 
his  command  as  prisoners. 

We  thus  more  than  evened  up  his  captures  from  the 
Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth,  and  Johnson's  division  at 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  12  May,  1864. 

The  Eighteenth  was  in  the  thick  woods  on  the  left,  and 


68  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

had  a  hard  time  in  getting  through  the  abatis  on  that  part  of 
the  line. 

On  the  29th,  four  days  after,  General  Lee  wrote  Governor 
"Vance :  "T  have  been  frequently  called  upon  to  mention  the 
services  of  JSTorth  Carolina  soldiers  in  this  army,  but  their, 
gallantry  and  conduct  were  never  more  deserving  the  admira- 
tion than  in  the  engagement  at  Reams  Station  on  the  25th 
instant.  The  brigades  of  Generals  Cooke,  MacEae  and  Lane, 
the  last  under  the  temporary  command  of  General  Connor, 
advanced  through  a  thick  abatis  of  felled  trees,  ixnder  a 
heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  and  carried  the  enemy's 
works  with  a  steady  courage  that  elicited  the  warm  commen- 
dation of  their  corps  and  division  commanders,  and  the  ad- 
miration of  the  army." 

A  few  days  afterward,  in  an  address  at  Charlotte,  IST.  C, 
President  Davis  said,  among  other  complimentary  things,  of 
North  Carolina :  "Her  sons  were  foremost  in  the  first  battle 
of  the  war,  Great  Bethel,  and  they  were  foremost  in  the  last 
fight,  near  Petersburg,  Reams  Station." 

We  returned  to  Battery  45  at  Petersburg  and  were  again 
foot  cavalry  reinforcements,  to  the  critter  cavalry,  in  resist- 
ing the  extension  lines  of  the  enemy  to  our  right. 

On  Y  September  a  brisk  fight  was  had  with  the  infantry 
and  artillery  at  the  Davis  House. 

On  the  30th  we  again  passed  through  Petersburg  to  go 
over  the  James,  bixt  before  reaching  it  were  recalled  and 
found  the  enemy  at  the  Jones  house,  not  far  from  our  camp. 

They  were  quickly  put  to  flight,  leaving  many  prisoners  in 
our  hands.  We  camped  upon  the  field  that  night.  On 
1  October  we  found  the  enemy  at  the  Pegram  House,  as  if 
they  had  come  to  stay  in  that  neighborhood.  A  repetition  of 
the  experience  of  the  30th  caused  them  to  retire  for  a  time. 

The  repeated  efforts  of  Grant  to  extend  his  left,  brought 
troops  to  our  right.  We  returned  to  Battery  45,  and  were 
comparatively  free  from  similar  expeditions  during  the  next 
few  months.  On  8  December  we  went  to  Jarratt's  Sta- 
tion where  the  Yankees  were  in  force  in  possession  of  the  Wel- 
don  road.  They  evacuated  with  little  fighting.  Again,  we 
went  to  Stony  Creek  further  down  the  road.   On  each  of  these 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  59 

days  the  weather  was  very  cold,  and  ours  was  not  a  pleasure 
trip.  We  were  glad  to  return  to  our  winter  quarters  near 
Forty-five  and  Fort  Gregg. 

After  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  Major  Thos.  J.  Wooten, 
of  the  Eighteenth,  was  in  command  of  the  sharpshooters  of 
Lane's  brigade  and  made  an  enviable  reputation  during  the 
campaign.  Around  Petersburg  he  was  a  teiTor  to  the  ene- 
my's picket  lines,  and  had  a  reputation  in  both  armies. 

Wooten's  "seine-haulings"  were  proverbial,  and  he  was 
liberally  used  by  division,  corps  and  army  headquarters  for 
ascertaining  the  enemy's  lines  or  movements.  His  method 
was  to  reconnoiter,  during  the  day,  the  lines  to  be  gone 
through  that  night  and  at  such  hour  as  would  suit  his  pur- 
pose would  approach  "in  twos"  with  his  select  men,  sufficient- 
ly near  to  make  a  dash  at  them.  At  a  signal  the  column 
would  go  through  the  line  with  as  little  noise  as  possible,  halt, 
face  out,  and  each  rank  swing  around  right  and  left,  taking 
the  skirmish  line  in  the  rear,  capturing  the  men  with  the  min- 
imum of  danger  to  his  command.  His  success  was  phenom- 
enal, and  he  received  the  commendation  of  Generals  Lee  and 
Hill  in  congratulatory  orders. 

At  an  armistice  to  bury  the  dead,  the  Federals  were  curi- 
ous to  see  "Major  Hooten,"  as  they  called  him.  Viewed  in 
his  Confederate  garb,  which  was  not  very  elaborate,  his  ap- 
pearance was  not  "as  striking  as  an  army  with  banners"  and 
when  pointed  out  to  a  lot  of  officers  and  men,  a  significant 
smile  passed  'round  the  group,  which  found  expression  in  the 
exclamation  of  an  impressible  Teuton,  "Mine,  Got ! ! !  Is  dot 
ze  man  what  makes  us  skeert,  like  Stonewall  Shackson? 
Heh!!!" 

There  was  a  generous  rivalry  among  the  regiments  of  the 
brigade,  in  keeping  their  quota  of  this  corps  to  the  highest 
efficiency  and  it  was  deemed  an  honor  to  secure  a  detail  to  fill 
a  vacancy  in  it.  Several  of  its  members  refused  to  accept 
promotion  to  lieutenant,  and  return  to  their  companies  to 
command  them. 

The  story  of  Petersburg  will  never  be  written ;  volumes 
would  be  required  to  contain  it,  and  even  those  who  went 
through  the  trying  ordeal,  can  not  recall  a  satisfactory  outline 


60  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

of  the  weird  and  graphic  occurrences  of  that  stormy  period. 

The  Eighteenth  was  not  often  in  the  sapping  and  mining 
portion  of  the  lines  and  was  not  so  particularly  at- 
tracted by  its  experience  as  to  wish  to  take  up  its 
abode  in  the  Blandford  portion  of  the  army.  During  the 
month  of  September  when  it  was  necessary  to  draw  the 
troops  from  about  the  Crater  to  resist  an  attack  near  the  Ap- 
pomattox, we  were  hurriedly  brought  from  Battery  45  to 
support  "Long  Tom"  about  200  yards  to  the  right.  There 
was  no  time  to  go  in  the  covered  way,  and  the  brigade  was 
marched  in,  on  an  open  high  ridge.  It  now  appears  won- 
derful that  we  were  not  swept  off  the  earth. 

We  were  not  in  the  trenches  long,  when  "Long  Tom" 
opened  on  the  Supply  train  that  arrived  on  Grant's  military 
railroad,  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before  the  sand-bag  em- 
brazures  and  the  embankments  around  "Long  Tom"  needed 
reconstruction. 

It  was  not  difficult  for  us  to  learn  the  devices  constructed 
for  protection,  from  the  accurate  fire  of  the  enemy  at  close 
range,  and  when  the  mortars  rained  do^^m  their  shot  from  the 
sky  we  found  the  holes  and  could  do  the  gopher  act  with  the 
facility  of  trained  residents. 

The  scene  at  night  was  beautiful  in  the  extreme,  but  there 
was  an  element  of  unattractiveness  about  it,  that  caused  us 
to  yield  readily  to  the  desire  of  any  others  to  see  the  sights 
from  that  view  point,  and  we  invariably  retired  at  first  op- 
portunity, to  position  where  the  lines  were  further  apart. 

When  Gordon  attacked  Fort  Steadman  25  March,  we 
were  massed  near  by,  but  did  not  become  actively  engaged. 
Gordon  carried  the  fort,  but  could  not  hold  it,  without  very 
great  sacrifice  of  men.  His  loss  was  greater  than  his  cap- 
tures, and  Lee  had  no  men  to  spare. 

On  the  night  of  27  May,  Major  Wooten,  with  the  sharp- 
shooter corps  of  Wilcox's  division,  broke  the  Yankee  lines, 
and  captured  and  held  the  strong  position  of  Mcllwaine's  hill 
all  the  next  day.  Wooten  and  Dunlap  (McGowan)  pulled 
the  seine,  and  Scales'  and  Thomas'  corps  helped  to  hold  the 
ground.  The  audacity  of  the  proceeding  was  their  security, 
as  the  Yankees  had  lots  of  men  close  by,  who  appeared  to  fear 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  61 

that  a  trap  was  laid  for  them.  The  concentration  of  troops 
on  Hatcher's  Run  and  Five  Forks  necessitated  the  stretch- 
ing of  the  Confederate  lines  and  the  men  of  Lane's  Brigade 
were  some  twenty  feet  apart  in  the  trenches,  beyond  the  Jones 
house,  when  the  final  attack  was  made  before  day  on  the 
morning  of  2  April.  Our  thin  line  could  make  but  feeble 
resistance  to  the  Sixth  corps  hurled  against  us.  We  detained 
them,  however,  till  the  lines  were  broken  beyond  us,  and  fell 
back  towards  Fort  Gregg,  making  a  stand  on  the  Dinwiddle 
plank  road. 

It  was  after  sunrise  that  General  A.  P.  Hill  was  seen 
coming  from  the  direction  of  his  headquarters  on  the  Cox 
road,  near  the  Appomattox.  The  crowd  that  I  was  witti 
made  every  effort  to  stop  him.  Seeing  no  indication  of  halt- 
ing, I  ran  out  towards  the  direction  he  was  going,  and  though 
some  50  yards  distant,  shouted  to  him  that  our  line  was  broken 
and  that  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  on  the  plank  road  be- 
yond the  creek.  Answering  back,  that  he  was  aware  there 
was  danger,  but  must  get  to  his  right,  he  disappeared  around 
a  hill,  down  a  valley  leading  to  a  crossing  on  the  creek.  A 
volley  as  of  a  dozen  guns  was  heard  in  that  direction,  his 
horse  ran  back  in  a  few  minutes  without  him  and  we  knew 
that  our  gallant  commander  was  off  duty  forever.  His  sta^i 
and  attendants,  who  were  following  him,  caught  his  horse. 
His  body  was  recovered  and  carried  to  the  rear. 

The  statement  that  one  of  his  staff,  or  couriers,  caught  him 
as  he  fell,  is  without  foundation,  a  loving  fabrication  of  the 
devotional  kind.  They  would  have  been  with  him,  if  they 
could,  but  having  the  fleetest  horse,  he  was  far  in  advance, 
and  I  was  doubtless  the  last  Confederate  spoken  to  by  him. 
In  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  as  he  saw  it,  he  rode  into  the 
jaws  of  death,  and  the  army  lost  one  of  its  most  valuable 
officers. 

Lane  and  Thomas'  brigades  formed  near  the  Plank  road 
and  repulsed  the  enemy  in  several  advances.  Wilcox  ordered 
the  troops  on  the  Petersburg  side  of  the  break  back  to  a  line 
of  small  forts  outside  of  the  main  works  at  Battery  45. 

When  we  got  to  Fort  Gregg  we  f  oimd  some  artillerists  in  it 
and  Lane's  North  Carolina  brigade  furnished  the  greater 


62      North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

part  of  the  garrison.  Thomas'  Georgia  and  Harris'  Missis- 
sippi brigades  the  balance.  Generals  Wilcox  and  Lane  were 
in  it,  when  I  left  by  permission  of  the  latter  to  go  to  our  win- 
ter quarters  near  by  to  get  our  records. 

The  Sixth  corps  had  been  reinforced  by  the  Twenty-fourth, 
Gibbon's  corps,  and  the  advance  was  made  on  Gregg  before  I 
could  ret^irn. 

I  was  glad  to  be  on  the  outside.  The  fighting  was  des- 
perate. Eepulsed,  the  enemy  reinforced  and  returned  with 
several  lines,  enveloping  the  fort,  they  filled  the  moat  and 
climbed  the  parapet,  fighting  their  way  inside.  Getting  in- 
side, the  fighting  was  hand  to  hand,  till  those  not  killed  were 
overpowered. 

Lieutenant  William  0.  Eobinson,  Company  B,  Eighteenth 
Kegiment,  and  Color  Sergeant  James  W.  Atkinson,  Thirty- 
third  North  Carolina,  escaped  after  the  fighting  with  clubbed 
muskets  ceased,  and  always  speak  of  it  as  a  scene  of  inde- 
scribable horror. 

After  the  surrender  of  Gregg  the  other  forts  were  evacu- 
ated, and  the  main  line  at  Battery  45,  and  the  dam  on  the 
creek  occupied.  This  was  held  till  night,  and  Petersburg 
was  behind  us  in  the  morning. 

The  march  to  Appomattox  Court  House  was  a  succession 
of  privations  and  hardships  scarcely  credible  by  those  who 
have  not  had  actual  army  experiences. 

The  supply  trains  that  were  to  have  been  stopped  at  Burke- 
ville  and  Amelia  Court  House,  passed  on,  and  were  captured. 
That  country  could  not  subsist  the  army,  and  men  and  ani- 
mals suffered  for  food.  We  were  formed  in  line  of  battle 
several  times  and  had  some  casualties  at  High  Bridge  and 
near  Jetersville. 

On  the  morning  of  9  April,  whilst  the  Eighteenth  was 
forming  line  of  battle,  on  a  ridge  to  the  left  of  the  road 
before  getting  to  the  branch  near  Appoimattox  Court  House, 
Grant's  officer,  bearing  dispatches  to  Lee,  passed  through  its 
lines  and  found  Lee  a  few  hundred  yards  in  our  rear  on  the 
road  we  had  just  left. 

Firing  was  then  going  on  beyond  the  court  house  by  Gen- 
eral Grimes'  North  Carolinians. 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  63 

We  were  marched  to  a  near  by  woods  and  sadly,  sorrow- 
fully stacked  arms.     All  was  over. 

The  limits  of  this  paper  prevent  the  mention  of  the  many 
meritorious  officers  and  men  composing  this  regiment,  of 
whom  I  could  not  speak  in  too  high  terms.  The  valor  of  its 
men,  and  its  services  is  attested  by  its  casualties  on  the  field 
of  battle,  from  New  Bern  to  Gettysburg,  and  then  to  Appo- 
mattox Court  House,  where  its  last  act  was  getting  ready  for 
battle. 

Colonel  John  D.  Barry  was  its  only  member  that  reached 
the  grade  of  general.  He  was  appointed  temporary  brigadier 
3  August,  1864,  but  he  was  later  assigned  to  department  duty 
with  his  regular  grade  of  Colonel  (as  General  Lane  had  re- 
turned to  the  brigade)  on  account  of  his  wounds  and  impaired 
health,  leaving  us  the  latter  part  of  February  or  March. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  John  W.  McGill  resigned  about  the 
same  time.  Major  Thos.  J.  Wooten  was  thus  entitled  to  be- 
come Colonel  and  was  so  recommended,  also  Captain  John  J. 
Poisson  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  B.  P.  Rinaldi 
Major.  Petersburg  was  evacuated  before  they  received  their 
rank  to  which  they  were  justly  entitled.  Major  Wooten  was 
kept  in  command  of  the  brigade  sharpshooters,  and  Captain 
Poisson  paroled  the  regiment,  as  its  commanding  officer. 

I  append  a  roster  of  those  who  were  present,  and  surren- 
dered at  Appomattox : 

Field  and  Staff — Major  Thomas  J.  Wooten,  Adjutant 
Wm.  H.  McLaurin,  Surgeon  Thomas  B.  Lane,  Assistant  Sur- 
geon Simpson  Russ.  ISTon-Commissioned  Staff,  Ordnance 
Sergeant,  Chas.  Flanner. 

Company  A — Captain  B.  F.  Rinaldi,  Sergeants  M.  N. 
Tatum,  Wm.  Howard,  and  Privates  Henry  Howard,  F.  How- 
ard, John  Johnson,  B.  D.  Lindsey,  G.  W.  McDonald. 

Company  B — Lieutenant  R.  M.  Lesesne,  Sergeant  D. 
Storm,  Corporal  S.  Singleterry,  Privates  W.  C.  Bray,  E. 
Austin,  John  Meares. 

Company  C — Lieutenant  Owen  Smith,  Musician  G.  W. 
Sherrill,  and  Privates  D.  R.  Best,  Dan  Green,  D.  Klutts. 

Company  D — Orderly  Sergeant  A.  E.  Floyd,  Corporal  J. 


64  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

P.  Inman,  and  Privates  A.  N.  Prophet,  K.  Lovett,  A.  J. 
Thompson,  Zack  Clewis. 

Company  E — Second  Lieutenant  W.  N.  Fetter,  Musician 
H.  M.  Woodcock,  and  Privates  S.  B.  Costin,  H.  Moore,  C. 
"BarnhiU,  J.  B.  Wall,  L.  B.  Wall,  T.  E.  Colvin. 

Company  P — Sergeant  A.  E.  Smith,  Corporal  J.  A.  Pat- 
terson, and  Privates  W.  W.  BuUard,  W.  C.  Daves,  J.  A.  Cal- 
der,  A.  A.  Huckabee,  M.  G.  McKoy,  James  Nolan,  N.  McN. 
Patterson,  A.  D.  Webb. 

Company  G — Captain  John  J.  Poisson,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant J.  M.  Whitted,  Sergeant  Jas.  R.  Dancey,  Corporal  J.  W. 
Gordon,  Musician  J.  J.  Leslie,  and  Privates  J.  F.  Adams,  P. 
Dickson,  E.  H.  Hall,  C.  J.  Sasser,  P.  T.  Smith. 

Company  H — Second  Lieutenant  Alex.  Lewis,  Sergeant 

C.  M.  Baldwin,  Corporal  H.  C.  Long,  and  Privates  John 
E.  Baldwin,  J.  J.  Chancy,  John  Creech,  J.  E.  Jackson,  A. 
Minton,  W.  Nance,  E.  H.  Price,  John  Safrit,  J.  W.  Yelton, 
Hospital  Steward  Wiley  A.  Cornish. 

Company  I — Sergeants  S.  W.  Wells,  J.  H.  Brown,  Cor- 
poral J.  J.  F.  Heath,  and  Privates  John  Case,  Daniel  Brin- 
dle,  L.  H.  Horn,  D.  S.  Latta,  S.  Bell,  H.  Hayne,  H.  A.  Hall, 

D.  Y.  Eussell  and  E.  B.  Banks. 

Company  K — First  Lieutenant  E.  N.  Eobeson,  Sergeants 
S.  N.  Eichardson,  W.  H.  King,  A.  McNeill,  Corporals  J.  A. 
Cromartie,  D.  M.  Sutton,  and  Privates  W.  N.  Anderson, 
Jesse  F.  Bloodworth,  S.  T.  Buie,  J.  C.  Kinlaw,  W.  Melvin, 
D.  Murphy,  N.  Sikes  and  John  Dunham. 
We  prize  our  parole  as  a  badge  of  honor. 

Wm.  H.  McLauein, 
Adjutant  Eighteenth  N.  C.  T. 
Laueinburg,  N.  C.  , 

9  April,  1901. 


EIGHTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Lawrence  Stewart,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F.       2.    J.  D.  Cnrrie,  2d  Lieut.,  Co,  K, 
3.    John  Walter  Stewart,  3d  Lieut.,  Co.  F, 


ADDITIONAL   SKETCH   EIQHTEENTH 
REGIMENT. 


By  THOMAS  H.  SUTTON,  Phivatb,  Company  I. 


This  regiment  was  a  part  of  the  brigade  of  General  Branch, 
of  Raleigh,  a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  who,  after  many  times 
leading  his  brigade  to  victory  in  bloody  and  hard  fought  bat- 
tles, fell  at  Sharpsburg  with  his  face  to  the  foe,  sword  in 
hand.  After  this,  and  to  the  final  end,  the  brigade  to  which 
the  Eighteenth  ]^.  C.  belonged,  was  known  as  "Lane's" — 
Colonel  James  H.  Lane,  of  the  Twenty-eighth  N.  C,  suc- 
ceeding to  the  command  upon  the  death  of  General  Branch. 

This  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Seventh,  Eighteenth, 
Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-third  and  Thirty-seventh — all  N"orth 
Carolina  regiments — whose  history,  was  a  part  of  that  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  to  which  it  belonged. 

The  Eighteenth  'N.  C.  was  one  of  the  best  regiments  in  the 
Confederate  service. 

It  was  composed  of  ten  companies,  each  one  with  a  full 
quota  of  men — some  companies,  at  the  beginning,  having 
over  one  hundred,  viz : 

CoMPANT  A,  The  German  Volunteers,  of  Wilmington, 
K   C. 

Company  B,  The  Bladen  Light  Infantry,  of  Bladen 
County. 

Company  C,  The  Columbus  Guards,  from  Columbus 
County. 

Company  D,  The  Robeson  Light  Infantry,  from  Robeson 
County. 

Company  E,  The  Moore's  Creek  Riflemen,  from  ISTew 
Hanover  County. 

Company  F,  The  Scotch  Boys,  from  Richmond  County. 

5 


66  North  Cakolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

Company  G,  The  Wilmingtoii  Light  Infantry,  from  Wil- 
mington, N.  C. 

Company  H,  The  Columbus  Vigilants,  from  Columbus 
County. 

Company  I,  The  Wilmington  Eifle  Guards,  from  Wil- 
mington, N.  C. 

Company  K,  The  Bladen  Guards,  from  Bladen  County, 
N.   C. 

■  Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  that  Bladen  County  furnished  two, 
Columbus  two,  Eichmond  one,  Eobeson  one,  and  New  Han- 
over County  four,  three  of  which  were  from  Wilmington. 

The  brigade  was  organized  at  Kinston,  IST.  C,  after  wnicJi, 
in  the  Spring  of  1862,  they  were  ordered  to  join  the  com- 
mand of  General  (Stonewall)  Jackson  who  was  then  "oper- 
ating" upon  Banks,  Shields,  Milroy,  et  at.,  in  his  historic 
and  ever  memorable  campaign  in  the  "Valley  of  Virginia.  We 
were  sent  by  rail  to  Gordonsville,  Va.,  and  froim  thence  took 
up  our  line  of  march  towards  General  Jackson's  command, 
and  while  thus  marching  and  some  distance  beyond  a  place' 
called  Tripperville  (if  my  memory  serves  me  right)  a  moun- 
tain village  in  Western  Virginia,  we  turned  back  upon  the 
line  of  our  march,  and  for  ten  days  covered  an  average 
distance  of  thirty  miles  each  day,  until  at  Hanover  Couj't 
House  (called  by  the  Federals  "Slash  Church")  we  encoun- 
tered the  heavy  division  of  Fitz-John  Porter,  said  to  num- 
ber twenty  thousand  men. 

Here  we  "fleshed  our  maiden  sword,"  for  it  was  our  first 
battle,  and  a  fierce  and  bloody  one  it  was.  Colonel  Lane's 
Twenty-eighth  Eegiment  was  by  some  means  detached  from 
us,  and  from  1  o'clock  until  nearly  dark,  with  only  four  regi- 
ments, we  held  this  tremendous  force  at  bay,  and  then  re- 
treated to  Ashland  in  the  direction  of  Eichmond,  where 
General  Joe  Johnston  was  facing  McClellan's  splendid  army. 
The  Eighteenth  Eegiment  lost  in  this  engagement,  in  killed, 
wounded,  missing  and  prisoners,  fully  two  hundred  men. 

From  Ashland  we  marched  to  a  place  called  "Chamber- 
lain's Hill,"  almost  in  full  view  of  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines, 
which  was  the  great  preliminary  skirmish  to  the  seven  days' 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  67 

fight,  which  was  destined,  under  the  leadership  of  Lee  and 
Jackson,  (General  Joe  Johnston  having  been  wounded  at  the 
Seven  Pines  fight)  to  rid  our  Capital  City  of  the  presence  of 
the  enemy,  then  within  sound  of  the  chimes  of  its  church 
bells. 

No  one  of  us  knew  why  we  had  been  detached  from  the 
command  of  General  Jackson  in  the  valley,  so  thoroughly  did 
he  keep  his  own  counsel,  who,  while  we  were  marching  to- 
wards Hanover  Court  House  was,  with  his  main  command, 
silently  and  swiftly  moving  towards  a  common  place  of  meet- 
ing, mapped  out  by  his  busy  and  active  brain. 

Shortly  after  the  Seven  Pines  fight,  we  joined  the  main 
body  of  General  Jackson's  command  (who,  up  to  that  time 
we  supposed,  were  in  the  Valley  where  we  had  left  them)  at 
the  bridge  crossing  the  Chickahominy  river,  near  Mechanics- 
ville,  when,  soon  after,  the  memorable  "seven  days"  battle 
around  Richmond  was  begun  and  fought  to  a  successful 
finish.  It  was  here  that  the  splendid  genius  of  Stonewall 
Jaclcson  was  displayed  in  all  its  grandeur.  Crossing  the 
Chickahominy  river  at  or  near  Mechanicsville  with  his  corps, 
he  opened  the  fight  by  attacking  Siegel's  corps  of  the  Federal 
arniy  in  the  rear,  and  drove  them  back  in  the  early  day- 
light, throwing  them  into  the  greatest  consternation 
and  panic.  Upon  the  opening  of  Jackson's  men  in  the 
rear,  the  main  army  under  General  Lee  advanced  in  front, 
and  from  thence  on,  for  seven  days,  day  after  day,  the  Eigh- 
teenth N.  C.  Regiment  as  a  part  of  Jackson's  corps,  A.  IST.  V., 
drove  the  enemy,  defeating  General  McClellan  with  his  splen- 
didly equipped  army  until  they  were  compelled  to  take  shel- 
ter under  the  guns  of  their  James  river  fleet. 

It  was  reported  that  at  the  close  of  this  series  of  splendid 
victories.  General  Jackson  said:  "This  is  our  opportunity, 
let  us  on  to  Washington,  and  there  dictate  terms  of  peace  and 
close  the  war." 

But  if  he  did  say  these  words,  the  fates  decreed  otherwise. 
We  did  not  go  to  Washington  but  we  did  rid  Richmond,  our 
capital,  from  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  threatening  its  de- 
struction. There  were  many  incidents,  many  escapes,  many 
adventures  that  happened  here,  in  and  around  the  seven  days' 


68  North  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

fight,  that  might  be  related,  if  time  and  space  did  not  forbid. 

Our  brigade  camped  at  a  place  near  Eichmond,  after  the 
seven  days'  fight,  called  "Howard's  Grove,"  and  after  rest- 
ing a  few  days  commenced  our  march  towards  Gordonsville, 
and  on  9  August,  1862,  fell  in  with  the  enemy  at  Cedar 
Eun,  where  we  were  immediately  put  under  fire,  and 
had  a  hot  time  in  more  ways  than  one.  It  was  here  that  we 
filled  the  "gap"  made  vacant  by  the  falling  back  of  the  cele- 
brated "Stonewall  Brigade"  and  held  it  to  the  end,  driving 
the  enemy  and  making  ourselves  masters  of  the  field. 

After  this  fight  and  victory  General  Jackson  rode  out  in 
front  of  our  brigade  and  "dropped"  his  hat  in  silent  acknowl- 
edgment  of  our  deed,  in  holding  an  important  point,  which 
the  old  "Stonewall  Brigade"  had  failed  to  do — and  by  special 
order  from  corps  headquarters  a  handsome  compliment  was 
paid  to  the  "gallant  soldiers  of  Branch's  brigade."  The  night 
following  while  resting  upon  our  arms,  a  staff  officer  rode  up 
to  General  Branch  and  asked  hita  "how  he  felt,"  to  which 
General  Branch  replied  that  "he  was  delighted  vdth  the  re- 
sults of  the  day  and  was  proud  of  the  manner  in  which  his 
brigade  had  acted."  Our  loss  was  comparatively  light  con- 
sidering the  deadly  work  in  which  we  were  engaged,  but  we 
left  some  noble  and  true  men  on  that  field,  which  served  to 
remind  us  that  in  the  next  battle  we  fought  it  might  be  our  lot 
to  fill  a  soldier's  grave.  From  Cedar  Run  we  marched  to 
Warrenton  Springs,  where  it  was  rumored  General  Lee  would 
cross  the  river.  The  enemy  were  in  full  force  on  the  other 
side,  for  they  "shelled  the  woods"  where  we  were  all  day,  and 
we  felt  that  "something  was  up"  or  would  be  soon. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  we  were  on  the 
march,  with  Jackson's  corps,  to  which  we  were  now  perma- 
nently attached,  for  what  point  we  knew  not,  for  it  was  "Jack- 
son's way"  to  keep  his  movements  a  profound  secret,  but  after 
a  long  forced  march  and  before  we  were  aware  of  it,  we  were 
in  possession  of  immense  stores  of  great  value,  captured  from 
the  enemy  at  Manassas  Junction,  our  rear  fighting  the  ad- 
vance guard  of  the  enemy,  so  close  to  the  army  supply  train 
of  the  foe  as  to  make  it  uncomfortable  as  well  as  "unhealthy" 
to  those  of  us  who,  by  religious  training,  if.  any  there  were. 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  69 

might  be  indisposed  to  shed  human  blood.  The  Eighteenth 
North  Carolina  under  Colonel  Thos.  J.  Purdie,  of  Bladen 
County,  a  gallant  soul,  was  detailed  to  guard  the  train.  We 
were  told  that  the  train  was  to  be  fired,  and  a  tacit  consent 
was  given  us  to  replenish  our  empty  haversacks.  The  con- 
tents of  several  cars  were  distributed  and  the  residue  burned. 
Some  of  our  men  secured  a  very  fine  saddle  for  Colonel  Pur- 
die, of  the  Eighteenth,  which  was  intended  for  the  Dutch 
General  Siegel,  sent  him  by  his  friends  and  admirers,  but  a 
nobler  man  than  he  for  whom  it  was  intended,  bestrode  it, 
and  the  saddle  is  now,  or  was  a  few  years  since,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Purdie  family  of  Bladen,  treasured  as  a  precious 
relic  and  memento  of  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Purdie,  as  noble 
a  man  and  gallant  a  soldier  as  ever  faced  a  foe,  and  who  in  a 
short  while,  following  the  events  here  narrated,  fell  while 
gallantly  leading  his  regiment  to  victory. 

We  left  Manassas  Junction  about  dark  and  rested  a  few 
hours  the  next  day  at  Centreville,  where  some  works  had 
been  thrown  up  at  the  conunencement  of  the  war,  and  that 
evening,  which  I  think  was  2Y  August,  we  commenced 
the  "big"  Manassas  battle,  which  lasted  until  the 
night  following  the  29th.  Here  were  more  of  the  enemy 
killed  than  at  any  other  fight  or  on  any  one  field — certainly 
in  our  front,  during  the  entire  war.  The  enemy  began  to 
fall  back  the  last  day  of  the  fight ;  it  was  a  most  disastrous  and 
complete  rout.  Here  we  had  to  contend  with  McClellan's 
army,  that  we  had  fought  around  Eichmond  and  the  Valley 
forces,  all  combined.  The  pursuit  was  kept  up  all  day  Sun- 
day and  the  day  following,  when  they  were  overtaken  at  Ox 
Hill,  when  we  had  a  -fight  of  four  or  five  hours,  in  an  almost 
continuous  rain ;  but  we  again  repulsed  the  enemy  and  drove 
them  before  us,  thus  again  acknowledging  the  prowess  of 
Branch's  brigade,  which  for  a  great  part  was  composed  of  the 
"fiower  of  the  Cape  Fear  section."  That  night  the  enemy 
vacated  our  front,  and  in  a  few  days  we  resumed  our  march, 
crossing  the  Potomac  at  the  "Point  of  Eocks,"  and  we  were 
told  that  we  were  in  "Maryland,  my  Maryland."  The  Con- 
federate soldier  will  always  remember  the  beauty  of  the  fair, 
noble  women  and  the  brave  chivalric  men  of  Maryland.     The 


70  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

great  heart  of  her  people  was  with  us,  and  we  knew  it,  but 
they  were  in  fetters,  bound  hand  and  foot.  We  camped  near 
Frederick  City,  for  a  few  days.  This  is  the  place  made  fa- 
mous by  the  touching  poem  of  John  Greenleaf  Whittier, 
called  Barbara  Freitchie,  who,  as  the  poet  has  it,  was  an  old 
grey-haired  woman,  who  in  her  attic  window  waved  the 
Union  flag  at  the  Confederates,  and  was  shot  at  by  them,  until 
stopped  by  General  Jackson.  There  is  not  a  word  of  truth  in 
this  tale — no  Confederate  soldier  can  be  found,  or  named, 
living  or  dead,  who  ever  knowingly  fired  at  a  woman ;  and  I 
have  it  from  a  gentleman  who  lived  in  Frederick  City  at  the 
time  Jackson's  men  passed  through,  who  says  our  march  did 
not  carry  us  within  three  or  four  blocks  of  the  house  where 
Barbara  lived — that  no  such  thing  was  heard  of  as  related  by 
Mr.  Whittier  and  no  such  thing  happened.  This  gentleman, 
my  informant,  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  lived  in  Fred- 
erick City  during  the  war  and  since,  and  has  held  high  office 
under  the  State  Government  of  Maryland.  I  met  him  in 
Washington  a  few  years  since  and  he  confirmed  my  belief 
respecting  the  "facts"  as  given  by  the  poet,  that  it  was  a 
myth,  a  pure  invention  of  the  imaginative  mind  of  the  poet. 
The  only  real  fact  in  the  poem,  is  that  there  was  a  woman 
named  Barbara  Freitchie,  living  in  Frederick  City  at  the 
time  Jackson  passed  through.     But  I  must  proceed. 

We  again  marched  through  Frederick  City,  re-crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Williamsport,  and  were  back  in  Virginia,  and 
"hovering  with  stealthy  steps"  (as  was  Jackson's  way) 
around  Harpers  Ferry.  Here  we  operated  several  days, 
climbing  precipitous  mountains  trying  to  get  into  position. 
We  had  literally  to  pull  ourselves  up  by  bushes,  roots,  or  any- 
thing projecting  from  the  mountain  sides,  some  of  us  actually 
having  to  brace  ourselves  against  trees,  so  as  to  hold  our  guns 
in  position  and  ready  to  fire  at  the  word  given.  Early  the 
next  morning  the  artillery  opened  on  the  enemy,  receiving  a 
very  weak  reply,  and  in  a  short  time  the  white  emblem  of  sur- 
render went  up  and  "the  boys  in  blue"  walked  out  and  stacked 
their  arms. 

Here  again  we  captured  valuable  stores  of  immense  value, 
and  thousands  of  stand  of  arms,  and  eleven  thousand  pris- 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  71 

oners,  according  to  the  figures  published.  Here  again  "Old 
Stonewall"  left  his  "book  mark"  with  the  enemy,  as  a  gen- 
tle reminder  that  he  and  his  corps  were  around,  and  requested 
a  generous  ( ?)  remembrance  by  the  Federal  Government  at 
Washington. 

After  being  supplied  with  Enfield  rifles — of  which  we 
stood  in  great  need — we  crossed  the  Potomac  again,  and  for 
the  second  time  were  in  Maryland,  and  we  were  soon  in  the 
Sharpsburg  fight  (called  by  the  Federals,  Antietam).  This 
was  what  might  be  called  a  "draw  fight,"  and  it  was  here 
that  our  brigade  commander,  the  noble  and  chivalrous  Branch 
yielded  up  his  life  as  a  holocaust  to  his  country's  need !  "ISTo 
country  ever  had  a  truer  son,  no  cause  a  nobler  champion, 
no  principle  a  bolder  defender"  than  the  noble  and  gallant 
soldier,  General  Lawrence  O'Brien  Branch ! 

After  quitting  the  field  at  Sharpsburg,  we  crossed  the  Po- 
tomac again  at  Shepherdstown,  took  again  to  the  Old  Domin- 
ion. The  winter  was  coming  on.  The  chill  blasts  from  the 
North  were  beginning  to  tell  heavily  upon  the  exhausted 
frames  and  shattered  energies  of  our  men,  all  of  whom  were 
unused  to  such  rough  lives,  and  we  did  hope  for  a  rest  in  win- 
ter quarters,  where,  for  a  while  at  least,  we  might  sleep  and 
dream  of  home  and  comforts,  without  the  thought  of  war  with 
its  dreadful  realities. 

But  vain  hope !  Taking  up  our  march  on  the  Shepherds- 
town  road,  we  soon  knew  that  we  were  approaching  the  enemy 
by  the  skirmishing  in  our  front.  We  formed  line  of  battle 
and  drove  the  enemy  into  the  river,  despite  the  heavy  guns 
that  had  been  planted  on  the  Maryland  side  to  protect  them. 
We  lay  that  day  on  the  river  bank  iinder  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
enemy's  guns  of  grape,  canister  and  shell. 

Our  regilment  camped  near  Berryville  and  were  called  out 
several  times  to  meet  the  enemy  at  Snicker's  Gap,  but  never 
engaged  them  there.  We  then  marched  up  the  Valley  pike, 
crossing  the  Blue  Ridge  at  New  Market  Gap,  and  camped 
near  Fredericksburg.  The  enemy  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock and.  we  were  ordered  to  meet  them.  0^^r  brigade  (now 
Lane's)  were  not  in  front  of  the  city,  but  almost  the  ex- 
treme right  of  Lee's  army.     We  formed  line  of  battle  at  the 


72  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

railroad  on  13  December,  ■  1862,  soon  after  which  our 
skirmish  line  came  in  and  the  enemy  developed  in  great 
numbers  and  swept  us  from  our  position  at  the  railroad.  We 
soon  rallied  and  swept  on  to  the  railroad  again,  the  Eigh- 
teenth and  Seventh  Eegisments  of  our  brigade  not  stopping  at 
the  railroad,  but  going  on  to  the  hill  beyond,  on  the  top  of 
which  we  were  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  killing  a  great 
many  and  losing  some  of  our  best  men,  as  an  offset  for  our 
daring  charge.  From  that  time  on,  the  fight  was  not  heavy 
in  our  front,  but  was  in  front  of  the  city.  The  night  the 
enemy  re-crossed  the  river,  a  general  charge  had  been  ordered 
all  along  the  line,  but  was  countermanded  by  General  Lee. 
Then  the  campaign  of  1862  ended  with  the  victory  at  Fred- 
ericksburg. We  went  into  winter  quarters  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock near  Moss  ISTeck  church,  at  Camp  Gregg,  named  for 
that  general  who  was  killed  at  Fredericksburg.  Here  Gen- 
eral Lane  was  presented  with  a  fine  saddle  and  bridle  by  the 
field  officers  in  token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  merits. 
Under  an  act  of  the  Confederate  Congress  a  medal  was  to  be 
given  to  the  man  who  was  voted  by  his  comrades  as  the 
bravest  and  best  soldier.  The  company  to  which  Jesse  F. 
Bloodworth  (Company  K,  Eighteenth  IST.  0.)  belonged, 
without  a  dissenting  voice,  decided  for  him,  and  although 
the  medal  never  came,  yet  not  one  of  Napoleon's  old  guard, 
could  have  more  richly  deserved,  nor  more  worthily  won  it. 

The  campaign  of  1863  soon  opened  and  we  had  to  aban- 
don our  comfortable  quarters  at  Camp  Gregg.  A  slight 
brush  at  the  "Wilderness"  was  the  opening  prelude  to  that 
ever  memorable  campaign.  With  Jackson  we  took  part  in 
the  flank  movement  around  to  Chancellorsville.  The  enemy 
were  completely  surprised  (for  this  was  Jackson's  way)  in 
an  old  field  where  a  part  of  their  forces  were  camped.  They 
left  their  coffee  on  the  fire  and  "stood  not  upon  the  order  of 
their  going."  We  marched  some  distance  and  filed  left  into 
a  woodland  and  formed  line  of  battle  about  dark 
Avith  our  right  resting  on  the  plank  road.  The  Eigh- 
teenth was  the  left  regiment,  and  the  Fiftieth  ,  Virginia 
was  upon  our  left.  It  was  now  Avell  dark;  our  skirmishers 
had  gone  forward.     In  a  few  moments  Generals  Jackson  and 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  73 

A.  P.  Hill  came  riding  down  the  plank  road  from  the  front, 
with  a  good  many  staff  officers  and  couriers  whose  appearance 
in  the  gloom  (we  did  not  then  know  who  they  were)  was  well 
calculated  to  create  the  impression  that  the  enemy's  cavalry 
were  advancing.  This  party  wheeled  into  the  woods  exactly 
in  front  of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment.  Our 
men  having  seen  the  skirmishers  go  forward,  besides  knowing 
that  we  had  no  friends  in  that  direction,  reasonably  concluded 
that  it  was  the  enemy  coming  down  upon  us.  At  this  mo- 
ment some  over-excited  man  in  the  line  shouted  "Cavalry," 
whereupon  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  opened  fire.  The  Fif- 
tieth Virginia  Regiment  also  opened  fire,  and  General  Jack- 
son— the  immortal  "Stonewall" — received  his  mortal  wound 
at  the  hands  of  those  who  loved  him  more  than  life,  any  one 
of  whom  would  have  risked  and  if  need  be,  sacrificed  his  own 
life  to  save  that  of  his  beloved  general. 

He  was  to  the  Army  of  JSTorthern  Virginia  what  ISTey  was 
to  Napoleon,  its  very  strong  right  arm,  and  yet  by  the  in- 
exorable decree  of  fate  it  was  reserved  for  the  Eigh- 
teenth Regiment  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  discharge 
of  a  supposed  duty,  to  deprive  the  Southern  Army  of  its 
chief  pillar  of  support,  its  most  brilliant,  matchless  and 
greatest  soldier.  In  addition  to  the  firing  from  our  ranks  the 
enemy's  artillery  also  opened  upon  us,  from  which  it  is  sup- 
posed' General  Jackson  received  other  wounds  while  being 
borne  from  the  field. 

We  moved  to  the  right  of  the  plank  road,  when  during  the 
night  we  repulsed  a  heavy  charge  of  the  enemy.  The  next 
day  (Sunday)  the  fight  was  renewed  by  our  brigade  charging 
the  enemy's  works,  defended  by  about  forty  pieces  of  artillery 
heavily  supported.  Three  times  we  charged,  and  finally  cap- 
tured the  works.  Our  regiment  lost  heavily.  General  A.  P. 
Hill  having  been  wounded  the  night  previous,  our  corps  was 
commanded  by  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  Here  the  gallant 
Colonel  Thos."  J.  Purdie,  of  Bladen  County,  Colonel  of  the 
Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  fell  while  gallantly 
leading  his  men.  After  this  battle  we  returned  to  Camp 
Gregg,  where  a  change  of  field  officers  was  had.  Major  Jno. 
D.  Barry,  of  Wilmington,  was  made  Colonel,  vice  Purdie, 


74  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

killed ;  Captain  Jno.  W.  McGrill,  vice  Lieutenant-Colonel  F. 
George,  elected  to  the  Legislature  from  Columbus  County, 
and  Captain  Thos.  J.  Wooten  to  be  Major,  vice  Barry,  pro- 
moted. We  bade  farewell  to  Camp  Gregg,  and  crossing  the 
Potomac  again  at  Shepherdstown,  camped  that  night. 

Taking  up  our  line  of  march  again,  we  were  in  Petmsylva- 
nia,  going  towards  Gettysburg,  when  the  "dogs  of  war"  were 
again  unloosed  with  redoubled  fury. 

The  first  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg,  we  drove  the  enemy 
some  distance  and  halted  on  a  ridge,  and  lay  on  our  arms  that 
night,  and  held  this  ridge  until  the  third  day's  fight.  That 
day  we  were  in  position  supporting  our  artillery,  and  under 
the  heaviest  fire  of  the  enemy's  field  artillery  that  our  brigade 
ever  experienced  during  the  entire  war. 

Suddenly  the  enemy's  artillery  ceased  and  we  were  ordered 
forward  to  charge  the  heights  occupied  by  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery and  infantry.  We  faced  the  storm  of  death-dealing 
grape,  shell  and  canister  shot,  and  an  incessant  shower  of 
musketry,  a  long  distance  in  an  open  field,  all  the  way,  and 
reaching  the  heights  only  to  find  that  we  were  flanked  by  the 
enemy  and  unsupported  by  our  own  troops,  we  were  com.- 
pelled  to  fall  back,  leaving  many  of  our  best  and  bravest  men 
dead  and  dying  on  this  bloody  and  sanguinary  field.  After 
remaining  in  line  f(?r  a  day  we  commenced  our  retreat  to 
Hagerstown,  where  General  Lee  offered  the  enemy  battle  on 
equal  terms,  which  they  declined.  We  left  Hagerstown  in  a 
hard  rain,  marching  over  a  miserable  road  for  Falling 
Waters,  and  about  sunrise  the  next  morning,  after  an  all 
night's  march,  reached  the  old  Potomac  river  again.  Cross- 
ing the  Potomac  we  were  on  Virginia  soil  again,  and  with  a 
slight  brush  at  Mine  Run  ended  the  campaign  of  1863. 

General  Grant  had  taken  command  of  the  Federal  forces  in 
the  Spring  of  1864,  and  crossed  the  river  to  meet  us  at  the 
Wilderness.  Here  this  battle  commenced  early  in  the  after- 
noon, severe  fighting  going  on  contimiously  until  dark.  We 
drove  the  enemy  back — every  charge  they  made.  During  the 
night  following,  however,  by  some  fatal  oversight,  or  unpar- 
donable negligence  of  some  of  our  generals,  our  forces  were 
hiiddled  together  in  the  utmost  confusion,  "cross  and  pile," 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  75 

with  no  line  formed,  so  that  at  daylight,  the  enemy  making 
a  desperate  charge,  we  came  very  near  being  utterly  routed, 
and  would  have  been  but  for  the  timely  appearance  of  some 
fresh  troops.  Our  brigade  rallied  and  drove  the  enemy 
back,  the  battle  ended  with  victory  for  the  Southern  cause. 

Then  commenced  our  roundabout  march  to  Petersburg. 
On  12  May,  1864,  we  met  the  enemy  at  Spottsylvania, 
and  on  that  morning  we  were  in  the  memorable  "Horse- 
shoe" enveloped  by  a  dense  fog,  taking  advantage  of  which 
the  enemy  broke  our  line,  and  captured  many  prisoners.  But 
General  Lane,  by  his  admirable  management  of  our  brigade, 
again  drove  the  enemy  back  and  regained  our  lines.  At  this 
juncture  our  brigade  was  reinforced  by  Thomas'  Georgia  bri- 
gade, and  we  drove  the  enemy  back  across  the  works  and  into 
the  woods  beyond.  Our  brigade  was  then  moved  to  the 
right,  and  behind  hastily  improvised  works,  which  afforded 
little  or  no  protection,  we  were  exposed  to  a  galling  and  heavy 
enfilading  fire  from  six  of  the  enemy's  guns  on  his  left.  Thus 
we  remained  several  hours,  while  General  Ewell  was  being 
hard  pressed.  Later  we  were  ordered  to  take  the  enemy's 
guns,  supported  by  Mahone's  Virginia  brigade. 

We  did  capture  the  guns,  besides  took  four  hundred  and 
fifty  prisoners  and  three  stand  of  colors.  This  the  Eigh- 
teenth North  Carolina  Regiment,  with  the  brigade  to  which 
it  belonged,  did,  and  the  credit  of  the  same  was  awarded  to 
Lane's  North  Carolina  Brigade,  although  Mahone  tried  to 
claim  it.  With  the  charge  of  our  brigade  the  battle  of  Spott- 
sylvania Court  House  ended  in  another  victory  for  General 
Lee's  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

On  theimarch  towards  Petersburg  we  had  several  "brushes" 
with  the  enemy  at  Totopotomy  Creek,  Cold  Harbor,  Turkey 
Ridge  and  other  places,  not  now  remembered. 

At  Turkey  Ridge,  General  Lane  being  wounded,  the  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  Colonel  Jno.  D.  Barry, 
of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment. 

Crossing  the  James  river  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  we  were 
among  the  first  troops  to  reach  Petersburg. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  anything  like  an  accurate  ac- 
count of  our  every  day's  work — fighting,  marching  and  build- 


76  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

ing  works  around  Petersburg.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Kegiment  was  always  at  the 
front,  and  always  did  its  whole  duty.  We  were  ordered  to 
cross  the  James  river  at  Drewry's  Bluff  again,  and  on  the 
march  thither  for  the  first  time,  at  "Deep  Bottom,"  we  en- 
countered the  colored  troops,  who  first  drove  a  brigade  on  our 
right  out  of  the  works,  which  we  in  turn  retook,  and  held 
them  until  ordered  elsewhere. 

Marching  to  Petersburg  via  Drewry's  Bluff,  we  were  sta- 
tioned below  and  to  the  right  of  Battery  No.  45,  and  remained 
until  our  brigade  was  sent  to  assist  in  an  attack  on  Reams 
Station.  There  we  supported  the  brigades  of  Generals  Cooke, 
MacEae  and  others,  and  being  well  supported,  we  charged 
the  enemy's  lines,  took  nine  of  his  guns,  two  thousand  prison- 
ers, besides  wagons,  ambulances,  etc.  It  was  a  desperate 
fight,  but  the  result  added  to  the  fame  of  the  North  Carolina 
soldier,  of  which  their  descendants  may,  for  all  time  to  come, 
be  proud. 

Events  in  rapid  succession  crowded  upon  each  other.  The 
end  was  rapidly  approaching.  We  went  back  to  Battery 
No.  45. 

At  Jones'  Earm  on  30  September,  1864,  we  had  a  severe 
fight,  and  lost  from  our  regiment  some  of  its  bravest 
and  best.  Our  regiment  was  now  reduced  to  a  mere  "skele- 
ton" or  handful  of  its  former  strength.  Starting  out  with 
eleven  hundred  men,  we  were  now  reduced  to  one  hundred  or 
less.  The  death  of  every  comrade  was  now  indeed  a  serious 
loss.  Our  entire  brigade  was  hardly  now  in  numbers,  as 
much  as  half  our  original  regimental  muster  roll. 

We  remained  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg  until  we  took 
our  last  march  in  the  Spring  following  towards  Appomattox. 
As  we  passed  through  Petersburg  the  sidewalks  of  the  city 
were  filled  with  weeping  women  and  children,  lamenting  the 
fate  which  they  knew  daylight  would  bring  upon  them.  In 
our  army  they  had  centred  their  hopes,  and  with  our  de- 
parture they  well  knew  their  last  earthly  refuge  and  hope 
were  gone,  and  for  many  days  and  nights  thereafter  the  wail- 
ings  and  lamentations  of  these  helpless  women  and  children 
rang  in  the  Southern  soldier's  ear  as  he  "plodded  his  weary 


Eighteenth  Regiment.  77 

■way"  to  the  place  where  the  Southern  flag  was  to  be  furled 
forever.  The  march  from  Petersburg  began  2  April,  and 
ended  at  Appomattox  9  April,  1865. 

Twenty-eight  thousand  bleeding,  half -starved  and  foot-sore 
soldiers  stood  there  on  that  eventful  9  April,  1865,  with 
folded  arms,  as  General  Lee  rode  down  our  lines  and  "bade  us 
adieu  forever." 

The  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  after  one  year's 
coast  service  in  North  Carolina,  went  to  Virginia.  Early  in 
1862  was  part  of  Branch's  Brigade,  afterwards  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  Lane's. 

After  seeing  some  service  in  the  Valley,  from  the  battle  of 
Hanover  Court  House,  (called  by  some  "Slash  Church"),  to 
the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  it  was  a  portion  of  General  Lee's 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

This  regiment  fought  not  less  than  thirty-five  (35)  bat- 
tles, besides  double  that  number  of  skirmishes;  was  in  both 
the  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  campaigns,  forded  the  Poto- 
mac five  times,  and  crossed  it  once  on  a  pontoon,  and  was  "in 
at  the  death,"  when  the  Southern  Star  of  victory  went  down 
in  a  sea  of  bloodj  in  the  gloom  of  defeat  at  Appomattox. 

Such  is  the  history,  in  brief,  of  the  Eighteenth  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  A  great  many  of  the  scenes  described 
I  have  drawn  from  data  obtained  from  comrades  years  ago. 
A  great  many  have  faded  from  my  ^memory.  Yet  while  I 
was  not  a  participant  in  all  or  indeed  in  many  of  the  battles 
and  stirring  scenes  of  those  troublous  times,  yet  I  am  sure 
this  hastily  written  sketch,  imperfect  as  it  is,  faithfully  re- 
cords the  history  of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment in  the  substance  of  its  work  and  in  all  its  essential  par- 
ticulars. 

It  is  only  intended,  as  I  understand  it,  to  furnish  data 
for  the  future  North  Carolina  historian,  when  he  comes  to  do 
his  State  justice,  by  a  faithful  and  impartial  record  of  its 
soldiers'  sufferings,  privations,  toil  and  victories,  in  that 
bloody  drama. 

If  these  lines  will  thus  aid  the  future  writer  of  the  deeds 
and  heroism  of  the  North  Carolina  soldier,  I  feel  that  the 
task  assigned  me  is  accomplished,  and  that  I  have  contributed 


78  North  Carolina  Teoops,  1861-65. 

my  part  towards  its  future  History,  even  though  hastily  and 
imperfectly  done. 

Certain  it  is,  that  North  Carolina  has  no  cause  to  feel 
ashamed  of  the  part  her  soldiers  took,  and  while  we  detract 
from  none  but  want  all  to  have  the  credit  to  which  they  are 
justly  entitled,  yet  let  justice  be  done  to  the  State  that  had 
more  soldiers  in  active  service  at  the  front,  than  there  were 
voters  in  the  entire  State. 

Thomas  H.  Sutton. 
Private  Company  I. 

Faybtteville,  N.  C, 

April  9,  1901. 


NINETEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  Sol.  WilliamB,  Colonel.  3.    Randolph  H.  Reese,  Captain,  Co.  H. 

2.  Geo.  Pettigrew  Bi'yan,  Captain,  Co.  G.     4.    James  N.  Turner,  Captain,  Co.  D. 

5.    W.  A.  Graham,  Jr.,  Captain,  Co.  K. 


NINETEENTH  REGIMEfiT. 

(second  cavaley.  ) 


By  W.  a.  graham,  Captain  Company  K. 


This  regiment,  with  the  first  eight  regiments  of  infantry, 
the  Ninth  ISTorth  Carolina  Regiment  (First  Cavalry),  the 
Tenth  Eegiment  (First  Artillery),  and  the  Thirty-third  Eeg- 
iment  of  infantry,  comprised  what  was  originally  kno'wn  as 
"State  Troops."  They  enlisted  "for  the  war,"  and  the  officers, 
both  regimental  and  company,  were  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. The  volunteers  enlisted  for  twelve  months  (except 
the  Bethel  Eegiment — six  months) ;  their  company  officers 
were  elected  by  the  "rank  and  file"  of  the  company ;  the  field 
officers  by  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  companies  of  the 
respective  battalions  and  regiments.  In  1862  the  right  to 
elect  company  officers  was  given  by  law  to  the  State  Troops. 
The  horses  for  the  privates  were  furnished  by  the  State  to  the 
First  and  Second  Cavalry  Eegiments.  The  regiment,  except 
Company  A,  assembled  at  Kittrell's  Springs  in  August  and 
September,  1861. 

PIELD   AND   STAFF. 

S.  B.  Speuill,  Colonel. 

William  G.  Eobinson,  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

John  W.  Woodfin,  Major. 

GuiLFOED  Nicholson,  Adjutant. 

Capt.  John  S.  Hines^  Quartermaster. 

Capt.  John  W.  Mooee,  Commissary. 

Smith,  Surgeon. 

E.  H.  Shields,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
E.  P.TucKE,  Sergeant  Major. 


80  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Rogers;  Second  Lieutenants,  George  V.  Snider  and  W.  P. 
Moore. 

Company  B — Iredell  County — Captain,  C.  M.  Andrews ; 
First  Lieutenant,  S.  Jay  Andrews;  Second  Lieutenants, 
Eichard  W.  Allison  and  James  N.  Turner. 

Company  C — Gates  and  Hertford  Counties — Captain 
John  G.  Boothe ;  First  Lieutenant,  James  M.  Wynn ;  Second 
Lieutenants,  Mills  L.  Eure  and  William  P.  Eoberts. 

Company  D — Cumberland  County — Captain,  James  W. 
Strange ;  First  Lieutenant,  T.  S.  Lutterloh ;  Second  Lieuten- 
ants, Joseph  S.  Baker  and  James  F.  Williams. 

Company  E — Nash,  Wilson  and  Pranhlin  Counties — 
Captain,  Columbus  A.  Thomas ;  First  Lieutenant,  J.  J.  B. 
Vick;  Second  Lieutenants,  Nick  M.  Harris  and  Robert  W. 
Atkinson. 

Company  F — Guilford  County- — Captain  Barzillai  F. 
Cole;  First  Lieutenant,  R.  W.  King;  Second  Lieutenants, 
P.  A.  Tatum  and Nelson. 

Company  G — Beaufort  County — Captain,  Louis  E.  Sat- 
terthwaite;  First  Lieutenant,  William  Satterthwaite ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenants,  Samuel  S.  Whitehurst  and  George  P. 
Bryan. 

Company  H — Bertie  and  Northamipton  Counties — Cap- 
tain, John  Randolph;  First  Lieutenant,  H.  B.  Hardy;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenants,  W.  H.  Newsom  and  George  Bishop. 

Company  I — Moore  County — Captain,  Jesse  L.  Bryan; 
First  Lieutenant,  J.  L.  Arnold;  Second  Lieutenants,  D.  0. 
Bryan  and  J.  S.  Eitter. 

Company  K — Orange  County- — Captain,  Josiah  Turner, 
Jr. ;  First  Lieutenant,  William  A.  Graham,  Jr, ;  Second 
Lieutenants,  John  P.  Lockhart  and  James  V.  Moore. 

In  October  the  regiment  broke  camp.  Companies  D,  E,  F, 
I  and  K,  with  Colonel,  Major  and  Staff,  to  Hertford,  thence 
to  Edenton;  the  second  squadron  (Companies  B  and  G), 
Lieutenant-Colonel  commanding,  to  Washington,  N".  C. ;  the 
third  squadron  (Companies  C  and  H),  under  Captain 
Boothe,  to  Neuse  River,  below  ISTew  Bern.  Company  A  was 
at  Asheville. 

While  at  Edenton  there  was  mention  of  arming  the  five 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  81 

companies  there  with  muskets  and  sending  them  to  Roanoke 
Island  as  infantry,  to  remain  until  relieved  by  infantry. 
The  Colonel  favored  this,  biit  the  company  officers  objected,  as 
it  was  putting  the  men  into  a  different  service  from  that  into 
which  they  had  entered,  and  for  an  indefinite  time.  After 
several  weeks'  "jawing"  the  idea  was  abandoned.  Major 
Woodfin  commanded  the  Battalion  most  of  the  time  while  at 
Edenton,  Colonel  Spruill  being  in  attendance  upon  the  State 
(Secession)  Convention ;  of  which  he  was  a  member.  In  De- 
cember the  regiment,  except  the  second  squadron,  was  assem- 
bled at  ISTew  Bern.  Company  A  had  come  from  Asheville, 
the  fifth  squadron  (Companies  E  and  K)  received  horses 
here,  and  the  whole  regiment  was  now  mounted  but  was  not 
armed.  Governor  Clark  complained  to  the  Confederate 
Government  on  12th  March,  1862,  that  the  regiment  had  not 
been  armed,  although  it  had  been  in  service  six  months.  Win- 
ter quarters  were  built  across  the  Trent  river.  These,  on  the 
evacuation,  were  occupied  by  "runaway  negroes"  and  were 
the  beginning  of  the  present  James  City. 

The  regiment  took  part  in  the  battle  of  New  Bern,  14 
March,  1862,  Companies  A.  E  and  K  dismounted,  and  under 
command  of  Colonel  Z.  B.  Vance,  Twenty-sixth  N.  C.  T.  Af- 
ter the  battle  of  New  Bern  the  camp  was  at  "Wise's  Fork,  five 
miles  below  Kinston,  and  for  the  first  time  the  regiment  met 
as  a  whole.  It  picketed  the  roads  to  New  Bern,  the  first  via 
Tuscarora,  the  second  via  Dover  Swamp  and  the  Third  via 
Trenton  and  near  PoUocksville. 

This  was  the  severest  service  the  regiment  saw  in  its  his- 
tory. A  company  of  from  thirty  to  sixty  men  would  go 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  miles  to  the  front,  establish  its 
picket  in  from  a  half  to  a  fourth  of  a  mile  of  those  of  the 
enemy,  who  had  a  "reserve"  of  several  thousand  a  mile  or  two 
in  their  rear,  and  General  Burnside's  whole  command  at  New 
Bern,  not  ten  miles  from  our  outpost.  For  us  there  was  no 
reinforcement,  except  a  few  "couriers,"  in  twenty  miles. 
Each  company  in  turn  had  a  picket  tour  of  about  ten  days  on 
one  of  the  roads,  and  frequently  the  horses  were  not  unsad- 
dled for  half  that  time.  It  frequently  rained  nearly  every 
6 


82  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

day  of  the  ten.  Consequently,  three-fourths  of  the  horses 
returned  from  picket  with  sore  backs.  The  regiment  was 
armed  with  almost  every  kind  of  arms  (except  the  newest  pat- 
terns) known  to  the  warrior  or  sportsman,  and  was  never 
fully  equipped  with  arms  of  modern  warfare  until  it 
equipped  itself  with  those  furnished  by  the  United  States 
and  taken  from  its  troops  in  Virginia. 

The  writer  has  taken  Company  K  on  picket  with  thirty-five 
men,  armed  about  as  follows:  Two  Sharp's  carbines,  six 
Hall's,  five  Colts'  (six-shooters),  four  Mississippi  rifles  and 
twelve  double-barrelled  shotguns,  and  perhaps  a  half  dozen 
pairs  of  old  one-barrel  "horse  pistols."  There  was  not  ex- 
ceeding twenty  cartridge  boxes  in  the  company;  the  others 
carried  their  ammunition  (twenty  rounds)  in  the  pockets  of 
their  clothes  and  in  their  "haversacks."  Was  not  this  a  "for- 
midable array"  to  place  itself  within  ten  miles  of  the  head- 
quarters of  thirty  thousand  men  equipped  with  arms  of  mod- 
ern pattern  ?  While  the  regiment  remained  here  there  were 
nearly  every  week,  engagements  with  the  enemy,  (1)  Captain 
Strange,  Company  D,  near  "Ten  Mile"  house;  (2)  Captain 
Andrews,  Company  B,  at- Tuscarora ;  (3)  Captain  Boothe, 
Company  C,  at Mills,  in  Carteret  county ;  (4)  Lieuten- 
ant W.  P.  Roberts,  Company  C,  with  twenty-five  men  near 
Pollocksville ;  (5)  14  April,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Robinson, 
with  portions  of  Companies  D,  E,  F,  I  and  K,  at  Gillet's,  in 
Onslow  County.  The  attack  was  made  on  horseback  against 
infantry  in  house  and  in  a  lot  surrounded  by  a  "stake  and 
rider"  rail  fence  with  a  deep  ditch  on  the  outside.  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Robinson  was  wounded  and  captured.  He  never 
returned  to  the  regiment.  Captain  Turner,  Company 
K,  was  severely  wounded  and  disabled  for  further  ser- 
vice in  the  field;  (6)  13  May,  at  the  White  Church, 
near  Fescue's,  in  Jones  County,  on  the  Dover  Swamp 
road,  fourteen  miles  from  ISTew  Bern,  Lieutenant 
Rogers,  with  twenty-five  men  of  Company  A,  and  Lieuten- 
ant Graham,  with  fifteen  men  of  Company  K,  a  total  of  forty 
men,  were  attacked  by  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry,  a  six- 
gun  battery  and  two  regiments  of  infantry.  They  repelled  the 
attack  and  killed,  wounded  and  captured  nearly  as  many 


Nineteenth   Regiment.  83 

as  they  had  engaged  in  the  fight.  The  road  having  swampy 
ground  on  both  sides,  there  was  no  opportunity  for  them  to 
deploy  against  us.  Our  loss  1  killed,  6  wounded,  2  prisoners. 
The  troops  engaged  were  complimented  in  general  orders  by 
Lieutenant-General  Holmes  from  district  headquarters ;  also 
by  General  Robert  Ransom,  commanding  post.  Colonel 
Spruill  resigned  in  April.  Matthew  L.  Davis,  who  was  com- 
missioned to  succeed  him,  died  in  Goldsboro  en  route  to  the 
regiment.  Colonel  Sol.  Williams  was  transferred  from 
the  Twelfth  Infantry  to  the  Second  Cavalry  5  June,  1862. 
His  Adjutant,  Lieutenant  John  C.  Pegram  came  with  him. 
Adjutant  Nicholson  became  Lieutenant  of  Company  A. 

A  FLAG  OF  TEUCE. 

On  4  July,  1862,  as  First  Lieutenant  Company  K,  I  was 
in  command  of  the  picket  on  the  Dover  Swamp  road  from 
Kinston  to  New  Bern  with  headquarters  at  the  Merritt  House 
and  our  outpost  at  the  Ten-Mile  House.  About  11  o'clock 
a.  m..  Colonel  W.  F.  Martin,  Seventeenth  North  Carolina 
Troops,  and  Captain  Theodore  J.  Hughes,  formerly  Commis- 
sary of  the  regiment  and  afterwards  Purser  of  the  "Ad- 
Vance"  during  most  of  her  life  as  a  blockade-runner,  arrived, 
carrying  communications  imder  "flag  of  truce"  to  General 
Burnside,  commanding  the  United  States  forces  at  New 
Bern.  I  requested  Colonel  Martin  to  procure  for  me  per- 
mission to  accompany  them,  and  with  this  expectation  took 
command  of  the  escort.  I  prepared  my  toilet  by  taking  off 
my  coat  and  pants  and  whipping  them  around  a  sapling  to 
get  the  dust  out  and  with  a  corn  cob  and  spittle,  endeavored 
to  "shine"  my  boots.  After  dinner  (about  12:30  p.  m.)  we 
started ;  a  Corporal  and  two  men  with  a  white  handkerchief 
on  a  pole  as  the  "flag  of  truce"  going  about  three  hundred 
yards  in  front,  the  escort — about  fifteen  men- — and  the  mes- 
sengers following.  The  advance  was  halted  at  Deep  Gully, 
nine  and  a  half  miles  from  New  Bern,  by  the  Federal  out- 
post. This  was  the  week  of  the  "Seven  Days'  Fights"  around 
Richmond.  We  received  our  mail  for  the  week  by  Colonel 
Martin,  containing  papers  giving  accounts  of  the  battles; 


84  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

which,  it  will  be  remembered,  were  all  in  our  favor.  Colonel 
Martin  had  brought  several  copies  with  him  and  we  gathered 
what  we  could  before  starting,  to  carry  the  good  news  with  us. 
"We  distributed  them  among  the  officers  and  spoke  of  any  par- 
ticularly favorable  item  in  the  papers.  After  a  halt  of  half  an 
hour  we  mounted  an  ambulance  and  Colonel  Mix,  who  was 
to  accompany  us,  informed  us  that  his  orders  were  for  us 
to  travel  blind-folded  and  requested  us  to  tie  our  handker- 
chiefs over  our  eyes.  Colonel  Martin  remarked  that  he  pre- 
ferred for  Colonel  Mix  to  tie  his  as  it  might  come  off  at 
some  time  when  not  desired  and  have  the  appearance  of  his 
acting  in  bad  faith.  Captain  Hughes  and  I  also  adopted  the 
same  view,  and  Colonel  Mix  tied  all  our  handkerchiefs. 

A  drive  of  an  hour  landed  us  at  General  Burnside's  head- 
quarters. It  was  now  about  half  past  4  o'clock.  General 
Burnside,  after  reading  papers  brought  by  Colonel  Martin, 
asked  if  we  had  any  newspapers.  We  told  him  we 
had  given  them  out  at  Colonel  Mix's  headquarters. 
Colonel  Mix  afterwards  came  in  and  General  Burnside 
said  to  him  he  understood  he  had  some  late  papers.  Colonel 
Mix  said  "Yes,"  and  hfe  would  send  them  in.  General  Bum- 
side  made  some  remark  about  not  caring  particularly  about 
it ;  which  was  but  a  poor  attempt  to  conceal  his  desire  to  have 
them  speedily. 

General  Burnside  apologized  to  lis  for  our  blindfold  ride. 
He  said:  "General  Foster  was  temporarily  in  command  and 
it  was  by  his  orders ;  that  he  never  required  it.  If  any  one 
thought  he  was  ready  to  attack  him  after  being  in  his  lines  he 
was  welcome  to  come  on  and  try  it." 

The  true  condition  of  matters  was  that  General  Burnside 
had  been  ordered,  with  Generals  Parke  and  Reno,  to  rein- 
force ilcClellan  in  "Virginia.  Several  regiments,  arriving 
from  Morehead  City  during  the  afternoon,  were  marched  by 
in  order  to  make  the  impression  on  us  that  the  troops  at  ISTew 
Bern  were  being  reinforced.  I  was  surprised  to  see  a  good 
many  white  straw  hats  worn  by  the  men.  General  Burnside 
remarked  to  General  Foster,  as  a  regiment  passed,  that  he 
would  "make  those  fellows  throw  away  those  straw  hats," 
which  Foster  said  he  would  do.     The  generals  were  not  as 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  85 

courteous  to  us  as  the  officers  of  lesser  grade  had  been.  They 
seemed  to  be  in  bad  humor.  They  had  heard  from  Richmond 
and  other  news  may  have  accounted  for  it. 

Sahites  on  the  Fourth  of  July  were  being  fired  frequently. 
General  Burnside  remarked  to  me :  "I  suppose  you  people  do 
not  bum  any  powder  on  the  Fourth  of  July?"  I  replied: 
"No,  we  save  it  to  burn  on  those  who  are  attempting  to  de- 
prive us  of  the  privileges  of  the  Fourth  of  July." 

He  remarked  to  Colonel  Martin,  that  he  "had  just  returned 
from  a  trip  North,  and  that  you  could  hardly  miss  the  men 
absent  in  the  army.  This  is  not  the  case  with  you."  Colonel 
Martin  replied :  "No,  and  that  it  seemed  to  prove  what  he  had 
often  heard  said,  that  'Northern  people  were  staying  at  home 
and  sending  the  foreigners  to  do  the  fighting."  General  Burn- 
side  replied :  "Not  at  all,  but  it  shows  the  difference  in  the 
populations  of  the  two  sections  and  the  impossibility  of  the 
South's  success.  Success  would  be  the  worst  thing  that  could 
happen  for  the  South.  When  I  am  in  a  bad  humor  I  wish  the 
South  would  succeed."  Colonel  Martin  replied  that  he 
"wished  he  was  in  a  bad  humor  all  the  time."  About  this 
time  Generals  Foster,  Parke  and  Reno  came  in.  They  were 
all  in  bad  temper,  and  we  spent  an  hour  or  so  "spatting." 
Some  one  of  us,  whenever  opportimity  offered,  would  relate 
something  about  the  late  battles  in  Virginia.  General  Burn- 
side  expressed  himself  as  in  favor  of  a  vigorous  prosecution 
of  the  war,  even  to  the  arming  of  the  negroes  if  necessary  to 
success.  We  were  surprised  to  hear  this  as  General  Burnside 
was  represented  as  opposed  to  negro  soldiers.  During  our 
confab.  General  Burnside  turned  to  me  and  said  rather 
sharply:  "To  what  command  do  you  belong?"  I  replied: 
"The  Second  North  Carolina  Cavalry."  "Yes,"  says  he,  "you 
are  the  fellows  who  are  shooting  my  pickets.  I  detest  such 
warfare ;  if  a  man  wishes  to  fight  let  him  come  out  like  a  man 
and  show  himself  and  not  creep  up  like  he  was  hunting  a  tur- 
key." I  replied:  "Your  men  began  this  mode  and  now  you 
are  complaining  of  it."  He  replied:  "It  is  not  so,  and  to 
prove  it  I  lose  five  or  six  men  where  you  lose  one."  I  answer- 
ed :  "That  only  prQves  that  our  men  are  the  best  shots,  and 
when  they  pull  the  trigger  generally  bring  down  the  game, 


86  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

while  yours  miss."  He  replied:  "You  do,  hey!"  witli  a 
touch  of  the  "dry  grins."  I  said :  "If  you  do  not  like  this 
style  of  warfare  order  your  men  to  stop  and  ours  will." 

We  discussed  secession,  States'  rights,  Federalism,  war, 
ability  of  the  South  to  maintain  the  contest,  campaigns  al- 
ready fought,  leaders,  etc.,  etc.,  but  in  not  a  very  gentle  man- 
ner. Governor  Edward  Stanly  came  in  for  a  short  while 
and  was  very  courteous.  About  dusk  we  were  driven  in  an 
ambulance  to  the  house  of  the  Spotswood  family,  but  now 
used  by  the  United  States  Army,  and  placed  in  a  room  on  the 
second  floor  to  spend  the  night. 

Supper  was  furnished  us  in  our  room.  An  hour  or  so  af- 
terwards Governor  Stanly  called  and  spent  several  hours. 
He  had  recently  arrived  from  California,  having  been  ap- 
pointed "Military  Governor"  of  the  State  by  President  Lin- 
coln. 

Colonel  Martin  remarked  that  he  was  surprised  to  hear 
General  Bumside  express  himself  in  favor  of  arming  the  ne- 
groes. Governor  Stanly  replied  that  he  "must  be  mistaken ; 
that  he  had  frequently  talked  with  General  Burnside  on  the 
subject,  and  he  was  as  much  opposed  to  it  as  you  or  I,  and,  as 
for  myself,  whenever  it  is  done  I  will  resign  and  go  whence  I 
came." 

About  the  time  the  "colored  troops"  were  "mustered  in" 
Governor  Stanly  resigned  and  left  the  State.  I  do  not 
know,  however,  that  there  was  any  connection  between  the 
two  events. 

After  Governor  Stanly  left  we  discovered  some  one  was  in 
the  little  room  connecting  the  one  we  were  in  with  another, 
and  the  door  was  pushed  a  little  ajar,  as  if  to  hear  anything 
we  might  say.  We  considered  this  as  a  "breach  of  hospital- 
ity" and  expressed  ourselves  in  vigorous  language  on  the  sub- 
ject and  on  Yankees  in  general,  and  the  experiences  of  the 
day.  If  what  was  gathered  from  our  conversation  was  re- 
ported it  is  not  published  in  the  Records  of  the  Rebellion. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  about  sunrise,  we  went  across 
the  street  to  breakfast. 

Breakfast  over,  we  got  into  the  ambulance;  were  again 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  87 

blindfolded,  and  when  we  saw  the  light  we  were  at  our  pickets 
at  the  Ten-Mile  House. 

In  August  the  second  squadron  (Companies  C  and  K), 
Captain  Booth  commanding,  moved  to  Hamilton,  Martin 
County,  to  picket  the  Roanoke  river. 

In  October  the  other  ten  companies,  under  command  of 
Major  C.  M.  Andrews,  who  had  been  promoted  upon  resigna- 
tion of  Major  Woodfin,  moved  via  Franklin,  Va.,  to  join  the 
Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  and  camped  at  Warrenton,  Octo- 
ber 12th.  Shortly  after  reaching  there  a  scout  of  225 
mounted  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  was  ordered  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Payne,  Fourth  Virginia  Cavalry,  command- 
ing post.  This  party,  commanded  by  Major  Andrews,  moved 
on  the  16th  via  Bristoe  Station,  Manassas,  and  to  the  south 
of  Centerville  to  Gainesville.  Here  the  Major  learned  that 
a  train  had  passed  a  short  time  previous.  Pushing  on,  he 
overtook  and  captured  the  train  at  Hay  Market,  consisting  of 
seven  wagons  and  teams,  also  thirty-nine  prisoners,  killed 
three  and  wounded  five  Yankees.  The  regiment  remained 
at  Warrenton  until  1  December,  when  it  moved  with  the 
army  to  the  vicinity  of  Fredericksburg.  In  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  13  December,  the  regiment  acted  with 
other  mounted  forces  in  protecting  General  Lee's  right, 
but  was  not  engaged,  except  as  skirmishers.  The  regi- 
ment was  represented  in  the  detail  to  make  the  raid  under 
General  Stuart  into  Maryland,  on  24  December.  It  was 
assigned  2  December,  1862,  to  the  brigade  of  General  W.  H. 
F.  Lee,  with  the  Ninth,  Tenth,  Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth 
Virginia  Regiments  of  cavalry.  It  spent  the  winter  in  Es- 
sex County,  picketing  the  Rappahannock  river  from  Hazel 
River  to  Centre  Cross.  In  March  it  moved  to  Culpepper 
County,  camping  between  Culpepper  Court  House  and 
Brandy  Station.  1  May  engaged  Stoneman  in  his  raid  at 
Stone's  Mills.  The  regiment  was  commanded  by  Major  An- 
drews from  14  December  to  8  May,  Colonel  Williams  being 
detached  as  president  of  a  court-martial.  Major  Andrews 
then  getting  a  "sick  furlough,"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Payne 
was  temporarily  assigned  to  command  it. 

The  second  squadron  (Companies  C  and  K)  remained  at 


88  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Hamilton  until  October.  It  participated  in  the  attack  on 
Washington,  1  September.  Captain  Boothe  was  severely 
woimded  and  not  again  in  active  service.  While  moving  to 
join  the  regiment  in  Virginia  the  squadron  was  ordered  into 
camp  near  the  "Halfway  House"  on  the  pike  between  Peters- 
burg and  Richmond.  It,  with  Company  C,  Forty-first  North 
Carolina  (3d  Cav.),  formed  a  battalion,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Graham,  and  built  winter  quarters  on  the  pike  near 
Proctor's  creek.  The  battalion  picketed  the  James  Eiver  as 
far  as  Bermuda  Hundreds.  To  it  was  also  assigned  the 
duty  of  picketing  the  Appomattox  for  sixty  miles  above  Pe- 
tersburg, to  arrest  deserters  from  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia. In  March,  1863,  the  squadron,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Graham,  picketed  General  Longstreet's  left  flank 
in  his  expedition  towards  Suffolk  to  secure  the  hogs 
and  cattle  from  the  Albemarle  section  of  North  Car- 
olina. While  at  Drewry's  Bluff  the  squadron  was  at- 
tached to  the  commands  of  Generals  Daniel  and  Elzey,  also 
to  Colonel  Jack  Brown,  of  the  Fifty-ninth  Georgia.  Under 
General  Longstreet  it  picketed  the  James  and  Nansemond 
rivers.  There  were  engagements  with  the  enemy  at  Provi- 
dence Church  and  Chuckatuck.  Captain  Moore's  Company, 
Sixty-third  N.  C.  (5th  Cav.),  and  Stribling's  Virginia  Bat- 
tery, mounted,  formed  a  battalion,  which  Captain  Graham 
commanded.  It  was  under  Generals  Jenkins  of  South  Caro- 
lina, Hood  and  Pickett  during  this  service. 

May  20  the  squadron  rejoined  the  regiment  in  Culpepper 
County,  Virginia.  There  had  been  many  changes  of  officers 
in  the  regiment.     The  following  is  a  roster  at  that  time : 

EOSTEE 1   JUNE,   1863. 

Sol  Williams,  Colonel. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  (Vacant.) 

Clinton  M.  Andrews,  Major. 

John  C.  Pegeam,  Adjutant. 

A.  Smith  Joedan,  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

W.  H.  Upsiiue,  Surgeon. 

Ianson,  Assistant  Surgeon. 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  89 

Ebwaed  Joedan^  Sergeant  Major. 

OoMANY  A — Captain,  J.  V.  B.  Rogers ;  First  Lieutenant, 
W.  B.  Tidwell;  Second  Lieutenants,  Abram  0.  Evans  and 
Jacob  E.  Williams. 

Company  B — Captain,  S.  J.  Andrews ;  Eirst  Lieutenant, 
E.  W.  Allison;  Second  Lieutenants,  J.  IST.  Turner  and  Wil- 
liam A.  Luckey. 

Company  C — Captain,  James  M.  Wynn;  First  Lieuten- 
ant, W.  P.  Roberts;  Second  Lieutenants,  Abram  F.  Harrell 
and  L.  R.  Cowper. 

Company  D — Captain,  James  W.  Strange;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Joseph  S.  Baker;  Second  Lieutenants,  J.  A.  P.  Con- 
oly  and  John  B.  Person. 

Company  E — Captain,  R.  W.  Atkinson ;  First  Lieutenant, 
K.  H.  Winstead ;  Second  Lieutenants,  E.  P.  Tucke  and  Eph. 
Bobbins. 

Company  F — Captain,  P.  A.  Tatum;  First  Lieutenant, 
John  G.  Blassingame;  Second  Lieutenants,  IST.  C.  Tucker 
and Holden. 

Company  G — Captain,  ii.  L.  Eure;  First  Lieutenant,  G. 
P.  Bryan ;  Second  Lieutenants,  W.  M.  Owens  and  J.  W.  Sim- 
mons. 

Company  H — Captain,  R.  H.  Reese ;  First  Lieutenant,  S. 

]Sr.  Buxton;  Second  Lieutenants,  F.  M.  Spivey  and  ■ 

Copeland. 

Company  I — Captain,  D.  0.  Bryan;  First  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  H.  Harrington;  Second  Lieutenants,  John  C.  Baker 
and  James  A.  Cole. 

Company  K — Captain,  W.  A.  Graham,  Jr. ;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, John  P.  Lockhart;  Second  Lieutenants,  A.  F.  Fau- 
cette  and  James  R.  Harris. 

the  battle  of  BEANDY  station^  OE  FLEETWOOD. 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  review  of  the  Cavalry 
Corps  by  General  R.  E.  Lee,  Monday,  8  June,  1863,  on  the 
plain  along  the  railroad  between  Brandy  Station  and  Cul- 
pepper Court  House.     Our  regiment  returned  to  its  camp 


90  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

of  the  night  before,  about  one  mile  north  of  Hon.  John  Minor 
Botts',  near  Gilberson's,  with  orders  to  go  on  picket  the  next 
morning  at  Fox's  Spring,  about  twenty  miles  distant  on  the 
Rappahannock  River.  On  the  mornings  of  the  9th  at  about 
6 :30  o'clock  "boots  and  saddles"  sounded.  "Saddle  up"  was 
the  Confederate  name  for  this  signal,  perhaps  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  boots  were  generally  wanting.  I  went  to  headquar- 
ters and  Colonel  Williams  directed  me  to  leave  the  cooks  and 
sore-back  horses  in  camp.  Thirty  minutes  afterwards,  "To 
horse — ^lead  out"  was  sounded,  and  just  at  its  close  Colonel 
Williams'  orderly  came  to  me  with  orders  to  mount  every 
man  I  had.  He  had  received  notice  of  the  Federals  crossing 
the  river  in  the  meantime,  but  the  orderly  said  nothing  of  it. 
The  regiment  was  quickly  formed,  my  command  being  the 
second  squadron,  Companies  C  and  K,  threw  me  in  the  rear, 
as  we  moved  off  in  "column  of  fours."  A  quarter  of  a  mile 
distant  we  entered  a  road  leading  towards  Beverly  Ford,  and 
forming  platoons  imtmediately  took  the  "gallop"  which  we 
maintained  for  most  of  the  distance,  which  miist  have  been 
considerably  over  a  mile,  to  the  battlefield.  Up  to  this  time 
not  one-third  of  the  regiment  knew  that  the  Federals  had 
crossed,  or  were  attempting  to  cross,  at  Thompson's  or  Wel- 
ford's.  As  we  cleared  a  piece  of  woods  the  column  headed 
to  the  left  and  came  in  view  of  the  enemy's  artillery  placed 
between  the  Dr.  Green  residence  and  the  river  on  the  Cun- 
ningham farm.  Just  as  our  rear  squadron  turned  into  the  field 
a  shell  cut  off  the  top  of  a  tree  Over  our  heads,  and  this  was  the 
first  intimation  we  had  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  We 
could  see  a  portion  of  the  Tenth  Virginia  engaged  in  the 
direction  of  the  battery.  The  Nineteenth  (Second  Cavalry) 
North  Carolina  passed  Dr.  Green's  house,  crossed  Euffin's 
Run  and  took  position  behind  a  knoll  on  which  two  guns  of 
Breathed's  battery,  "horse  artillery,"  under  Lieutenant  John- 
son were  placed.  This  soon  became  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Williams  formed  all  the  men  in  the  regiment  who 
were  armed  with  "long  range  guns"  on  foot  and  went  to  the 
front  where  he  was  soon  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  who 
had  dismounted  and  taken  position  behind  a  stone  wall  three 
hundred  yards  in  advance  of  his  battery.     After  exchanging 


NINETEENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  W.  B.  Tidwell,  Captain,  Co.  A.  4.    Levi  Y.  Lockhart,  Sergeant,  Co.  K. 

2.  John  P.  Loukhart,  Captain,  Co.  K.  5.    W.  A.  Curtis,  Sergeant.  Co.  A. 
8.    Stephen  O.  Terry,  Sergeant,  Co.  K.  6.    John  L.  Hall,  Private,  Co.  K. 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  91 

shots  for  a  short  time,  he  ordered  a  charge  and  captured  the 
wall  taking  eighteen  prisoners,  besides  the  killed  and 
wounded.  In  the  charge  Captain  S.  Jay  Andrews,  Company 
B,  Iredell  County,  lost  a  foot,  and  Lieutenant  J.  G.  Blassin- 
game,  of  Columbia,  S.  C,  temporarily  in  command  of  Com- 
pany F,  was  mortally  wounded.  Our  regiment  held  this  po- 
sition with  little  change,  although  engaged  part  of  the  time 
with  Aimes'  Brigade  of  infantry,  until  2  p.  m.  During  the 
engagement  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  with  several  of  his  staff, 
were  standing  in  a  few  feet  of  a  large  hickory  tree  a  few  steps 
to  the  right  of  one  of  Lieutenant  Johnson's  guns,  when  a 
shell  struck  the  tree  and  threw  pieces  of  it  over  them.  A  fair 
representation  of  "Company  Q,"  (Quartermaster  and  his 
cubs)  had  assembled  on  the  high  ground  about  half  a  mile  in 
owv  rear  to  see  the  fighting.  A  well  directed  shot  in  their 
direction  caused  them  to  seek  less  conspicuous  places  for  ob- 
servation. About  2  p.  m.  General  Lee  withdrew  his  brigade 
to  the  right  to  form  connection  with  Jones  and  Hampton. 
The  Nineteenth  North  Carolina  (Second  Cavalry)  being  on 
the  right  was  placed  on  the  plain  which  extends  to  the  rail^ 
road  and  in  full  view  of  Fleetwood,  General  Stuart's  head- 
quarters. The  Tenth  Virginia  was  next  to  us  and  at  foot  of 
the  hills,  the  Ninth  and  Thirteenth  Virginia  were  next  to  the 
enemy.  The  brigade  held  the  enemy  in  check  until  moved  to 
near  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Eailroad  at  Fleetwood,  on 
account  of  the  advance  tlie  enemy,  which  had  crossed 
at  the  Eappahannock  bridge  and  Kelley's  Ford,  had 
made.  Generals  Pleasanton  and  Buford  had  united  their 
forces,  which  had  crossed  the  Eappahannock  at  the  dif- 
ferent fords,  and  now  Avith  combined  forces,  attacked 
the  brigade  on  the  left  and  were  driving  the  troops  in  that  por- 
tion of  the  field  in  some  disorder,  capturing  some  of  the  dis- 
mounted men  and  threatening  the  horse  artillery. 

About  3  or  3  :30  o'clock  the  shouts  on  the  left  told  us  that  a 
brisk  engagement  was  proceeding!  Shortly  afterwards  Col- 
onel Williams  came  at  full  speed  towards  the  regiment,  pass- 
ing the  Tenth  Virginia.  I  suppose  he  gave  the  command,  as 
they  immediately  formed  by  squadron  and  started  at  a  gal- 
lop.    As  soon  as  he  was  near  enough  to  our  regiment  he  gave 


92  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

command,  "Form  column  by  squadron,"  and  placing  second 
squadron  in  front,  gave  the  command  "Gallop ;  march."  As 
we  rose  the  hill  we  saw  the  enemy  driving  the  Ninth  and 
Thirteenth  Virginia  in  considerable  confusion  before  them, 
in  our  direction.  The  Tenth  Virginia,  when  it  reached  a 
position  that  it  could  fire  on  the  enemy  without  firing  into  the 
Ninth  and  Thirteenth,  halted  and  opened  fire.  Colonel  Wil- 
liams gave  the  command  to  his  regiment  "Right  oblique," 
and  as  soon  as  we  had  cleared  the  Tenth  Virginia,  turning  in 
his  saddle  shouted:  "Forward;  draw  sabre;  charge."  The 
regiment  raised  the  yell  as  it  went  by  our  stationary  and  re- 
tiring companions  and  the  scene  was  immediately  changed. 
The  Federals  were  the  fleers  and  the  Confederates  the  pur- 
suers. Our  regiment  drove  the  enemy  about  half  a  mile  back 
upon  their  reserves  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  who  were  posted 
on  a  hill,  while  our  advance  had  reached  an  angle  where  two 
stone  walls  came  together  on  an  opposite  hill,  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  distant.  This,  with  a  volley  from  the  reserve, 
checked  the  advance.  The  leading  four  were  Colonel  Wil- 
liams, Sergeant  Jordan,  Company  C ;  private  Asbell,  Com- 
pany K,  and  the  writer. 

DEATH  of  colonel  SOL.  WILLIAMS. 

Asbell  was  felled  from  his  horse  with  a  wound  through  the 
head  almost  immediately.  Colonel  Williams  gathered  his 
horse  to  leap  the  wall,  shouting :  "Second  North  Carolina, 
follow  me."  The  writer  called  to  him:  "Colonel,  we  had 
better  get  a  line,  they  are  too  strong  to  take  this  way."  He 
replied :  "That  will  be  best ;  where  is  the  flag  ?"  and  as  we 
turned,  it  was  not  flfty  yards  to  our  rear.  He  rode  to  meet 
it ;  halted  it  and  was  shouting  to  the  men  to  fall  in,  when  he 
was  shot  throug'h  the  head,  and  died  immediately,  his  body 
being  carried  from  the  fleld  by  his  adjutant,  John  C,  Pegram. 

About  this  time  the  enemy  enflladed  us  with  a  piece  of  ar- 
tillery, placed  half  a  mile  or  more  to  our  right,  towards  the 
river,  and  down  the  gorge,  at  whose  head  we  had  formed.  This 
caused  the  regiment  to  give  back  a  hundred  yards  or  so,  keep- 
ing its  formation.     The  Federals  charged  us,  we  fired  into 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  93 

them,  and  they  retired  and  made  no  further  demonstration. 
In  the  charge,  we  relieved  a  great  many  of  our  dismounted 
knen,  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  also 
a  gun  of  the  horse  artillery,  which  went  rapidly  to  the  rear,  as 
we  relieved  it  of  its  danger  of  capture.  Any  information 
General  Pleasanton  got  of  General  Lee's  movements,  must 
have  been  given  him  by  General  Gregg,  for  Buford  never 
pierced  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  line  without  being  immediately  re- 
pulsed, and  the  brunt  of  this  work,  both  on  foot  and  mounted, 
was  done  by  the  ISTineteenth  North  Carolina  (Second  Cav- 
alry), and  so  acknowledged  at  the  time.  Lieutenant  P.  A. 
Tatum,  Company  F.  (Greensboro,  N.  G.)  who  had  a  disa- 
greement with  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  Payne,  Fourth  Vir- 
ginia Cavalry,  who  was  temporarily  in  command  of  the  regi- 
ment a  short  time  before,  and  had  been  placed  under  arrest, 
went  into  the  charge  without  arms  or  spurs,  and  was  wounded 
while  most  gallantly  leading  his  men.     The  regiment  lost  35. 

Colonel  Williams  had  been  married  but  two  weeks  before 
to  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  Captain  Pegram,  of  the  Confed- 
erate Navy,  and  had  returned  to  camp  on  Saturday.  He 
was  beloved  by  his  men ;  as  brave  and  true  a  man  as  was  in 
that  army,  yet  with  a  gentle,  affectionate  disposition,  almost 
equal  to  a  woman's.  Indulgent  to  his  men  in  camp  almost  to 
a  fault,  yet,  when  duty  called  and  occasion  required,  he 
proved  himself  a  leader  worthy  of  their  admiration.  I  have 
given  this  account  of  the  battle  of  9  June,  1863,  somewhat  in 
full  that  Colonel  Williams  and  his  regiment  might  receive 
some  of  the  credit  to  which  they  are  entitled. 

Captain  Strange,  of  Company  D,  Fayetteville,  JST.  C,  who 
was  in  command  after  Colonel  Williams'  death,  I  know  pre- 
pared a  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  regiment  and  submit- 
ted it  to  the  officers  before  forwarding  it  to  headquarters.  In 
"The  Official  Records  of  the  Union  and  Confederate  Armies" 
the  Nineteenth  N^orth  Carolina  (Second  Cavalry)  is  hardly 
mentioned  in  the  official  reports  of  this  battle.  General  Stu- 
art says  in  his  report  of  Colonel  Williams :  "He  was  as  brave 
as  he  was  efficient."  The  reports  for  the  Nineteenth  North 
Carolina  Cavalry  are  nearly  all  wanting,  and  a  loss  of  only 
five  is  reported,  when  the  loss  in  my  own  command  was  three 


94  North  Carolina  Troops,  ]861-'65. 

times  that.  The  brigade  ordnance  officer,  Captain  B.  B. 
Turner  (Official  Kecord,  Vol.  11,  part  II,  page  720)  says  of 
captured  arms  that  "Eeports  are  all  in  except  the  Second 
JSTorth  Carolina  Cavalry,  which  is  on  picket ;  none  of  the  other 
regiments  captured  any."  Consequently  whatever  prisoners, 
whether  wounded  or  not,  that  fell  into  the  hands  of  W.  H.  F. 
Lee's  Brigade  must  have  come  to  our  regiment  and  been  its 
work. 

Major  H.  B.  McClellan  has  published  a  book  entitled  "The 
Campaigns  of  Stuart's  Cavalry."  In  this  he  is  very  unfair  to 
the  JSTineteenth  North  Carolina  at  Brandy  Station.  He  dis- 
misses it  with  a  statement  that  Colonel  Williams  requested 
permission  to  go  into  the  charge — went  in  on  the 
right  of  the  Ninth  Virginia,  was  shot  through  the 
head  and  instantly  killed.  In  making  up  his  narra- 
tive, he  says  -  he  got  Colonel  Beale,  of  the  Ninth  Vir- 
ginia, to  give  him  an  account  of  the  fight,  who  informs  him 
when  he  reformed  his  regiment,  and  rode  forward  to  recon- 
noiter,  to  his  surprise  he  found  the  enemy  moving  buck  to  the 
river.  Not  one  word  about  the  Nineteenth  North  Carolina, 
or  how  he  got  an  opportunity  to  reform  his  regiment.  Major 
McClellan  does  not  seem  to  have  considered  it  necessary  to 
consult  any  member  of  the  North  Carolina  regiment  as  to 
the  action. 

On  that  day  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  Brigade  received  no  assist- 
ance, although  Robertson's  Cavalry  and  a  portion  of  Iverson's 
Infantry  Brigade  came  upon  the  field;  they  fired 
no  gun,  and  saw  no  enemy.  After  sunset  we  rode 
to  a  clover  field  near  by,  dismounted,  and  held  our 
horses  "to  graze"  until  half  past  nine  o'clock,  when 
we  marched  to  Fox's  Spring,  and  as  the  sun  rose  next 
morning  the  writer  dismounted,  having  placed  pickets  on  the 
river.  The  regiment  thought  this  very  unjust,  as  it  had 
borne  the  burden  of  the  fight  during  the  day,  but  Colonel 
Chambliss,  of  the  Thirteenth  Virginia  Cavalry,  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade,  and  continued  through  the  campaign, 
and  I  do  not  suppose  there  is  a  member  of  the  Nineteenth 
( Second  Cavalry)  North  Carolina  that  has  a  single  pleasant 
recollection  of  his  treatment  of  it  during  his  command.     He 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  95 

was  promoted  to  Brigadier,  and  fell  at  the  head  of  his  brigade 
m  1864.  His  bravery  was  never  questioned,  and  was  dis- 
played on  many  occasions.  It  is  to  be  regretted  he  did  not 
add  to  this,  impartiality  of  treatment  to  the  regiments  under 
his  com'mand  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  As  the  regiment 
formed  "platoons"  on  reaching  the  Beverly  Ford  road,  on 
the  morning  of  the  9th,  my  negro  servant,  Edmund,  formed 
the  officers'  servants  and  colored  cooks  in  line  immediately  in 
the  rear  of  the  regiment  and  flourishing  an  old  sabre  over 
his  head,  took  command  of  them.  As  we  galloped  down  the 
road  he  was  shouting  to  them :  "I  want  no  running.  Every 
man  must  do  his  duty,  and  stand  up  to  the  rack,"  etc.,  etc. 
When  the  shell  cut  off  the  tree,  as  we  came  in  view  of  the  en- 
emy, he  and  his  sable  warriors  disappeared  in  every  direction 
except  the  front,  and  we  did  not  see  them  for  three  days. 

That  night,  9  June,  the  regiment,  although  it  had  done 
most  of  -the  fighting  for  the  brigade  during  the  day,  was 
marched  to  Fox's  Springs  to  do  picket  duty,  and  just  as  the 
sun  rose  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  the  pickets  took  position. 
The  Company  was  not  together  again  until  we  returned  to 
camp  on  the  14th.  At  "roll  call"  I  spoke  to  the  men  of  my 
pride  in  their  action  in  the  battle,  mentioning  those  who  had 
especially  come  under  my  observation  but  that  all  had  done 
well  and  that  when  rallied  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  none  had 
been  missing  but  the  dead  and  wounded.  As  the  command 
"break  ranks"  was  given  the  band  at  Head  Quarters  struck 
up  the  "Old  North  State."  Such  cheering,  jumping,  etc.,  I 
have  seldom  witnessed.  The  mind  of  each  went  back  over 
the  hills  and  valleys  to  the  home  in  the  old  State  he  loved  and 
for  which  he  would  willingly  die. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Paine  was  assigned  to  command  the 
regiment.  On  16  June  we  broke  camp  for  the  "Get- 
tysburg campaign,"  first  engaged  in  the  movement  in  Lou- 
don and  Fauquier  counties  to  cover  General  Ewell's  advance 
against  Winchester.  As  there  was  little  horse  feed  in  this 
county,  the  men  held  their  horses  by  the  bridle  rein  while 
the  animals  grazed  on  the  clover  and  orchard  grass.  This 
was  done  until  we  crossed  the  Potomac,  on  28  June.  We 
moved  via  Warrenton  and   Salem    to    Middleburg,    when 


96  North  Carolina  Troops,    1861 -'65. 

we  struck  the  enemy  on  the  18th.  Then  there  was  fighting 
every  clay,  and  sometimes  nearly  all  day,  for  a  week  or  more, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Middleburg,  Upperville,  Goose  Creek, 
Union  and  Paris.  The  most  severe  fighting  was  near  Upper- 
ville, on  21  June.  The  enemy,  besides  cavalry,  had  Bar- 
ry's division  of  infantry.  These  were  placed  behind  the 
stone  walls  with  which  this  country  was  fenced.  Except  a 
portion  of  the  Tenth  Virginia  Kegiment,  under  Major  W.  B. 
Clement,  none  of  the  brigade,  nor  of  Jones'  brigade,  drawn 
up  in  sight  in  our  rear  a  mile  or  so,  gave  the  Nineteenth  North 
Carolina  any  assistance.  It  was  driven  from  the  field  with 
a  loss  of  over  half  of  the  men  it  took  into  action,  either  killed 
or  wounded.  Captain  W.  P.  Roberts,  Company  C,  rallied  a 
portion  of  the  regiment  and  enabled  Breathed's  Battery, 
which  had  served  most  gallantly  during  the  fight,  to  "limber 
up"  and  get  out ;  otherwise  it  would  have  been  captured. 

Lieutenant  Cole,  Company  I,  was  killed;  Lieutenant 
Bryan,  Company  G,  was  wounded  and  captured.  Lieutenant 
Holden,  Company  F,  had  his  arm  broken,  but,  calling  one  of 
his  men  to  make  him  a  sling  of  his  handkerchief  and  place  his 
arm  in  it,  continued  in  the  fight.  Corporal  Stephen  0.  Terry, 
Company  K,  was  the  last  man  to  leave  the  field,  and  emptied 
the  five  barrels  of  his  Colt's  rifie  almost  alone  into  the  face  of 
the  advancing  enemy.  I  do  not  believe  there  was  an  engage- 
ment during  the  war  in  which  a  body  of  troops  was  more  for- 
saken by  comrades  than  the  "Second  Horse"  was  on  that 
occasion.  General  Ewell,  having  captured  Winchester, 
General  Stuart  "scouted"  towards  the  Potomac  to  see 
that  no  enemy  was  left  in  the  rear  when  he  crossed  the  river. 
He  found  General  Hancock,  with  Meade's  wagon  train,  on 
the  plains  of  Manassas,  but  was  not  able  to  deprive  him  of 
any  of  it,  save  one  cannon  and  an  ambulance.  On  27 
June  the  regiment  moved  via  Fairfax  Court  House  and 
Dranesville  to  near  Leesburg.  After  placing  pickets,  about 
sunset,  almost  in  sight  of  Hancock's  rear  guard,  it  retreated 
several  miles,  and  then,  going  through  a  pine  thicket  by  an- 
other road,  found  itself  about  10  o'clock  p.  m.  on  the  bank 
of  the  Potomac,  near  Seneca  Falls.  It  forded  the  river,  here 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  with  water  half  way  up  the  sad- 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  97 

die  skirts.  The  fording  was  done  in  single  file.  On  Sunday 
(28th)  we  moved  out  near  the  turnpike  from  Washington  to 
Frederick  City.  About  2  p.  m.  we  captured  172  of  a  train  of 
175  wagons,  with  six  mules  to  each  wagon,  chasing  them 
through  Rockville  to  within  seven  miles  of  Washington  City. 
The  capture  of  this  train,  perhaps,  caused  the  failure  of  vic- 
tory at  Gettysburg,  or  perhaps  the  battle  at  that  point.  To 
preserve  it  hampered  and  delayed  General  Stuart's  move- 
ments and  left  General  Lee  without  the  cavalry  to  locate  Gen- 
eral Meade's  forces.  We  moved  by  way  of  Westminster,  Md., 
where  we  found  abundance  of  rations  for  man  and  beast.  Af- 
ter filling  body  and  haversack,  the  depot  was  burned.  On 
the  morning  of  the  30th  we  passed  through  Papertown,  Va., 
where  a  large  quantity  of  paper  was  loaded  into  some  of 
the  wagons,  and  reached  Hanover  about  10  o'clock.  Here 
General  Stuart  struck  Meade's  army.  He  attempted  to  cut 
his  way  through.  Our  brigade  was  in  front.  The  leading 
regiment,  after  a  short  advance,  retired  in  confusion.  The 
Nineteenth  JSTorth  Carolina  was  then  sent  forward,  and  open- 
ed its  way  into  the  lines  of  the  eaemj,  cutting  off  a  large 
force;  but  not  being  supported,  they  immediately  closed  in 
their  rear.  General  Stuart  sent  no  reinforcements  to  them, 
perhaps  concluding  the  task  too  much  for  him,  and  left  the 
regiment  to  its  own  defense.  Hardly  thirty  men  escaped  being 
killed  or  captured.  Most  of  these  came  out  on  foot  through 
gardens  or  enclosures  which  offered  protection.  Here  again 
the  Nineteenth  North  Carolina  were  the  actors,  its  comrades 
the  audience. 

iVfter  passing  Papertown  details  were  made  from  each  regi- 
ment to  impress  horses  from  the  citizens.  Captain  Graham 
had  charge  of  the  detail  from  the  Nineteenth  North  Carolina. 
Gathering  what  horses  he  could  from  the  plows,  wagons  and 
stables  in  his  route,  and  narrowly  escaping  capture,  he  re- 
joined the  command  after  the  fight  at  Hanover.  Hanover  is 
seventeen  miles  from  Gettysburg.  General  Stuart  was  forced 
to  make  the  circuit  with  his  wagons  via  Carlisle — where  he 
burned  the  United  States  barracks — to  Getttysburg.  We 
7 


'98  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

reached  General  Lee's  lines  about  sunset  on  Thursday,  2  July. 
The  service  on  this  raid  .was  very  severe.  There  being 
only  three  brigades,  it  required  fighting  two  out  of  three 
days — the  first  in  advance,  the  next  in  rear,  and  to  march 
with  the  wagons  on  the  third.  One  hour  for  rest  at  9  a.  m. 
and  one  at  9  p.  m.  was  all  the  intermission  allowed. 

On  the  morning  of  3  July,  gathering  up  the  fragments 
left  from  Hanover  and  what  was  available  from  the  wagon 
train.  Captain  Graham,  as  officer  commanding,  had  a  force 
of  forty  men.  That  afternoon,  while  supporting  a  section  of 
Breathed's  Battery,  he  was  wounded.  His  command  took 
part  in  the  charge  which  occurred  soon  after  and  assisted  in 
cutting  off  and  capturing  a  squad  of  the  enemy.  The  com- 
mand of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Jos.  Baker, 
Company  D. 

I  desire  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Captain  S.  N. 
Buxton,  Company  H,  Jackson,  N.  C,  for  the  account  of  the 
fight  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  and  to  Sergeant  W.  A.  Curtis,  Com- 
pany A,  for  the  account  of  the  ten  companies  while  the  sec- 
ond squadron  was  detached. 

W.  A.  Geaham., 
Captain  Company  K. 
Machpelah,  N.  C, 
9  April,  1901. 


NINETEENTH  EEGIMENT. 

1.  W.  P.  Eoberts,  Colonel.  3.    E.  W.  Allison,  Captain,  Co  B. 

2.  S.  N.  Buxton,  Captain,  Co.  H.  4.    P.  A.  Tatum,  Captain,  Co.  P. 

5.    JuniuB  A.  Bridges,  23  Lieut.,  Co.  H. 


ADDITIONAL  SKETCH  NINETEENTH 
REGIMENT. 


(second  cavalky.  ) 


By  general  WILLIAM  P.  ROBERTS. 


As  stated  by  Major  Graham  .in  his  foregoing  history  of  the 
regiment  up  to  Gettysburg,  it  lost  heavily  at  Hanover,  Penn., 
and  upon  its  return'  to  Virginia  it  vfas  a  mere  shadov?  of  its 
former  self  and  an  effort  was  made  to  reorganize  it,  but  there 
was  not  much  left  to  reorganize. 

However,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  B.  Gordon,  of  the  Ninth 
Eegiment  (First  Cavalry)  was  made  Colonel,  but  in  a  short 
time  thereafter  he  was  transferred  to  hisformer  regiment  as 
Colonel. when-its  gallant  Colonel,  L.  S.  Baker,  was  made  Brig- 
adier-General. 

In  August,  1863, 1  was  commissioned  Captain  of  Company 
C,  vice  Captain  J.  M.  Wynns,  who  had  resigned  and  returned 
to  North  Cajrolina  to  raise  a  battalion  of  cavalry.  After  the 
transfer  of  Colonel  Gordon,  Major  C.  M.  Andrews,  late  Cap- 
tain Company  B,  became  Colonel  and  commanded  the  regi- 
ment till  June,  1864. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  campaign  of  1863,  at  Jack 
Shops  and  Brandy  Station,  in  the  Bristoe  campaign,  at  War- 
renton.  Mine  Run  and  other  places,  and  until  its  close,  the 
gallant  little  regiment  was  always  in  readiness  and  took  its 
place  in  front  whenever  called  upon  to  do  so. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-'64,  it  did  its  full  share  of 
picket  duty  on  the  Rapidan  river,  and  with  other  detachments 
of  the  brigade  levelled  many  breastworks  thrown  up  by  Gen- 
eral Meade  when  he  crossed  that  river  in  November.  Also, 
during  the  winter  the  regiment  was  greatly  augmented  in 
strength  and  discipline,  so  that  when  the  campaign  of  1864 
opened,  it  was  in  fair  condition,  although  numerically  much 
smaller  than  any  other  regiment  of  the  brigade,  because  of 


100  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

its  great  losses  at  Hanover,  before  mentioned,  both  in  prison- 
ers and  killed. 

Let  me  state  just  here  that  the  regiment  never  entirely  re- 
covered from  the  blow  it  received  at  Hanover.  Some  of  its 
officers  and  men  were  exchanged  only  a  few  days  before  the 
advance  of  General  Grant  in  March,  1865 ;  hence  its  losses 
were  smaller  than  those  of  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade 
as  reported  at  the  time ;  but  I  am  sure  that  the  loss  of  the 
Nineteenth  was  as  great,  if  not  greater,  than  that  of  any  other 
regiment,  if  numbers  are  to  be  considered. 

But  to  return.  In  the  night  attack  made  by  a  part  of  the 
brigade  under  the  command  of  Colonel  W.  H.  Cheek,  of  the 
Ninth  North  Carolina  (First  Cavalry)  in  March,  the  Ninie- 
teenth  was  part  of  the  attacking  column,  and  did  its  duty.  I 
remember  that  it  was  here  that  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Williams,  of 
Clarke  County,  Virginia,  and  Surgeon  of  the  Nineteenth 
Regiment,  mistook  Colonel  Dalghren,  a  Union  soldier,  for  the 
writer  and  had  qiiite  a  conference  with  him  before  he  found 
out  his  mistake. 

I  was  commissioned  Major  of  the  regiment  in  March,  1864, 
and  in  May  began  the  Wilderness  campaign  of  General  Grant. 

General  Sheridan's  "On  to  Richmond"  soon  followed  with 
12,000  horse  and  horse  artillery  in  abundance,  and  certainly 
everything  looked  badly  for  Richmond,  as  I  thought.  But 
our  incomparable  leader.  General  Jeb  Stuart,  at  once  fol- 
lowed him,  and  though  he  lost  his  great  life  in  the  pursuit,  yet 
it  was  his  genius  and  quickness  of  movement  that  saved  Rich- 
mond on  this  occasion. 

Among  the  pursuing  columns  was  that  of  General  J.  B. 
Gordon,  commanding  the  North  Carolina  Brigade,  and  I  beg 
to  state  here  that  the  South  furnished  no  grander  or  more 
glorious  soldier  to  the  cause  of  Southern  Liberty.  Gordon 
was  a  great  favorite  of  Stuart's ;  and  when  at  last  Stuart  was 
sorely  pressed  and  his  squadrons  broken,  just  before  his 
death,  his  last  words  were:  "Would  to  God,  Gordon  were 
here."  And  Gordon,  too,  received  his  death  wound  the  day 
after  his  beloved  chief  fell. 

In  the  pursuit  of  Sheridan,  the  Nineteenth  bore  a  conspicu- 
ous part,  and  was  more  than  once  complimented  on  the  field 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  101 

by  General  Gordon.  Its  losses,  too,  were  heavy,  and  among  the 
killed  was  the  gallant  Adjutant  of  the  regiment,  Lieutenant 
Worth,  of  Randolph  County,  who  lost  his  life  at  the  head  of 
the  regiment  while  charging  a  battery  well  posted  and  heavily 
protected.  The  battery  was  not  captured  for  reasons  that 
need  not  be  explained  here,  but  all  the  same  the  regiment  cov- 
ered itself  with  imperishable  glory,  as  General  Gordon  after- 
wards stated  to  me. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Todd's  Tavern,  White  Hall, 
Hanover  Court  House  and  at  Hawes'  Shop,  and  at  the  last 
place  it  did  splendid  service.  Upon  the  latter  occasion  it  was 
in  front  and  made  several  charges ;  I  was  there  disabled  by  a 
wound  in  the  head,  but  did  not  leave  the  field.  The  loss  of  the 
regiment  was  inconsiderable,  but  it  was  here  that  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Baker,  of  Company  D,  was  either  killed  or  captured, 
and  his  fate  was  never  afterwards  ascertained. 

In  the  engagement  near  Hanover  Court  House  in  May, 
there  occurred  one  of  those  unfortunate  stampedes  which  are 
always  inexplicable ;  but  at  the  time  the  brigade  was  a  mere 
handful,  most  of  it  having  gone  with  General  Fitz.  Lee  to  at- 
tack a  negro  stronghold  on  the  James  river.  By  accident  I 
was  in  comlmand  of  the  regiment  when  the  stampede  occurred 
and  in  the  midst  of  it,  when  the  best  officers  and  men  seemed 
to  be  demoralized,  the  Color  Sergeant  of  the  regiment,  Pri- 
vate Ramsey,  of  Company  B,  brought  his  flag  to  me,  as  I 
had  ordered  him  to  do  when  he  could  not  rally  his  men  around 
it,  and,  offering  it  to  me,  said:  "Major,  will  you  stand  by 
the  flag?"  Everything  was  then  in  a  perfect  rout,  myself 
with  the  rest,  and  I  replied :  "Ramsey,  d — n  the  flag ;  I  don't 
want  it ;"  but  he  insisted  upon  giving  me  the  flag,  and  said  he 
was  only  obeying  orders  from  me,  often  repeated. 

His  brave  words  inspired  a  few,  and  th«  rally  was  sounded 
and  what  a  moment  before  seeimed  ignominious  flight  and  the 
capture  of  our  entire  force,  turned  out  to  be  victory  for  us  in 
the  end.  Around  the  flag  a  few  of  us  turned  and  met  our 
pursuers,  and  most  of  them  were  captured  before  they  reached 
the  Pamunkey  river.  God  bless  the  brave  boy !  I  have  not 
heard  from  him  since  the  close  of  the  war,  but  he  was  a  gallant 


102  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

soldier  upon  every  field,  and  carried  the  flag  bravely  until  it 
and  all  others  went  down  under  "overwhelming  numbers  and 
resources"  at  Appomattox. 

The  regiment  did  its  full  duty  at  the  Davis  farm  in  June, 
and  it  lost  some  men,  too,  but  at  Black's  and  White's,  on  the 
Southside  Eailroad  a  few  days  after,  it  eclipsed  its  record. 
At  this  place  I  had  command  of  the  regiment,  because  of  the 
sickness  of  Colonel  C.  M.  Andrews,  who  insisted  that  I  should 
lead  it  into  action.  However,  later  in  the  day,  Andrews  at- 
tempted to  rejoin  the  head  of  his  regiment,  but  in  the  at- 
teimpt,  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
amputation. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  engagements  that 
I  witnessed  during  the  war,  and  the  old  Second  sustained 
its  reputation  quite  manfully.  It  was  ordered  to  the  front 
early  in  the  action,  in  advance  of  any  other  regiment  of  the 
division,  and  although  pressed  hard  until  darkness  closed  the 
scene,  it  held  its  own  against  great  odds,  and  even  after  dark 
many  prisoners  were  captured  by  it.  Upon  this  occasion  it 
was  the  great  right  bower  of  the  gallant  Ninth  North  Car- 
olina (First  Cavalry)  commanded  and  led  by  that  thrice 
gallant  and  dashing  soldier,  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  H. 
Cowles,  and  its  vigorous  attack  upon  the  enemy's  flank 
made  sure  the  saving  of  our  guns  which  were  in  great 
danger  of  capture.  There  was  stubborn  flghting  and 
much  individual  gallantry  shown  by  some  of  my  men 
during  the  day,  and  I  remember  that  Sergeant  Nicholas  Har- 
rell,  of  Company  C,  a  perfectly  reliable  man,  informed  me  at 
the  close  of  the  engagement,  that  during  the  day  he  had  placed 
hors  de  combat  no  less  than  six  of  the  enemy.  The  bri- 
gade commander  did  not  witness  the  action  of  this  regiment, 
nor  did  I  receive  an  order  from  him  during  the  day,  but  he 
got  possessed  with  an  idea  somehow,  or  other,  that  the  N  inth 
alone  was  entitled  to  all  praise,  and  published  an  order  to  that 
effect  so  soon  as  the  brigade  returned  to  camp.  I  declined  to 
have  the  order  read  to  my  men  on  dress  parade,  and  there  was 
friction  between  the  brigade  commander  and  myself,  but  I 
carried  my  point  in  the  end.     I  did  not  object  to  his  congrat- 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  103 

ulating  the  ISTinth  upon  its  splendid  behavior,  but  I  did  ob- 
ject to  his  partiality. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  C.  M.  Andrews,  I  was  commis- 
sioned Colonel  of  the  regiment  about  the  1st  of  August,  I 
think,  and  soon  after  followed  the  battle  of  Reams  Station, 
brought  on  by  a  movement  of  the  Federals  to  capture  and 
hold  the  Weldon  and  Petersburg  Railroad,  on  25  August. 
The  bearing  of  the' Nineteenth  there. furnished  an  inspiration 
to  the  whole  cavalry  command,  but  the  division  commander  in 
his  report  only  refers  to  the  division  generally.  The  fact  is, 
the  great  brunt  of  the  battle,  so  far  as  the  cavalry  participa- 
ted, was  borne  by  the  Nineteenth  N^orth  Carolina  and  the 
Tenth  Virginia,  and  these  two  regiments,  unsupported,  car- 
ried the  last  of  the  entrenchments  held  by  the  enemy.  It  was 
just  at  dark,  I  remember,  and  I  never  witnessed  a  more  splen- 
did charge.  Our  losses  were  small,  but  our  captures  were  great, 
and  the  old  Second  Cavalry  did  splendid  work.  The  command 
captured  twice  as  many  prisoners  as  it  had  men  engaged, 
and  the  next  morning's  Richmond  papers  gave  full  credit  to 
its  splendid  and  heroic  service. 

That  superb  soldier  and  our  chief.  General  Wade 
Hampton,  congratulated  me  vipon  the  field  and  subsequently 
in  his  official  report  upon  the  battle,  referred  especially  to  the 
conspicuous  gallantry  of  my  regiment. 

At  McDowell's  farm,  on  25  September,  the  Nineteenth 
took  the  lead,  and  captured  one  officer,  a  Major,  I  think, 
and  some  prisoners.  My  loss  in  men  was  light,  but  it  was 
here  that  the  brave  Captain  J.  N.  Turner,  of  Company  B, 
was  killed,  and  his  death  was  a  great  personal  bereavement 
to  me.  He  and  I  had  served  as  Second  Lieutenants  together, 
and  our  relations  were  very  cordial  and  warm,  but  there  was 
unpleasantness  between  him  and  his  captain,  and  he  asked  to 
be  transferred  to  the  Engineer  Corps,  which  was  done.  After 
I  became  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  he  asked  me  to  have  him 
sent  back  to  it,  and  I  remember  how  happy  he  was  when  he 
returned.  He  would  come  to  my  quarters  every  night  and 
talk  over  the  war  memories  of  the  past.  He  was  commis- 
sioned Captain  of  his  old  Company  B,  but,  poor  fellow,  his 
happiness  was  short-lived.     A  few  days  thereafter  he  was 


104  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

shot  through  the  head  near  me,  in  this  McDowell  farm  fight, 
his  sword  in  one  hand  and  his  hat  in  the  other,  cheering  on 
his  men.  Poor,  dear  Turner,  there  was  no  better  man  or 
more  splendid  soldier. 

In  all  the  marching  and  countermarching  from  the  South 
to  the  JSTorth  side  of  James  river,  the  Nineteenth  was  always 
in  place  and  participated  in  every  engagement  at  Jones' 
farm,  Gravelly  Eun,  Hargroves,  Boisseau's  farm  and  other 
places. 

In  one  of  these  engagements,  near  the  White  Oak  Swamp, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  James  river,  and  where  the  gallant 
General  J.  R.  Chambliss,  of  Virginia,  lost  his  life,  the  regi- 
ment had  a  close  call.  The  division  of  General  W.  H.  F. 
Lee  was  hurried  to  the  front  in  columns  of  fours,  the  Nine- 
teenth being  the  last  of  the  division.  Suddenly  I  saw  the  regi- 
ments to  my  front  bear  to  the  right,  and  immediately  thereaf- 
ter came  an  order  from  General  Lee,  borne  by  Major  John 
Lee,  of  his  staff,  for  the  Nineteenth  to  hurry  to  the  front.  The 
command  "trot,"  "gallop,"  was  given,  and  in  a  short  while  I 
reported  to  the  Major-General.  My  orders  were  to  relieve  the 
regiment  to  my  front,  the  Ninth  Virginia,  I  think  it  was,  and 
he  further  said  to  me:  "Roberts,  you  know  what  to  do,  but 
the  line  must  be  held." 

The  entire  division  was  soon  withdrawn  by  some  miscar- 
riage of  orders,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  and  it  was  not  very 
long  before  the  enemy  advanced  in  great  numbers  upon  my  lit-  ■ 
tie  command,  but  it  stood  up  against  this  onslaught  as  only 
brave  men  can.  At  one  time  the  regiment  was  practically 
surrounded,  and  its  annihilation  seemed  complete,  but  in  the 
very  nick  of  time  up  dashed  the  Ninth  North  Carolina,  led 
by  the  gallant  Colonel  W.  H.  Cheek,  who  finally  responded  to 
my  wishes  and  put  his  regiment  where  I  suggested  it  should 
be  put,  and  by  his  action  I  was  enabled  to  extricate  my  men. 
But  our  loss  was  enormous ;  more  than  thirty  ofiicers  and  men 
killed  in  a  few  minutes.  Captain  L.  R.  Cowper,  of  Company 
C,  and  Captain  George  P.  Bryan,  of  Company  G,  were 
among  the  killed.  They  were  both  brave  ofiicers  and  splendid 
soldiers,  and  their  loss  was  a  sad  blow  to  the  regiment.  Cap- 
tain Cowper  and  I  had  left  home  together — ^had  been  non- 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  105 

commissioned  officers  together,  and  he  was  my  personal 
friend ;  always  jolly  and  in  splendid  humor,  and  ever  b^ging 
me  to  take  care  of  myself  if  I  wished  to  live ;  but  always  in- 
sisting that  no  Yankee  bullet  had  ever  been  molded  to  carry 
off  "Old  Cowp,"  as  he  called  himself,  to  the  "undiscovered 
country  from  whose  bourne  no  traveller  returns."  They  were 
both  brave  and  gallant  men,  and  died  like  soldiers  with  their 
faces  to  the  foe. 

At  Wilson's  farm,  on  the  Boydton  plank  road,  on  27  Octo- 
ber, 1864,  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  was  again  conspicuous 
for  gallantry,  and  bore  its  full  share  of  the  fight,  as  it  had 
done  at  Reams,  McDowell's  Farm,  White  Oak  Swamp,  and 
other  places. 

In-the  great  cattle  raid  in  September,  1864,  the  Nineteenth 
(Second  Cavalry)  was  a  part  of  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Hampton  commanding  the  expedition,  and  after 
the  herd  of  cattle,  2,700,  had  been  captured  and  driven 
from  the  corral,  I  received  orders  from  him  in  per- 
son to  bring  up  the  rear.  The  regiment  remained  in 
the  vicinity  of  where  the  cattle  were  captured  for  nearly  an 
hour  after  the  entire  command  had  been  withdrawn,  and  I  at 
once,  busied  myself  in  making  the  necessary  disposition  of  the 
regiment  to  protect  our  rear.  Very  soon  the  Federal  cav- 
alry began  to  press  me  and  there  were  a  number  of  mounted 
charges  given  and  received  during  the  day,  b\it  I  was  hardly 
pressed  and  was  glad  when  night  came  to  end  the  pursuit. 
The  day's  work  was  a  hard  one ;  none  more  so  that  I  remem- 
ber, but  I  managed  to  keep  my  command  so  well  in  hand  that 
I  lost  only  one  or  two  men,  I  think,  before  reaching  Belcher's 
mills. 

The  JSTineteenth  was  at  Bellfield  on  8  December  when 
the  Federals  under  General  Warren  attempted  once  more  to 
secure  the  Weldon  and  Petersburg  Railroad,  and  when  the 
rear  of  Warren's  Corps  was  struck,  a  squadron  of  the  Nine- 
teenth commanded  by  Captain  A.  F.  Harrell,  made  a  splendid 
charge  and  captured  some  prisoners. 

Soon  thereafter  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters 
near  Bellfield,  where  it  was  fairly  comfortable  during  the 
winter,  being  called  out  occasionally.     During  this  interval 


106  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

of  partial  rest  I  addressed  myself  to  discipline,  and  there  was 
drill  and  dismounted  dress  parade  every  day;  but  tlie  men 
were  wearing  out,  or  rather  the  regiment  was,  from  its  great 
work  during  the  previous  campaigns,  and  not  much  head- 
way was  made  in  filling  up  our  greatly  depleted  ranks.  Yet 
the  men  were  cheerful  and  apparently  happy,  and  most  of 
them  enjoyed  the  winter  in  their  comfortable  quarters  near 
Bellfield. 

On  21  February,  1865,  I  received  my  commission 
as  a  Brigadier-General,  and  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Dearing's  Brigade,  he  having  been  transferred  to  the  brigade 
of  General  Eosser. 

The  bearing  of  both  officers  and  men  for  the  most  part 
while  I  commanded  the  JSTineteenth  was  all  I  could  wish,  and 
there  was  much  individual  gallantry  displayed  by  both,  but 
time  has  blunted  my  memory  and  I  regret  that  I  cannot  recall 
the  names  of  all  whom  I  would  be  glad  to  mention  in  this 
sketch,  written  from  memory,  after  the  passage  of  more  than 
thirty  years. 

Let  me  say  that  in  the  beginning  the  regiment  did  not  have 
the  same  thorough  military  training  that  the  First  Cavalry 
(Ninth  ISTorth  Carolina)  had,  as  well  as  other  regiments 
commanded  by  old  army  officers.  Its  first  commander, 
though  a  splendid  and  courteous  gentleman,  and  a  brave 
man,  was  made  Colonel  for  political  reasons,  and  this 
made  a  great  difference.  It  went  to  meet  the  enemy,  too, 
poorly  armed  and  equipped.  But  I  am  glad  to  bear  tes- 
timony to  the  fact  that  in  the  campaigns  from  1863 
to  1865,  it  was  equipped  almost  entirely  by  captures  from 
the  enemy,  including  bridles  and  saddles,  carbines,  pistols, 
swords,  canteens,  blankets,  and  every  article  necessary  to  a 
thorough  equipment  of  a  trooper. 

I  believe  that  the  regiment  was  equal  to  the  best  in  either 
the  brigade,  division  or  corps,  and  it  never  failed  to  respond 
with  cheerfulness  to  any  command  of  mine.  There  was  an 
enthusiastic  response  to  every  order  of  attack — but  few  lag- 
gards— and  the  bearing  of  the  regiment  on  every  occasion 
elicited  praise  from  those  high  in  authority.  I  remem- 
ber once  that  that  courteous  gentleman  and  splendid  soldier, 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  107 

General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  the  division  commander,  said  to  me : 
"Roberts,  I  think  my  division  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any 
division  in  the  army,  but  let  me  tell  you  that  I  think  I  am 
growing  a  little  partial  to  your  regiment,  because  I  feel  more 
secure  and  my  sleep  is  less  disturbed  vrhen  the  gallant  'Two 
Horse'  is  in  my  front." 

These  were  his  exact  words,  and  it  was  the  most  splendid 
compliment  ever  paid  the  regiment.  I  felt  especially  compli- 
mented when  I  remembered  that  there  were  in  the  division 
the  gallant  Ninth  North  Carolina,  the  brave  Ninth  Virginia, 
and  other  regiments  of  equal  merit,  all  North  Carolinians  and 
Virginians. 

After  my  promotion  to  Brigadier-General  that  gallant  sol- 
dier, Captain  James  L.  Gaines,  Assistant  Adjutant  General 
of  the  brigade,  was  commissioned  Colonel,  and  he  rode  at  its 
head  during  all  the  trying  times  around  Five  Forks  until  he 
fell  dangerously  wounded,  losing  an  arm  at  Chamberlain's 
Run,  on  31  March.  Under  his  leadership  the  regi- 
ment added  if  possible  another  star  to  its  already  perfect 
wreath.  After  Gaines  was  wounded  the  regiment  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  J.  P.  Lockhart,  a  gallant  officer,  formerly 
of  my  old  squadron,  Company  K.  Lockhart,  I  am  told,'  led 
it  through  all  the  engagements  following  Chamberlain's  Run, 
and  under  his  command  the  regiment  lost  none  of  its  prestige 
for  gallantry  and  devotion  to  duty. 

I  distinctly  remember  that  after  the  battle  of  Chamber- 
lain's Run,  I  passed  the  regiment  on  the  road,  and  its  great 
loss  both  in  splendid  officers  and  gallant  men  made  such  an 
impression  upon  me  that  I  wept  like  a  child.  Its  losses  had 
been  so  many  that  I  scarcely  recognized  it.  Under  Lockhart,  it 
kept  up  its  organization  until  the  capture  and  dispersal  of 
General  Barringer's  Brigade,  3  April.  Then  what  was  left  of 
it,  with  some  scattering  remnants  of  the  other  regiments  of 
the  brigade,  reported  to  me  by  orders  from  General  Lee,  and 
became  a  part  of  my  brigade  until  the  surrender  at  Appomat- 
tox. 


108  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 


APPENDIX. 


My  brigade  was  made  up  of  tlie  Fifty-ninth  JSTortli  Caro- 
lina (Fourth  Cavalry),  the  Sixteenth  North  Carolina  battal- 
ion of  Cavalry,  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Georgia  Cavalry,  a 
part  of  the  last  named  regiment  being  on  detached  service. 

The  Staff  Officers  assigned  to  me  were  as  follows : 

Captaijst  Theodoeb  S.  Gabnett,  of  Virginia,  Assistant 
Adjutant-General. 

Captaii^  Wm.  C.  CouGHEH"0"nE,  of  I^orth  Carolina,  Inspec- 
tor-General. 

Lieutenant  Jas.  E.  Webb,  of  Alabama,  Ordnance  Officer. 

Lieutenant  W.  P.  Hoi.combe,  of  Virginia,  Aide-de- 
Camp. 

When  I  assumed  command  of  the  brigade  it  was 
greatly  wanting  in  organization  and  discipline,  but  its 
material  was  equal  to  any  brigade  in  both  officers  and 
men,  and  it  behaved  with  exceptional  gallantry  from 
the  time  our  lines  were  broken  at  Petersburg  until 
we  finally  surrendered  at  Appomattox;  especially  at 
Wamozine  Creek,  on  3  April,  a  part  of  it  stood  as 
firmly  as  the  immortal  300  at  Thermopylse,  their  bearing 
and  splendid  courage  stemming  the  tide  of  a  great  stampede 
and  saving  a  part  of  our  cavalry  from  an  ignominious  flight. 
In  fact,  the  little  brigade  did  more  than  its  share  from  the 
White  Oak  road  to  Appomattox,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
surrender  it  was  ordered  to  the  front  on  the  right  of  our  lines. 
It  faithfully  and  bravely  responded  to  the  last  call,  and  with 
the  remnant  of  the  Nineteenth  ISTorth  Carolina,  took  the  last 
guns  captured  by  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  I  am 
sure  they  fired  the  last  shots  as  well. 

Immediately  after  the  capture  of  the  guns — four  Napole- 
ons— the  brigade  was  withdrawn  from  the  field  by  order  of 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  commanding  the  cavalry,  disbanded 
and  directed  by  him  to  return  to  their  homes  if  they  could, 
and  I  remember  that  he  said  that  the  army  had  surrendered. 

I  remember  further  that  I  saw  a  white  flag  borne  down  the 


Nineteenth  Regiment.  109 

lines,  and  I  am  sure  that  after  that  there  was  no  more  firing 
from  either  cannon  or  small  arms. 

I  desire  to  add  that  I  had  an  efficient  and  faithful  staff. 
Lieutenant  Holcomb  was  disabled  on  the  White  Oak  road 
near  Petersburg  about  the  time  our  lines  were  broken.  The 
gallant  Lieutenant  Webb,  ever  watchful  and  faithful,  re- 
mained with  his  ordnance  train  to  the  last,  and  Captain 
Coughenour,  whose  courage  was  ever  conspicuous,  was  dan- 
gerously wounded  near  me  not  far  from  Jetersville,  Va.,  and 
while  delivering  to  me  a  message.  My  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  Captain  Theodore  S.  GarnetL  was  ever  by  my  side, 
brave  to  a  fault,  faithful  and  loyal,  and  he  was  with  me  to 
the  last ;  and  although  a  mere  boy,  his  wise  counsel  and  steady 
nerve  rendered  me  valuable  service  always. 

W.  P.  ROBEETS. 
ViCTOEIA,   B.   C, 

31  March,  1897. 


TWENTIETH  REGIMENT. 

1.    T.  P.  Toon,  Colonel.  3.    John  S.  Brooks,  Lieut.-Colonel. 

3.    Nelson  Slough,  Lieut.-Colonel.  4.    P.  A.  Smith,  Captain,  Co.  A. 

B.    C.  B.  Denson,  Captain.  Co.  E. 


TWENTIETH    REGinEfiT. 


By  brigadier-general  THOMAS  F.  TOON. 


I  cannot  write  a  history  of  the  Twentieth  North  Carolina 
Regiment — initiated  at  Seven  Pines,  sacrificed  at  Gettys- 
burg, surrendered  at  Appomattox — epochs  too  widely  sun- 
dered to  be  bridged  over  by  consecutive  history.  I  can  not 
record  all  the  great  sacrifices  made,  suffering  and  privation 
borne  with  unflinching  heroism,  heroic  achievements,  bloody 
victories,  and  grand  triumphs — instances  of  individual  dar- 
ing and  unswerving  fidelity  to  duty — after  a  lapse  of  thirty- 
six  years,  when  so  many  noble  hearts  of  the  Twentieth  Regi- 
ment have  passed  to  that  shore  where  wars  cease,  and  no  his- 
tory can  invade  the  ever  blissful  present.  So  many  too  anx- 
ious to  forget  the  fitful  shadows  of  that  dreata,  "too  bright  to 
last,"  have  sealed  their  lips  and  refused  to  speak  How  can 
even  a  sketch  be  made  ? 

I  will  not  attetoipt  to  make  a  display  of  imaginary  history, 
embellished  by  thirty-odd  years  of  afterthought,  or  supply  the 
deficiencies  of  facts  or  memory  by  substituting  circum- 
stances which  are  more  pleasing  than  actual. 

Such  facts  as  I  can  collect  I  desire  to  arrange  in  some  order 
consistent  with  happenings.  I  cannot  do  justice  to  a  single 
brave  soldier  of  the  regiment,  and  can  only  recollect  the 
smallest  part  of  that  which  ought  to  be  written  of  the  noble 
Twentieth  JSTorth  Carolina. 

The  Twentieth  North  Carolina  Regiment  comprised  com- 
panies from  the  counties  of  Brunswick,  Columbus,  Cabarrus, 
Duplin  and  Sampson,  stationed  at  Smithville  and  Fort  Cas- 
well, as  follows : 

Captain  Jno.  S.  BeookS;,  Brunswick  Guards. 
Captain  J.  B.  Stanley^  Columbus  Guards  ISTo.  1. 


112  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

Captaijst  William  H.  Toon^  Coluiabus  Guards  ISTo.  2. 
Captain  B.  Smith^  Columbus  Guards  No.  3. 
Captain  Nelson  Slough^  (a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war) 
Cabarrus  Guards. 

Captain  J.  B.  Atwell^  Cabarrus  Black  Boys. 
Captain  C.  B.  Denson,  Duplin  Greys. 
Captain  Uz.  Cox,  Sampson  N"o.  1. 
Captain  C.  L.  Chesnut^  Sampson  N"o.  2. 
Captain  Alex.  Faison^  Sampson  N^o.  3. 

18  June,  1861,  the  organization  of  the  regiment  took  place 
by  the  election  of:  Colonel,  Alfred  Iverson,  of  Georgia,  Post 
Commandant;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Frank  Faison,  of  Samp- 
son County,  N.  C. ;  Major,  W.  H.  Toon,  of  Columbus  Coun- 
ty, N.  C. ;  Adjutant,  R.  P.  James,  of  Duplin  County,  IST.  C. ; 
Captain  Quartermaster,  K.  S.  Harris,  of  Cabarrus  County, 
promoted  from  Company  B ;  Captain  Commissary,  Charles 
McDonald,  of  Company  B ;  Surgeon,  Dr.  J.  A.  Bizzel,  of 
Sampson  County;  Assistant  Surgeons,  W.  B.  Meares,  of 
Wilmington,  and  J.  D.  Pureell,  of  Sampson  County; 
Chaplains,  Kev.  J.  A.  Sprunt,  of  Sampson  County,  and  Rev. 
L.  A.  Bickle,  of  Cabarrus  County;  Sergeant  Major,  D.  J. 
Broadhurst,  of  Duplin  County. 

The  following  were  the  promotions  and  changes  and  the 
Field  and  Staff  officers  of  the  regiment :  Colonel  Alfred  Iver- 
son, wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  promoted  to  Brigadier-General 
in  1863  ;  Colonel  Thomas  F.  Toon,  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor, 
Chancellorsville,  Spottsylvania  and  Petersburg,  promoted  to 
Colonel  from  Captain  of  Company  K,  in  1863,  and  to  Briga- 
dier-General in  1864  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Franklin  J.  Faison, 
killed  at  Cold  Harbor  27  May,  1862  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wm. 
H.  Toon,  resigned  December,  1862 ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Nel- 
son Slough,  resigned  26  February,  1863;  Major  N^elson 
Slough,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  A ;  Major  Jno. 
S.  Brooks,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  G,  26  Febru- 
ary, 1863,  killed  at  Spottsylvania  12  May,  1864 ;  Major  D.  J. 
DeYane,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  I;  Adjutant 
J.  F.  Ireland  promoted  to  Captain  Company  D;  Adjutant 
Ed.  S.  Moore  transferred  from  Forty-first  North  Carolina 


Twentieth  Regiment.  113 

(Third  Cavalry) ;  Sergeant  Major,  Thos.  W.  Broadliurst, 
Company  E ;  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Jas.  H.  Benton,  Com- 
pany H ;  Orderly  to  Colonel,  Jerry  M.  Kistler,  Company  C, 
and  Benjamin  M.  Duncan,  Company  K. 

The  Regimental  Band  was  composed  as  follows :  Charles 
Heebner  (leader),  D.  R.  Coleman,  Henry  Giddens,  Jesse  W. 
Lane,  Lewis  D.  Giddens,  John  B.  Lane,  Amos  A.  Campbell, 
Thomas  Stevenson,  Marcus  Bradley  and  James  C.  Benson — 
from  the  counties  of  Cabarrus,  Sampson  and  Wayne.  These 
faithful  men  cheered  our  hearts  and  beguiled  many  a  weary 
hour,  and  were  kind  to  many  a  wounded  comrade.  It  was  upon 
the  application  of  D.  R.  Coleman  for  a  furlough  that  General 
D.  II.  Hill  endorsed  ''shooters  before  tooters."  During  the 
fall  of  1862  the  band  played  "Dixie"  one  evening  at  dress 
parade.  The  Yankee  band  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  re- 
peated it.  The  band  of  the  Twentieth  played  "Yankee  Doo- 
dle;" then  both  bands  joined  in  "Home,  Sweet  Home."  There 
was  many  a  moist  eye  when  the  music  ceased. 

The  Roster  of  North  Carolina  Troops  gives  with  some  de- 
gree of  accuracy  the  changes  in  commissioned  and  non-com- 
missioned officers  of  each  company,  and  considerable  infor- 
mation relative  to  the  killed  and  wounded,  which  I  do  not 
deem  necessary  to  insert  here.  It  is  a  credit  to  Worth  Caro- 
lina, showing  the  laudable  desire  to  perpetuate  the  names  and 
deeds  of  her  brave  sons,  but  it  is,  however,  very  inaccurate. 

The  regiment  remained  on  duty  at  Smithville  (now  South- 
port),  Fort  Caswell  and  Wilmington,  detailed  by  companies 
or  as  a  whole,  until  June,  1862.  The  duties  were  neither 
dangerous  or  burdensome,  in  fact  the  men  of  the  regiment 
became  restless  under  their  inaction  and  urged  to  be  sent 
where  they  could  take  part  in  the  glorious  triumphs  which 
made  famous  the  Army  of  Virginia,  for  they,  too,  longed  to 
snatch  from  the  shock  of  battle,  the  clash  of  resounding  arms, 
the  sulphurous  canopy  and  din  of  courageous  conflict, 
glimpses  of  the  bright  laurels  the  future  historian  would 
weave  around  the  ensanguined  brow  of  those  who  for  their 
country  "dare  to  do  or  die."  Whether  or  not  an  expression  of 
this  feeling  had  any  effect  in  hurrying  their  departure  from 
the  peaceful  shores  of  ITorth  Carolina  I  do  not  know.  At  any 
8 


114  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

rate  we  left  ISTorth  Carolina  and  arrived  at  Kichmond  a  few 
days  before  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  one  thousand  and 
twelve  strong,  rank  and  file.  Placed  in  Garland's  Brigade, 
camping  on  the  Williamsburg  road,  on  31  May,  on  the  left  of 
Williamsburg  road,  we  were  initiated  into  the  realities  of  a 
soldier's  life. 

Inspired  by  Rodes  on  our  right  and  Anderson  supporting 
and  protecting  our  left,  the  regiment  entered  into  the  fight 
with  spirit  and  unfiinching  courage.  The  first  man  wounded 
was  Alonzo  Williamson,  Company  K,  the  ball  passing  through 
him  and  striking  T.  F.  Toon,  then  Captain  of  Company  K, 
slightly  wounding  him.  W.  E.  Williamson  was  also  wounded. 
During  this  fight  D.  H.  Hill's  Division  did  the  greater  part 
of  the  fighting,  he  losing  more  than  one-third  of  his  effective 
strength. 

The  scene  around  Mechanicsville  26  June,  was  not  such  as 
is  calculated  to  cheer  raw  troops,  by  any  means — dead  or 
dying  artillery  horses,  booming  cannon,  shot,  shell  burst- 
ing, and  some  large  white  eyes,  and  occasionally  some  re- 
quests :  "Captain,  if  I  am  killed,  you  will  find  money  in  my 
left-hand  breeches  pocket  to  send  my  body  home,"  shovdng 
an  interesting  realization  of  surrounding  circumstances,  but 
no  fear. 

Gaines'  Mill,  27  June,  1862,  Corporal  Kiah  P.  Harris, 
Company  A ;  Alfred  Litaker,  Company  B ;  Corporal  W.  B. 
Collins,  Company  D ;  Corporal  Caleb  M.  Spivey,  Company 
D,  were  killed.  Sergeant  J.  Peterson,  Company  E;  C.  C. 
Little,  Company  G,  were  wounded. 

Cold  Harbor,  28  June — Fought  Sykes'  regulars.  Gar- 
land occupied  the  left  of  our  line,  entered  in  good  order  and 
style,  charged  and  captured  a  battery  twice — turned  it  upon 
the  enemy  with  telling  effect. 

I  recall  the  names  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Prank  J.  Faison, 
Captain  Llenry  C.  Smith,  Lieiitenant  Arthur  N.  Jones,  Cal- 
vin Meares,  Elisha  BuUard,  Elias  Bullard  and  others.  Com- 
pany C ;  Mc  Shaw,  Donnie  Stephens,  George  S.  Eeaves  and 
T.  T.  Melntire,  killed.  Captain  John  S.  Brooks,  Colonel 
Iverson,  Captain  T.  F.  Toon  and  W.  D.  Cherry,  wounded. 

In  the  Century,  Vol.  II,  "Battles  and  Leaders  of  the  Civil 


Twentieth  Regiment.  115 

War,"  General  S.  Garland  accords  to  the  Twentieth  North 
Carolina  the  honor  of  deciding  the  fate  of  the  day  hy  this 
charge  mid  capture.  After  the  various  conflicts  mentioned 
the  regiment  returned  with  the  division  to  camp  on  the  York 
Biver  Railroad  below  Richmond.  Left  there  by  General 
Lee  to  watch  the  remaining  force  of  McOlellan  we  joined  the 
army  on  the  march  against  Pope  as  soon  as  those  troops  left 
Westover.  In  July  or  August  we  left  camp  for  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  and  were  engaged  watching  Porter  and 
holding  his  force  in  check  while  the  battle  of  Manassas  was 
being  fought. 

On  14  September,  1862,  was  fought  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain,  or  Boonsboro,  which  General  Hill  called 
a  battle  of  delusions.  When  ready  to  make  disposition  of  his 
small  force  to  disp\ite  the  passage  of  the  Union  army  at  that 
Thermopylae,  he  found  Garland  at  the  Mountain  House.  He 
was  directed  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain  at  Fox's  Gap, 
his  force  less  than  one  thousand  men.  About  9  o'clock  he  en- 
countered Cox's  Division,  about  three  times  as  many.  In 
this  battle  the  Twentieth  was  unflinchingly  suffering  from 
the  deadly  fire  of  a  Union  battery.  Captain  Atwell,  of 
Company  B,  with  his  skinmishers,  killed  the  commanding 
ofiicer  of  the  battery,  but  were  unable  by  reason  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  ground  and  the  force  opposed  to  them  to  secure 
the  guns.  In  this  fight  Captain  Atwell,  of  Company  B,  was 
killed.  He  was  an  intelligent,  high-toned  gentleman,  an  able 
officer  and  brave  soldier.  General  Garland's  death  renders 
the  place  solemnly  historic  to  our  brigade.  Captain  L.  T. 
Hicks,  of  Company  E,  says  the  enemy  came  within  fifteen 
feet  before  the  regiment  retreated  down  the  mountain,  which 
being  so  steep  the  enemy  fired  over  our  heads.  A  part  of  this 
company,  and  several  from  other  companies  of  the  Twentieth, 
were  separated  from  the  command,  during  which  time  their 
rations  were  green  corn  from  the  cob.  Captain  Hicks,  by 
permission,  attached  this  mixed  crowd,  of  which  he  had  as- 
sumed command,  to  General  Hays'  troops,  and  they  faithfully 
did  their  duty  as  brave  soldiers.  A  pet  dog  belonging  to 
Hays'  men  was  crazed  with  the  noise  and  confusion  of  bat- 
tle.    A  cannon  ball  cut  the  top  out  of  a  large  oak,  which  in 


116  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

falling,  imprisoned  a  skulker  behind  the  tree.  His  cries  for 
help  were  answered  by  the  dog.  I  never  saw  a  poor  man's 
pants  torn  so  badly  since.  He  suffered  more  than  he  would 
have  had  he  gone  into  the  fight.  At  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg 
17  Septetoiber,  we  were  at  the  Bloody  Lane  which  tells  its 
own  story.  Assisting  our  commanding  general  to  do  all 
he  set  out  to  do,  worn  out  with  marching,  fighting, 
starving  and  suffering,  we  re-crossed  the  Potomac  and 
went  into  camp  at  Bunker  Hill.  Leaving  Bunker  Hill 
30  October,  arrived  at  Upperville  3  November,  and 
Front  Royal  5  November;  waded  the  Shenandoah  at 
night  6  November,  heavy  snow  on  the  ground ;  then  operating 
between  the  forks  of  the  Shenandoah,  guarding  the  passes  in 
direction  of  the  enemy,  and  threatening  General  McClellan's 
flank  and  rear 

Tliose  friends  who  so  kindly  cared  for  the  sick  Confederate 
soldiers  ought  to  be  remembered  wherever  they  were,  but  we 
especially  ought  to  thank  Mr.  G.  W.  Timberlake,  near  Win- 
chester, for  special  service  to  members  of  my  regiment.  While 
sick  at  his  house  and  threatened  with  capture  by  an  advanc- 
ing enemy,  he  risked  his  own  safety  to  pilot  us  through  a 
mountain  road  to  our  army.  To  her,  that  noble  wife  and 
mother  of  that  Christian  household,  to  her  sweet  child  and 
daughter  "Evelyn,"  a  sick  soldier's  heart  will  ever  turn  with 
warmest  affection  and  gratitude.  Florence  Nightingale  may 
have  more  praise,  but  was  never  truer  or  more  devoted  than 
were  these  fit  representatives  of  the  women  of  the 
Valley.  Leaving  the  Valley  by  route  indicated  above, 
crossed  Blue  Eidge  Mountain,  probably  at  Brown's  Gap, 
and  marched  to  Fredericksburg,  thence  to  Port  Royal 
at  Corbin's  farm.  We  spent  the  Winter,  or  part  of  it, 
resting,  eating  government  rations  and  luxuries  at  sut- 
ler's prices  when  we  could  afford  it,  with  an  occasional  box 
from  loved  ones  at  home,  when  that  box  could  thread  the  in- 
tricacies  of  transportation  then  in  vogue,  and  escape  the  rav- 
ages of  hungry  employes.  On  12  December  we  began  to- 
cook  two  days'  rations  and  have  them  in  our  haversacks  to 
move  at  a  moment's  warning.  Hurrying  from  camp  near 
Port  Royal  we  arrived  during  the  night  of  13  Decern- 
cember  in  front  of  Fredericksburg.     At  Hamilton's  Cross- 


Twentieth  Regiment.  117 

ing  our  division  was  held  in  reserve.  The  first  man  woimded 
here  was  W.  H.  Enzor,  of  Company  0.,  by  a  shell.  My  regi- 
ment filled  part  of  the  space  which  was  occasioned  by  Archer's 
repulse.  The  regiment  was  commanded  by  Major  Nelson 
Slough.  After  months  of  careful  preparation  and  upon  a  field 
of  his  own  selection,  General  Burnside  was  forced  to  acknowl- 
edge Lee  master  of  the  situation.  Lee  in  turn  generously  gave 
the  credit  to  his  brave  soldiers  and  the  honor  to  God.  Back 
into  Winter  quarters  again  to  rest  as  best  we  could.  Cor- 
bin's  farm  camp  was  the  scene  of  some  changes  in  our  regi- 
ment. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  Toon  resigned  February,  1863. 
Major  !N^.  Slough,  Senior  Captain  Jno.  S.  Brooks  and  Captain 
T.  F.  Toon,  Company  K,  were  ordered  before  a  Board  of  Ex- 
amination, composed  of  Colonel  Christie,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
R.  D.  Johnston,  of  the  Twenty-third,  and  Colonel  T.  M.  Gar- 
rett, of  the  Fifth.  Major  Slough  and  Captain  Brooks  waived 
their  rights  to  promotion  and  requested  the  board  to  recom- 
mend Captain  T.  F.  Toon  for  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  After 
the  examination  was  over,  the  appointment  was  accordingly 
made.  When  this  recommendation  and  appointment  was  en- 
dorsed by  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  the  office  was  accepted, 
for  it  was  held  that  the  regiment  had  a  right  to  elect  their  own 
officers,  notwithstanding  the  effort  of  the  Brigadier-General 
to  have  one  of  his  own  selection  appointed.  The  advice  and 
firm  support  of  General  A.  M.  Scales  and  Colonel  Bynum  as 
legal  advisers  are  hereby  acknowledged  in  behalf  of  the  of- 
ficers of  the  regiment.  Camp  duty,  drill,  picketing  the  Rap- 
pahannock and  an  occasional  general  inspection,  varied  with 
snow  fights  between  companies  and  sometimes  regiments,  oc- 
cupied the  remaining  Winter  and  early  Spring  days.  On 
Wednesday  morning,  29  April,  we  moved  from  the  camp 
near  Grace  Church  to  Hamilton's  Crossing. 

We  remained  here  until  Friday  morning,  when  we  began 
to  move  in  the  direction  of  Chaneellorsville ;  had  a  skirmish 
that  day;  on  Saturday  morning  relieved  General  Ramseur's 
Brigade,  and  in  doing  this  came  near  marching  in  column 
into  the  Yankee  line,  caused  by  thick  woods.  A  volley  of 
small  arms  and  canister  from  a  gun  caused  us  to  change  our 


118  North  Carolina  Troops,  186I-'65. 

course  to  the  left.  We  remained  in  line  until  10  o'clock ;  then 
followed  the  Catharpin  road  and  overtook  the  division  about 
4  p.  m.  We  immediately  formed  line  for  that  charge  which 
made  Rodes'  Division  the  recipient  of  unqualified  praise 
from  General  Jackson,  and  our  regiment  favorably  mentioned 
by  our  Brigadier-General.  We  here  occupied  the  extreme 
left  of  our  line  on  the  left  of  and  at  right  angles  to  the  plank 
road,  with  the  Twenty-third  North  Carolina  deployed  and 
marching  by  right  flank  protecting  our  left.  J.  J.  Pounds, 
Company  G,  asks  that  this  incident  be  mentioned.  He  writes : 
''I  started  when  you  took  yo^ir  cap  in  your  hand,  waving  it 
and  calling  on  the  men  to  follow  you,  led  the  charge.  My 
gun  got  out  of  order  and  I  ran  to  you.  and  reported  it.  You 
said:  'This  is  a  bad  place  to  be  without  a  gun.  Get  another 
and  go  ahead.'  Just  then  George  Turner,  of  Company  A, 
found  a  gun.  He  gave  it  to  me  and  I  overtook  you,  still  in 
the  lead."  I  remember  the  circumstances  and  the  brave,  in- 
spiring conduct  of  Jesse  Pounds.  After  the  battle  rested  at 
the  Little  Church  at  the  forks  of  the  road  in  rear.  We  were 
relieved  by  General  A.  P.  Hill's  troops.  May  3,  about  sunrise, 
we  moved  forward  with  the  second  line,  and  soon  became  en- 
gaged, owing  to  our  front  becoming  uncovered.  This  was  fu- 
rious fighting,  a  perfect  storm  of  shells  and  a  mist  of  minie 
balls.  Here  I  saw  the  two  Wilsons,  of  Company  F,  killed ; 
the  brother  saving  the  watch  from  his  brother  just  killed,  falls 
on  his  body  dead ;  tmns  in  birth,  twins  in  death.  I  received 
one  wound  early  in  the  morning  and  before  10  o'clock 
two  others,  and  left  the  field  and  regiment  in  command 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Slough.  I  was  there  long  enough 
to  witness  the  cool  and  daring  bravery  of  Lieutenants 
Oliver  Williams,  Company  C,  McQueen  Coleman,  Com- 
pany K ;  Lieutenant  E.  W.  Collins,  Company  D ;  Major 
J.  S.  Brooks,  Sergeant  Hawes,  Corporal  M.  M.  Harrelson, 
McD.  Ward,  Dan  Coleman,  George  Goodman,  Lieutenant 
Arch  Laughon,  Coimpany  F,  and  many  others.  Yea,  all  on 
that  battle  field  deserved  honorable  memory  and  mention  for 
they  stood  only  where  men  can  be  found.  In  addition  to  the 
above  named  Corporal  C.  A.  Patterson,  Company  A;  Cor- 
poral Richard  Faulk,  Company  C ;  D.  E.  Ellis,  Company  B ; 


Twentieth  Regiment.  119 

Josiah  Hudson,  Company  H;  Newberne  Tew,  Company  I, 
and  Thomas  A.  Morris,  Company  K,  were  placed  upon  the 
roll  of  honor. 

The  next  movement  led  us  to  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  July 
Ist,  2nd  and  3rd,  1863.  The  reports  of  the  battle  give 
twenty-nine  killed  and  ninety-three  wounded  in  the  Twen- 
tieth Eegiment.  General  Iverson  reports  500  men  of  his 
brigade  killed,  lying  in  as  good  order  as  if  on  dress  parade^ 
Why  these  men  were  kept  in  that  position  when  they  could 
only  die  without  being  able  to  inflict  injury  on  the  enemy,  I 
have  been  at  a  loss  to  understand.  Lieutenant  Oliver  Wil- 
liams says:  "I  was  wounded  early  in  the  fight.  I  believe 
every  man  who  stood  up  was  either  killed  or  wounded." 
itfearly  200  of  the  regiment  were  captured,  with  the  colors. 
Captain  A.  H.  Galloway,  Forty-fifth  North  Carolina,  recap- 
tured the  flag  and  a  number  of  our  men.  General  Ewell  com- 
plimented the  troops,  who  stood  till  the  greater  part  had  fallen 
in  line  of  battle. 

After  Gettysburg  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  an  affair 
at  ITagerstown,  while  guarding  a  wagon  train.  General 
Rodes,  in  his  report  for  1863,  says:  "Those  soldiers  from 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  North  Carolina,  who  for  weeks  kept 
their  ranks  with  swollen,  bloody  and  bare  feet,  are  the  heroes 
of  the  campaign."  "Camping  near  Madison  Court  House  in 
July  and  near  Orange  Court  Hoiise  in  August,  September 
and  October,  on  the  Rappahannock  river,  near  Morton's 
Ford.  At  the  latter  place,  11  October,  a  detachment  from 
Johnston's  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Twentieth  North  Caro- 
lina and  five  companies  of  the  Twelfth  North  Carolina,  un- 
der Colonel  Coleman,  the  whole  under  command  of  Colonel 
T.  F.  Toon,  Twentieth  North  Carolina,  had  a  very  brilliant 
affair  with  part  of  Buford's  Cavalry.  Brigadier  General 
Lomax  arrived  and  took  command.  We  repulsed  the  enemy 
and  drove  him  back  across  the  river.  The  brigadier  was 
pleased  to  report  our  part  in  the  affair  as  worthy  of  honor- 
able mention.  The  following  names  were  forwarded  as 
worthy  to  be  placed  on  the  roll  of  honor:  Chas.  W.  Yousts, 
Benjamin  F.  Blackwelder,  Company  A ;  Paul  Faggart,  Jno. 
R.  Bradford,  J.  A.  Bradford,  M.  C.  Cline,  Company  B ;  Lieu- 


120  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tenant  Oliver  Williams,  Company  C ;  Jno.  Killet,  Company 
E ;  W.  J.  Gotten,  Company  F ;  William  Simmons  and  A.  S. 
Carney,  Company  G;  Ransom  G.  Hawley,  Company  H; 
Chas.  H.  Hall  and  Sergeant  B.  A.  Brown,  Company  I.  26 
ISTovember  in  the  trenches  at  Morton's  Ford;  27  ISTovember 
moved  out  of  camp,  marched  to  Lociist  Grove,  skirmished  all 
day.  By  order  from  General  Johnston  I  ihrew  out  two  com- 
panies to  protect  our  left,  there  being  a  gap  be- 
tween our  left  and  General  Edward  Johnson's  right. 
In  the  Mine  Bun  affair  both  sides  wasted  a  great 
deal  of  powder,  but  did  very  little  execution.  The 
remainder  of  the  Winter  was  spent  at  Taylorsville,  near 
Hanover  Junction,  guarding  the  railroad  bridges  over  the 
ISTorth  and  South  Anna  rivers ;  we  had  quite  a  pleasant  time 
at  this  camp,  good  country,  hospitable  people,  charming 
young  ladies,  all  conspired  to  this  end.  5  May  we  started 
to  the  Wilderness,  arriving  on  the  6th.  Supported  General 
Gordon  in  an  attack  on  General  Grant's  right;  sharply  en- 
gaged for  a  short  while.  Lieutenant  B.  Watson  was  killed ; 
General  Seymour  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  United  States  of 
America,  was  captured.  On  the  7th  marched  through  dust 
and  heat  from  burning  woods ;  reached  Spottsylvania  Court 
House  a  short  time  before  sunset.  About  this  time  our  bri- 
gade (General  R.  D.  Johnston's)  was  placed  in  General 
Early's  Division.  On  the  8th  and  9th  unimportant  moves 
for  position.  On  the  10th,  about  5  o'clock,  Johnston's  jSTorth 
Carolina  Brigade  with  the  other  brigades  of  the  division, 
charged  to  recapture  the  works  taken  from  General 
Doles  by  massed  lines  of  the  enemy.  How  we  suc- 
ceeded and  the  credit  due  my  regiment  on  that  oc- 
casion is  best  shown  by  General  Lee's  letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  a  copy  of  which  was  sent  to  my  regiment  afterwards, 
and  which  is  as  follows : 

Headquaetbes, 
Aemy  Noethekin'  Vieginia^ 

May  16,  1864. 
Sie: — Yesterday  evening  the  enemy  penetrated  a  part  of 
our  line  and  planted  his  colors  upon  the  temporary  breast- 


•C    CO 

O 

^     b£ 

? 

,ia 

MS 

S 

S 

tM 

B  "aJ 

O 

O 

S   S 

O     3J 

§ 

d 

J  kJ 

< 

a 

!2i 

C6 

s 

o 
fe5 

:3 
o 
O 

5 
H 

1 

ft 

!?i 

CI 

U 

d 

t3 

O 

b 

o 

N 

s 

3 

?f 

.S  iJ 

c3  +3 

p 
n 

D  i 

P. 

si 

<« 

H 

o 

2  ^ 

O  M 


Twentieth  Regiment.  121 

works  erected  by  our  troops.  He  was  immediately  repulsed, 
and  among  the  brave  men  who  met  him  the  Twentieth  North 
Carolina,  under  Colonel  T.  ¥.  Toon,  of  the  brigade,  com- 
manded by  General  R.  D.  Johnston,  captured  his  flag.  It 
was  brought  to  me  by  Major  Jno.  S.  Brooks,  of  that  regi- 
ment, who  received  his  promotion  for  gallantry  in  the  battle 
of  Chaneellorsville,  with  the  request  that  it  be  given  to  Gov- 
ernor Vance.  I  take  great  pleasure  in  complying  with  the 
wish  of  the  gallant  captors,  and  respectfully  ask  that  it  be 
granted,  and  that  these  colors  be  presented  to  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  as  another  evidence  of  the  valor  and  devotion 
that  have  made  her  name  eminent  in  the  armies  of  the  Con- 
federacy. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  Lee,  General. 

Hon.  Secretary  of  War,  Richmond,  Va. 

It  is  just,  in  this  connection,  to  bear  witness  to  the  daring 
bravery  of  Brigadier-General  Johnston,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Davis,  and  Major  Rob.  Alston,  of  the  Twelfth  North  Caroli- 
,na,  in  that  same  charge.  On  the  11th  raining,  muddy,  disa- 
greeable, under  ordinary  circumstances,  but  especially  so  to  a 
soldier  with  very  scanty  means  of  comfort.  On  the  12th, 
aroused  before  light,  precipitated  into  the  battle  before  we 
could  see;  met  the  successful  enemy  in  the  first  moments  of 
his  temporary  triumphs,  the  first  volley  we  fired  the  sheet  of 
flame  made  doubly  visible  by  the  darkness  and  fog,  met  that 
of  the  enemy  and  lighted  up  the  space  between.  I  can  now 
see  George  Stepps  in  the  mortal  combat,  with  the  color-bearer 
of  one  of  the  advancing  regiments,  and  Major  Jno.  S.  Brooks 
leap  wildly  into  the  air,  grasp  his  side,  and  fall  while  urg- 
ing the  Twentieth  North  Carolina  to  the  hottest  conflict  we 
ever  engaged  in.  We  lost  no  groimd,  however,  but,  with  oth- 
ers of  our  attacking  column,  regained  our  breastworks  and 
remained  fighting  until  9  o'clock  at  night,  when  we  were  with- 
drawn. Late  that  evening.  General  Johnston  was  wounded. 
I  also  received  a  shot  in  the  leg,  after  it  passed  through  Lieu- 
tenant George  Bullock's  coat  sleeve  without  wounding  him. 
This,  however,  disabled  me  only  for  a  few  days.     Adjutant 


122  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

E.  S.  Moore  was  also  wounded.  On  the  19th  we  advanced 
against  the  right  of  the  enemy  and  had  a  severe  skirmish; 
fell  back  to  our  line  that  night.  Our  brigade  brought  up 
the  rear.  My  regiment  was  rear  guard.  The  reconnois- 
sance  in  force  delayed  General  Grant  for  two  days  and  was 
of  great  benefit  to  General  Lee.  On  the  20th  we  moved  to 
Hanover  Junction,  thence  with  the  army  to  Second  Cold  Har- 
bor, where  we  were  under  artillery  fire  and  some  skirmish- 
ing. I  was  assigned  command  of  Johnston's  Brigade  4  June. 
I  think  about  15  June  General  Early  was  detached  and 
sent  to  meet  Hunter  at  Lynchburg.  We  arrived  there 
on  the  evening  of  the  18th,  skirmished  with  the  enemy. 
I  never  could  see  why  we  did  not  attack  the  enemy  at  once. 
'Next  day  we  pursued  the  enemy  to  Liberty,  Va.  Here 
Bryan  White  was  wounded.  In  spite  of  heat  and 
dust  almost  insupportable  the  troops  marched  on  an  ex- 
pedition against  Washington  down  the  Valley,  Hunter 
having  left  it  open  by  his  retreat  in  the  wrong  direction. 
Passing  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  jSTatural  Bridge  without 
much  time  to  try  the  health-giving  nature  of  the  one  or  en- 
joy the  beauty  and  sublimity  of  the  other.  4  July  enjoyed 
the  public  dinner  at  Harper's  Ferry  spread  by  General  Weber 
for  his  command  and  friends.  Fought  and  defeated  General 
Lew  Wallace  at  Monocacy  Bridge.  This  was  a  hard-fought 
battle  on  the  field  in  which  we  were  engaged.  Guilford  Ed- 
wards, one  among  the  best  soldiers  in  the  regiment,  lost  his 
leg  here.  This,  I  think,  was  9  July.  On  the  10th,  passed 
through  Rockville,  saw  the  Dome  of  the  Capitol,  and  pushed 
the  skirmish  line,  capturing  soldiers  in  long,  dress,  broad- 
cloth coats. 

One  Yankee  prisoner  said  they  were  counter  jumpers, 
clerks  in  the  War  Ofiice,  hospital  rats  and  stragglers.  I  know 
one  thing,  I  could  have  easily  taken  everything  in  my  front  if 
I  had  been  allowed  to  continue  my  advance.  Major  DeVane, 
a  gallant  spirit,  urged  me  to  disregard  the  order  to  fall  back 
and  rush  forward,  whatever  the  consequences  might  be.  I 
hated  to  withdraw,  but  always  tried  to  obey  orders.  On  the 
night  of  the  12th,  retreated  across  the  Potomac  river,  bring- 
ing the  accumulated  proceeds  of  the  campaign  in  horses,  beef 


Twentieth  Regiment.  123 

cattle,  cannon,  etc.  For  scttne  time  we  destroyed  railroads 
and  marched  a  countermarch.  20  July  we  had  an  affair 
with  Averill  and  Orook,  in  which  we  were  literally  run 
over.  This  was  near  Winchester.  I  think  both  retreated 
from  the  battle  field.  Parts  of  August  and  September  eating 
apple  butter  and  doing  picket  duty,  with  just  enough  skir- 
mishing to  break  the  monotony  of  soldier's  life.  19  Septem- 
ber fought  the  battle  of  Winchester,  and  in  the  battle,  al- 
though Early  was  defeated,  Eamseur's  division  was  not.  We 
held  our  own  until  ordered  to  retreat.  Early  in  the  morning 
the  cavalry  attacked  our  pickets.  I  moved  the  Twentieth 
North  Carolina  to  their  support.  Charge  after  charge  were 
repulsed.  When  closely  pressed  with  cavalry  on  both  flanks, 
I  formed  a  square  and  retreating  in  this  manner,  prevent- 
ed capture,  until  General  Wade  Hampton  came  to  my  rescue 
by  charging  in  column  those  on  my  left  and  driving  them 
back,  he  enabled  me  to  get  my  regiment  back  to  the  line  of 
battle. 

The  "thin  gray  line"  which  Bradley  Johnston  saw  on  19 
September,  1864,  was  the  Twentieth  North  Carolina  Eegi- 
ment,  a  part  of  Johnston's  North  Carolina  Brigade. 

J.  E.  Kelly,  of  Company  K,  was  the  hero  of  the  hour. 
When  the  regiment  was  formed  in  a  square  almost  sur- 
rounded, hard  pressed,  a  shell  killed  the  horse  of'  Colonel 
Toon.  He  directed  Kelly  to  take  charge  of  his  belongings 
on  the  horse.  Kelly  at  that  moment  was  struck  in  the  shoul- 
der joint,  which  caused  the  loss  of  his  right  arm,  yet  he,  when 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  by  a  charge  on  our  left,  relieved  us, 
carried  everything,  saddle,  bridle,  blanket,  and  his  own  gun 
and  accoutrements,  to  the  hospital,  all  safe. 

J.  E.  Kelly  enlisted  from  Columbus  County,  lived  in  that 
county  for  years  after  the  war.  Raised  a  large  family.  Some 
years  since  moved  to  Wilmington.  Little  did  the  old  veterans 
of  that  patriotic  city  think  that  in  the  breast  of  that  one- 
armed  hack  driver  beat  a  heart  as  brave  as  the  bravest;  as 
true  as  tried  steel  to  his  beloved  Southland.  Such  was  Jas. 
E.  Kelly,  a  Yankee  boy;  a  Southern  volunteer;  a  drummer 
boy  hero  of  many  a  hard-fought  battle. 

October  came  with  its  triumphs  and  defeat  in  one  day.    At 


124  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Cedar  Run,  Johnston's  North  Carolina  Brigade  was  the  only 
body  of  organized  troops  that  left  the  field  in  order  and  which 
kept  firing  in  retreat  until  we  reached  a  bridge  over  the  creek 
blocked  up  by  wagons,  ambulances,  horses  and  men.  In  all 
of  the  uncertain  movements  of  this  army  we  took  part  and 
there  were  none  who  more  faithfully  discharged  their  duty. 
The  disparity  in  number  between  the  armies  contending, 
both  in  infantry  and  cavalry,  was  the  main  cause  of  the  de- 
feat of  the  Army  of  the  Valley.  General  Early  was  not  a 
great  commander  nor  a  great  general,  but  brave,  headlong  and 
risky.  Leaving  the  valley  we  were  assigned  to  picket  duty  on 
the  Roanoke  river.  We  encamped  on  the  premises  of  Mr. 
House,  and  between  the  hospitalities  of  his  house  and  that  of 
Mr.  Wyatt  (I  think  that  is  the  name)  we  spent  an  enjoyable 
Winter.  We  returned  to  Hatcher's  Run,  skirmished  and  ate 
shad  for  a  short  time.  On  25  March  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Hare's  Hill,  or  Fort  Steadman,  near  Petersburg,  Va.  My 
regiment  led  the  charge  on  the  works.  It  was  a  complete 
surprise,  many  were  killed  coming  out  of  their  tents  by  our 
men,  using  their  guns  as  clubs.  Why  were  we  not  supported  ? 
It  was  reported  to  us  that  as  soon  as  we  broke  the  line  Pick- 
ett's Division  would  support  us. 

About  9  o'clock  we  fell  back  to  our  lines  after  capturing  a 
good  many  prisoners.  Adjutant  Moore  was  wounded.  Here 
I  fought  my  last  battle,  being  desperately  wounded,  standing 
on  our  breastworks  rallying  our  troops  to  resist  an  expected 
attack  by  the  enemy.  Dr.  Schofield,  of  Petersburg,  was  kind 
to  me.  He  took  me  into  his  own  house  and  my  wounds  were 
tenderly  dressed  by  soft  hands  now  clasped  in  praise  on  the 
other  shore.  I  could  not  invoke  good  for  myself  were  I  not 
to  pray  for  better  for  those  good  people.  My  regiment  re- 
mained to  the  last  and  when  the  news  of  the  surrender  was 
promulgated  and  our  skirmishers  ordered  to  halt,  Major  De- 
Vane  said :  "I  liated  to  stop  just  then,  for  I  was  driving  the 
Yankee  skirmishers  like  sheep."  On  9  April,  at  Appomat- 
tox, hostilities  ceased  and  the  Twentieth  Regiment  laid  down 
their  arms  by  order  of  their  chieftain- — R.  E.  Lee.  We 
fought  not  for  slavery.  Our  rights  were  denied  us.  Slavery 
was  only  one  of  the  many  aggravating  circumstances  which 


Twentieth  Regiment.  125 

precipitated  hostilities.  Those  who  make  history  ought  to 
interpret  their  own  acts  and  be  considered  the  best  authority 
as  to  what  is  history. 

The  sharpshooters  from  the  regiment  deserve  especial  men- 
tion, and  acting  as  a  separate  command  justice  requires  it. 
Under  Plato  Durham,  Benj.  Robinson,  R.  A.  Smith,  Oliver 
Williams  and  McQueen  Coleman,  this  corps  did  splendid  ser- 
vice, and  was  the  most  important  arm  of  the  service.  Some 
one  belonging  to  this  corps  ought  to  write  its  history,  and  here 
I  will  couple  the  name  of  Fred.  D.  Bryan  with  this  request, 
hoping  he  will  do  justice  to  this  gallant  corps.  Mr.  Bryan, 
having  passed  through  all  of  these  scenes  of  conflict,  can  re- 
call its  history. 

Imperfect  as  this  sketch  must  be,  I  will  close  it,  acknowl- 
edging favors  and  help  from  the  following  soldiers,  partici- 
pants in  the  services  of  the  Twentieth  North  Carolina :  Rev. 
Captain  D.  K.  Bennett,  Company  G,  who  has  passed  over  the 
river  since  writing  me  on  the  subject ;  Lieutenant  Oliver  Wil- 
liams, Fair  Bluff,  IST.  C,  a  veteran  of  the  sharpshooters  corps ; 
Fred  D.  Bryan,  Marion,  S.  C,  the  beardless  boy,  the  daunt- 
less hero  of  the  same  corps ;  Edwin  S.  Moore,  Selma,  N.  C, 
Adjutant  of  the  regiment;  Captain  Louis  Hicks,  Faisons, 
N.  C,  a  quiet,  faithful  soldier  and  a  good  friend ;  Rev.  J. 
Soles  (Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina),  Mount  Tabor,  JST.  C. ; 
Jesse  J.  Pounds,  Company  G,  Hamlet,  IST.  C.  His  company 
ought  to  remember  him  with  gratitude.  Out  of  nearly  fifty 
letters  written  to  some  members  of  each  company  composing 
the  regiment  these  are  all  to  which  replies  have  been  re- 
ceived. 

The  following  brief  me;ntion  may  not  be  amiss: 

Thomas  Fentress  Toon  was  born  in  Columbus  County  N. 
C,  10  June,  1840.  Son  of  Anthony  F.  Toon,  Esq.,  of  Irish 
and  Welsh  extraction,  and  Mary  McMillan  Toon,  daughter  of 
Ronald  McMillan,  of  Scotland.  20  May,  1861,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Columbus  Guards  'No.  2,  a  company  raised  by 
his  half  brother.  Captain  William  H.  Toon,  who  was  after- 
wards Major  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Twentieth  JSTorth 
Carolina.  After  enlistment  he  returned  to  Wake  Forest  Col- 
lege and  graduated  June,  1861.   June  17,  1861,  elected  First 


126  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Lieutenant  of  his  company.  July  22,  1861,  elected  Captain  of 
his  company,  vice  Captain  W.  H.  Toon  elected  Major.  26 
February,  1863,  elected  Colonel  of  the  Twentieth  Kegiment. 
31  May,  1864,  appointed  Brigadier-General,  and  4  June 
assigned  to  command  of  Johnston's  JSTorth  Carolina  Brigade. 
He  followed  the  fortunes  of  Lee,  Jackson,  Gordon,  Early 
and  Ewell  in  all  important  engagements,  unless  deterred  by 
some  of  the  five  wounds  received  in  battle.  Lived  in  Robe- 
son County,  ]Sr.  C,  from  1891  until  elected  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Instruction,  1900. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Nelson  Slough  was  a  veteran  of  the 
Mexican  War,  First  Lieutenant  January,  1847,  honorably 
discharged  Y  August,  1848.  He  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  leg,  the  etfects  of  which  were  evident  in  his  halting  step. 
When  North  Carolina  called  for  troops  he  promptly  raised 
a  Company  in  Cabarrus  County  and  offered  his  services  for 
her  defence.  When  the  Tenth  Volunteers  was  organized, 
which  regiment  was  afterwards  changed  to  Twentieth  North 
Carolina  Troops,  Captain  N.  Slough  was  given  the  post  of 
honor  as  Company  A.  He  followed  the  fortunes,  of  the  regi- 
ment ably  and  faithfully  discharging  his  duty ;  beloved  by  his 
men  and  respected  by  his  fellow  officers  for  his  generous, 
genial,  and  gentlemanly  deportment  and  for  his  unflinching 
bravery  in  battle. 

He  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the  regiment,  afterwards ■  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  resigned  on  account  of  wounds  and 
failing  health  2  Novejnber,  1863.  He  was  afterwards  sheriff 
of  his  county  for  many  years ;  popular,  beloved,  and  respected. 

To  those  who  knew  Colonel  Slough,  I  would  say  "now  that 
is  to  say  simply  for  instance"  I  know  no  braver  soldier  or 
more  faithful  officer  than  this  hero  of  two  wars.  He  died 
at  the  residence  of  his  daughter  in  Anderson,  S.  C.  in  1900. 

John  S.  Brooks,  Captain  Company  G,  born  in  Greenville, 
Pitt  Coimt,  N.  C,  20  October,  1840,  killed  12  May,  1864, 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Va.  At  the  opening  of  the 
war  he  raised  a  company  and  was  elected  Captain. 
26  February,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Major  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Slough  resigning  2  November,  1863,  he  was 


Twentieth  Regiment.  127 

promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  which  position  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death 

He  was  signally  honored  by  General  Lee  on  10  May,  1864, 
as  will  appear  by  correspondence  published.  Loved  by  all 
who  knew  him ;  honored  in  death,  his  dirge  was  sadly,  sweetly 
chanted  by  his  comrade  in  arms,  Brunswick  County's  Bard, 
Rev.  D.  K.  Bennett. 

JSTames  deserving  to  be  written  on  the  same  page :  Lieuten- 
ant J.  H.  Dosier  and  Lieutenant  Oliver  Mercer,  both  of  Com- 
pany G ;  Lieutenant  Oliver  Williams,  Company  C,  now  living 
at  Fair  Bluff,  Columbus  County,  N.  C. 

Thos.  r.  Toow. 
Kaleigh,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

1.  Robert  F.  Hoke,  Colonel.  3.    John  K.  Connally,  Captain,  Co.  B. 

2.  E.  W.  Wharton,  Captain,  Co.  E.  4.    R.  E.  Wilson,  Captain,  Co.  P. 

5.    L.  E.  Powers,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  A. 


TWENTY-FIRST   REGIMENT. 


By  major  JAMES  F.    BEALL. 


In  writing  this  brief  sketch  nothing  more  than  a  short  out- 
line is  intended.  A  volume  would  be  too  small  to  contain 
all  that  could  be  said  of  this  illustrious  regiment.  Many  of 
the  facts  connected  with  it  and  the  part  it  played  in  the  gigan- 
tic struggle  for  Southern  Independence  cannot  now  be  writ- 
ten. But  it  may  not  be  amiss  for  living  witnesses  to  give 
their  testimony;  otherwise  much  that  is  valuable  to  history, 
may  be  lost. 

ORGANIZATION   AT   DANVILLE. 

Early  in  June,  1861,  the  Twenty-first  ISTorth  Carolina  Reg- 
iment was  organized  and  mustered  into  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice at  Danville,  Va.  W.  W.  Kirkland  was  elected  Colonel. 
This  efficient  and  accomplished  officer,  with  vigorous  efforts, 
brought  the  regiment  to  a  state  of  perfection  in  discipline  and 
drill,  which  was  afterwards  properly  appreciated  by  those 
of  us  who  became  intimately  acquainted  with  the  stem  reali- 
ties of  war.  Just  prior  to  the  departure  of  the  regiment  from 
Danville,  it  was  drawn  up  into  line,  with  its  silken  -colors, 
(given  by  the  ladies)  waving  over  them,  presenting  as  fine  a 
body  of  men  as  one  ever  beheld — all  young  and  enthusiastic. 
Alas  !  how  many  of  those  noble  forms  now  lie  mouldering  in 
the  dust — on  almost  every  battlefield  from  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
to  New  Bern,  IST.  C.  ? .  And  how  many  we  meet  with  missing 
limbs  and  honored  scars  upon  them,  telling  of  death  and 
danger  dared !  The  Twenty-first  Regiment  was  engaged  in 
the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war — some  of  the  greatest  in  his- 
tory. It  had  for  its  Major-Generals  those  noble  heroes — Ewell, 
Early,  Pegram  and  Ramseur.    For  its  Brigadiers: — Trimble, 

9 


130  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

Hoke,  Godwin  and  Lewis.   Its  Field  and  Staff,  Company  Of- 
ficers— rank  and  file — were  inferior  to  none. 

THE  KE&IMEiSTT  ABBIVBS  AT  MAIsTASSAS. 

The  regiment  left  Danville  15  July  mid  cheering  and 
waving  of  handkerchiefs  by  the  ladies,  arriving  at  Richmond 
the  same  evening;  17  July  it  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen- 
eral Beauregard,  at  Manassas.  While  en  route  to  Manassas, 
we  had  a  considerable  wreck — caused  by  the  treachery  of  the 
engineer,  who  deserted  his  engine — leaving  the  train  standing 
on  the  track  in  the  night,  where  another  train  soon  came  crash- 
ing into  it,  disabling  about  twenty  of  the  regiment.  Without 
further  incident,  the  regiment  arrived  at  Manassas  early  on 
the  morning  of  the  18th.  Immediately  the  regiment  moved 
in  double  quick  time  to  our  position  at  Mitchell's  Eord  on 
Bull  Run — this  being  the  centre  of  the  Confederate  line  of 
battle.  Here  the  regiment  was  vigorously  shelled  by  the 
enemy's  batteries,  but  was  not  actively  engaged.  We  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  same  position  on  21  July — ^when  the 
first  battle  of  Mansassas  was  fought  and  a  victory  won  for 
the  Confederates,  which  electrified  the  whole  country.  After 
the  rout,  we  pursued  the  enemy  several  miles,  thinking  we 
were  going  right  into  Washington,  but  were  halted  and  or- 
dered to  retrace  our  steps. 

ISr   CAMP  AT  BULL  EtJK. 

After  this  battle,  we  went  into  camp  on  Bull  Run,  where 
the  regiment  suffered  greatly  from  sickness.  In  September 
the  regiment  was  sent  to  Broad  Run  Station  to  recuperate.  In 
October  it  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Manassas,  and  there 
Trimble's  Brigade  was  formed  of  the  following  regiments, 
viz:  Twenty-first  Georgia,  Twenty-first  ISTorth  Carolina, 
Fifteenth  Alabama,  Sixteenth  Mississippi.  Shortly  after- 
wards, the  latter  regiment  was  transferred — the  Twelfth 
Georgia  Regiment  taking  its  place.  The  Twenty-first  Regi- 
ment after  doing  arduous  picket  duty  all  winter,  in  March 
broke  up  winter  quarters  and  took  up  line  of  march  to  Gor- 
donsville,  Va.     From  there  it  was  ordered  to  the  Valley  of 


TwENTY-FlKST   ReGIMBNT.  131 

Virginia  by  way  of  Swift  Eun  Gap,  to  report  to  General 
Jackson,  when  the  immortal  "Valley  Campaign"  was  begun, 
which  made  General  Jackson  and  his  command  famous.  His 
great  deeds  have  been  expressed  by  orator,  sung  by  the  poet, 
immortalized  in  statuary,  and  emblazoned  on  canvas. 

THE  BATTLE   OF   WIBTCHESTEE. 

On  24  March,  1862,  the  regiment  was  engaged  at  the 
great  battle  of  Winchester  where  General  Banks  was  badly 
defeated  with  great  loss  of  men,  arms  and  commissary  stores. 
Just  previous  to  the  battle,  the  regiment  marched  all  night, 
lying  down  just  before  dawn  in  the  cold  dew,  to  rest,  but  not 
to  sleep.  The  sun  rose  fair  and  bright  on  the  field,  soon  to 
become  crimson  with  the  blood  of  the  bravest  hearts.  Shortly 
after  sun  up  we  were  ordered  to  storm  the  enemy's  position, 
simultaneously  with  the  command  on  our  left.  With  a  wild 
cheer  the  regiment  moved  swiftly  towards  the  enemy's  line 
behind  stone  walls,  and  was  met  by  a  most  terrific  fire  of  in- 
fantry and  grape  shot.  The  regiment  moved  right  on  to  the 
stone  wall,  from  which  the  enemy  were  pouring  forth  a  per- 
fect storm  of  canister  and  minie  balls  from  right  and  left — 
cross-firing  upon  us.  But  the  glorious  old  regiment  with  a 
valor  that  stands  unrivaled,  swept  everything  before  it.  The 
day  was  won  with  the  most  exalted  courage  and  desperate 
charge.  It  was  a  gallant  charge  and  a  gallant  defense.  The 
enemy  was  completely  routed,  with  great  slaughter  and  driven 
beyond  the  Potomac. 

A  FIELD  OF  CAENAGE. 

The  writer  was  severely  wounded  and  left  on  the  field,  and 
the  sight  which  there  presented  itself  can  never  be  forgot- 
ten. Around  stood  several  pieces  of  artillery  deserted  by  the 
enemy.  Many  Federals  and  Confederates  lay  dead,  wounded 
and  dying  around  me.  Colonel  Kirkland,  while  waving  his 
sword  and  cheering  on  his  men  was  shot  through  the  thigh, 
but  did  not  leave  the  field.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pepper  lay 
mortally  wounded,  but  still  cheering  his  men  on  to  victory. 
My  heart  still  bleeds  when  I  think  of  our  revered  Captain  J. 


132  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

0.  Hedgecock,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  pierced  by  half 
dozen  balls  or  more.  A  braver  or  truer  man  than  this  young 
lawyer  was  never  sent  to  the  field  of  battle.  He  and  the  gal- 
lant Pepper  sleep  in  the  cemetery  at  Winchester,  with  many 
of  their  brave  comrades.  Peace  to  their  ashes.  Company  A 
had  one  officer  killed  and  one  wounded — ten  men  killed  and 
eight  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  other  companies  of  the  regi- 
iment  was  proportionately  great.  I  am  unable  to  give  the  ex- 
act number. 

BIGHT  BALLS  IN  HIS  BODT. 

Never  were  men  more  mangled  or  pierced  with  so  many 
balls.  The  Confederate  and  Federal  medical  staffs  were  es- 
pecially interested  in  Captain  John  W.  Beard,  Company  F, 
who  was  pierced  with  eight  minie  balls — several  passing 
through  the  bowels — ^yet  recovery  was  complete  and  he  served 
through  the  entire  war ;  he  now  lives,  a  prosperous  merchant, 
in  the  State  of  Kansas.  This  conflict,  its  duration  consid- 
ered, and  the  number  engaged,  equals  or  surpasses  the  blood- 
iest battles  of  the  war.  And  yet,  an  eminent  biographer  in 
describing  the  movements  of  General  Jackson's  Corps,  makes 
but  one  allusion  to  the  North  Carolina  troops  in  these  few 
words :  "Here  the  Twenty-first  North  Carolina  Kegiment 
lost  heavily."  When  at  the  same  time  the  Memorial  Asso- 
ciation of  Winchester,  Va.,  said  that  their  cemetery  contained 
graves  of  more  soldiers  from  North  Carolina  than  from  any 
other  State,  a  fact  which  might  be  said  of  almost  every  bury- 
ing ground  in  Virginia.  Therefore,  I  hope  I  will  be  par- 
doned for  going  into  detail  in  describing  this  battle. 

UP  AND  DOWN  THE  VALLET. 

After  the  battle  of  Winchester  the  regiment  was  marched 
and  countermarched  up  and  down  the  valley  many  weeks — 
engaging  almost  daily  in  combats  of  no  minor  importance, 
against  great  odds.  Fought  in  the  battles  of  Newtown,  Har- 
risonburg, and  Cross  Keys.  At  the  latter  place  it  pleased  Gen- 
eral Trimble  to  compliment  Colonel  Fulton  and  the  regiment 
for  its  gallant  conduct.  After  this  the  regiment  crossed  over 
the  Shenandoah  river,  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Port  Republic, 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  133 

and  assisted  in  sending  General  Shields  down  the  Luray  Val- 
ley, completely  routed  and  demoralized.  I  have  given  but  a 
poor  picture  of  the  series  of  brilliant  victories  of  this  valley 
catapaign,  in  which  the  Twenty-first  iN'orth  Carolina  Regi- 
ment left  on  record,  deeds  rarely  equaled,  her  banners  covered 
with  victories,  shedding  lustre  and  glory  on  North  Carolina 
and  the  Southern  arms.  General  Jackson's  Corps  having 
defeated,  in  repeated  engagements,  no  less  than  four  Federal 
armies,  sweeping  down  from  Port  Republic,  fell  like  an  ava- 
lanche on  General  McClellan's  right.  Then  ensued  that  suc- 
cession of  brilliant  engagements  which  resulted  in  sending 
the  enemy  under  the  protection  of  his  gun-boats  on  the  James 
river.  In  all  these  engagements  the  Twenty-first  bore  a  con- 
spicuous part,  losing  heavily;  9  August,  1862,  engaged  in 
the  sanguinary  battle  of  Cedar  Run.  In  this  battle  the  Fed- 
erals were  badly  whipped  and  driven  beyond  the  Rappahan- 
nock. In  this  fight,  the  regiment  captured  two  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery and  several  flags  of  the  enemy. 

GENERAL  TEIMBLe's  SPEECH. 

After  the  fight  General  Trimble  ^made  a  little  speech  com- 
plimenting the  brigade,  in  which  he  said :  "Comrades,  I  feel 
that  I  am  on  my  way  to  my  home  in  Maryland."  On  18  Au- 
gust, 1862,  at  Hazel  river,  the  regiment  engaged  in  a  short, 
but  sanguinary  battle.  A  charge  through  a  thick  underbrush 
and  marshy  swamp,  and  with  great  courage,  drove  the  enemy 
from  his  temporary  breastworks.  This  action  on  the  part  of 
the  regiment  drew  forth  great  praise  from  General  Trimble. 
Though  this  fight  was  short,  our  loss  was  by  no  means  insig- 
nificant. We  then  bivouacked  on  the  battle  field,  which  we 
knew  how  to  appreciate,  having  been  almost  continually 
marching  and  fighting  for  several  days. 

IN  pope's  eeab. 

The  next  day  we  received  orders  to  prepare  three  days'  ra- 
tions, and  be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  20  Au- 
gust, 1862,  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  Rappahannock,  crossed 
the  river  and  again  encountered  him.  22  August,  recrossed 


134  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

the  river,  took  up  a  line  of  march,  passing  through  Thor- 
oughfare Gap  near  Manassas  and  appeared  in  Pope's  rear, 
destroying  several  trains  of  cars  and  immense  stores  at  Man- 
assas. The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  series  of  fights  called 
■  the  Second  Manassas  and  Jackson's  Corps  withstood  for  two 
days  Pope's  entire  army,  repulsing  every  attack  with  heavy 
slaughter.  During  this  fight  the  Twenty-first  Kegiment  re-, 
pulsed  a  half  dozen  or  more  of  the  most  tremendous  charges 
that  were  ever  volleyed  and  thundered  at  the  head  of  mortal 
man.  Here  we  fought  face  to  face  with  men  filled  with 
whiskey,  determined  to  crush  G-eneral  Jackson.  30  August 
engaged  the  enemy  all  day  until  afternoon,  then  General 
Longstreet  came  up  when  Pope's  army  was  driven  beyond 
Bull  Run.  After  these  engagements  the  regiment  was  hors 
de  combat. 

A  SUNDAY  BIVOUAC. 

The  next  day,  31st,  we  went  into  bivouac  and  rested  all 
day  Sunday,  saddened  by  the  absence  of  many,  many,  of  our 
brave  and  beloved  comrades,  who  had  fallen  in  the  series  of 
conflicts  through  which  we  had  just  passed.  Among  those 
who  fell  was  our  beloved  Colonel,  Saunders  P.  Ful- 
ton, a  man  who  was  absolutely  without  fear,  and  who  evi- 
dently believed  he  was  not  to  be  killed  in  battle.  1  September 
we  took  up  line  of  march  to  Ox  Hill,  where  we  again  grap- 
pled in  a  death  struggle  with  our  old  enemy.  When  we  first 
met  them,  the  Federals  seemed  greatly  surprised  and  con- 
fused, and  the  carnage  in  their  ranks  was  terrible.  Here 
Major-General  Kearney,  of  the  Federal  army,  was  killed  and 
fell  into  our  hands.  During  this  battle  a  terrific  thunder 
storm  prevailed,  the  rain  coming  down  in  torrents,  making  it 
quite  difiicult  to  keep  our  powder  dry.  The  Federals  were 
again  overwhelmingly  defeated,  and  hurled  into  their  fortifi- 
cations around  Washington.  Our  loss  in  this  engagement 
was  comparatively  small. 

CAPTUEB  OF  HAEPEES  FEEEY. 

After  this  battle  Jackson's  Corps  took  up  the  line  of  march 
to  Martinsburg,  Va.,  and  from  this  place  swept  down  on 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  135 

Harper's  Ferry  capturing  it  with  its  entire  garrison,  General 
D.  H.  Miles  commanding  the  garrison.  Our  loss  was  al- 
most nothing.  After  this  we  made  a  forced  march  to  Sharps- 
burg,  Md.,  where  we  arrived  17  September  and  engaged  in 
that  brilliant  and  bloody  battle.  Although  sorely  pressed, 
the  line  of  the  Twenty-first  Kegiment  was  broken  only  once 
during  that  fight.  After  falling  back  a  short  distance  and 
reforming,  we  again  charged,  repulsing  every  attack  of  the 
enemy.  Our  loss  here  was  considerable.  13  December  we 
engaged  in  the  great  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  assisted  in 
driving  and  pursuing  the  enemy  into  the  plains  below,  who 
had  penetrated  an  interval  in  our  lines  near  Hamilton's 
Crossing.  I  believe  this  was  the  only  charge  made  by  the 
Confederates  in  this  fight.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  this 
charge  was  very  great,  while  ours  was  comparatively  small. 
Here  it  was  said  that  General  Lee  complimented  Colonel 
Hoke  who  commanded  the  brigade.  At  any  rate  he  was  made 
Brigadier-General  soon  after  this  fight. 

CHANCELLOESVILLE. 

In  May,  1863,  engaged  in  the  great  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  assisting  in  the  attack  on  General  Sedgwick's  fiank, 
forcing  him  into  the  bend  of  the  Rappahannock  river,  where 
his  whole  command  would  have  been  captured;  but  night 
coming  on  he  made  his  escape  across  the  river.  In  this  fight 
we  lost  many  valuable  ofiicers  and  men.  At  this  time  the 
brigade  was  composed  of  the  following  regiments:  Sixth, 
Twenty-first,  Fifty-fourth,  Fifty-seventh  North  Carolina 
Troops.  After  this  battle  our  corps,  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Ewell,  who  succeeded  the  lamented  Jackson,  again  took 
up  line  of  march  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  where  the  Twenty- 
first  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Winchester  and  Martinsburg 
with  many  thousand  prisoners  and  a  great  many  pieces  of 
artillery,  many  thousand  small  arms,  wagon  trains  and  many 
stores.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  and  entire  command  was 
very  small. 

GETTYSBUEG. 

We  then  passed  over  the  Potomac  and  went  to  Little  York, 


136  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Pa.  1  July  the  two  armies  again  encountered  eacli  other,  at 
Gettysburg.  On  this  day  the  regiment  assisted  in  gaining  a 
very  decided  victory  over  the  enemy,  driving  him  back  in 
great  confusion,  through  Gettysburg.  On  the  second  day  we 
made  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  fortified  line  and  failed. 

In  the  general  history  which  will  go  down  to  posterity,  of 
course  nothing  more  than  a  brief  and  cursory  reference  can 
or  will  be  made,  to  the  service  of  any  small  command.  Yet 
it  is  due  this  gallant  brigade  (then  Hoke's)  as  also  to  those 
who  lived  not  to  see  the  clouds  and  darkness  of  other  days, 
to  refer  briefly  to  the  glorious  services  of  as  brave  a  set  of 
men  as  the  sun  ever  shone  upon.  I  will  in  my  feeble  way, 
attempt  to  show  how  those  indomitable  patriots  demeaned 
themselves  amid  the  wild  carnage  of  that  stricken  field.  The 
impressions  of  the  writer,  of  that  memorable  day  are  not  a 
picture  of  mere  fancy,  but  one  of  actual  experience.  Methinks 
I  still  hear,  through  the  long  vista  of  years,  the  rolling  echo  of 
those  awful  accents  of  battle.  After  a  lapse  of  thirty-seven 
years,  I  recall  not  without  emotion,  the  incidents  of  the  bat- 
tle which  occxirred  on  that  second  day  at  Gettysburg,  and 
while  life  lasts,  will  cherish  my  remembrance  of  the  mag- 
nificent courage  displayed  by  our  command. 

THE  ASSAULT  ON   CEMETEEY  HEIGHTS. 

After  lying  all  day  under  a  July  sun,  suffering  with  in- 
tense heat,  and  continually  annoyed  by  the  enemy's  sharp- 
shooters from  the  heights,  from  sheer  desperation,  we  hailed 
with  delight  the  order  to  again  meet  the  veteran  foe,  regard- 
less of  his  advantage  in  numbers  and  position.  Really,  the 
enemy's  artillery,  reopening  at  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  fell 
like  music  upon  our  ears.  At  the  time  the  assault  was  made, 
the  enemy  had  massed  heavily  in  our  front,  and  placed  bat- 
teries in  the  rear  of  his  own  lines,  which  were  used  with  fear- 
ful effect  against  us,  firing  over  the  heads  of  his  own  men. 
The  ground  we  had  to  pass  over  was  ascending,  but  the  troops 
advanced  in  double  quick  time,  and  with  a  cheer  Avent  over 
the  rifle  pits  in  advance  of  the  enemy's  main  line  of  works, 
killing  and  capturing  a  few  of  them — the  greater  part  taking 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  137 

refuge  behind  the  main  line  of  breastworks.  Here  the  iight- 
ing  was  desperate,  but  like  an  unbroken  wave,  our  maddened 
column  rushed  on,  facing  a  continual  stream  of  fire.  After 
charging  almost  to  the  enemy's  line,  ^ve  Avere  compelled  to  fall 
back,  but  only  a  short  distance.  The  column  reformed  and 
charged  again,  but  failed  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  The  bri- 
gade held  its  ground  with  unyielding  determination — ever 
keeping  afloat  our  flag  to  battle  and  breeze. 

SLAUGHTEH  OF  COLOE  BEAEBRS. 

Four  out  of  five  of  the  color-bearers  who  dared  hold  up  that 
flag,  went  down  to  a  heroic  death.  As  often  as  the  flag 
went  down  it  was  taken  up  and  flaunted  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy,  holding  an  impregnable  position.  The  hour  was  one 
of  horror.  Amid  the  incessant  roar  of  cannon,  the  din  of 
musketry,  and  the  glare  of  bursting  shells  making  the  dark- 
ness intermittent — adding  awf  ulness  to  the  scene — the  hoarse 
shouts  of  friend  and  foe,  the  piteous  cries  of  wounded  and 
dying,  one  could  well  imagine,  (if  it  were  proper  to  say  it), 
that  "war  is  hell."  Further  effort  being  useless,  we  were 
ordered  to  fall  back  a  short  distance  imder  cover.  To  re- 
main was  certain  capture,  to  retreat  was  almost  certain 
death.  Few,  except  the  wounded  and  dead,  were  left 
behind.  Here,  these  brave  North  Carolinians  "stood, 
few  and  faint,  but  fearless  still."  The  enemy  did  not  follow 
or  show  any  disposition  to  leave  their  defences. 

LOSS  OF  OFFICEES  AND  MEN. 

Our  loss  in  officers  and  men  was  great.  All  the  field  offi- 
cers of  the  Twenty-first  were  killed  and  wounded  except  Col- 
onel W.  W.  Kirkland,  who  was  after  this  fight,  promoted  to 
Brigadier-General.  Here  the  lamented  Colonel  Isaac  E. 
Avery,  commanding  the  brigade,  laid  down  his  noble  life  on 
the  altar  of  his  country's  freedom.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ran- 
kin was  badly  wounded  and  left  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
where  he  remained  a  prisoner  throughout  the  war.  It  is  re- 
corded in  Vol.  125,  Official  Records  Umon  and  Confederate 
Armies,     that    Private     Oliver     P.     Rood     was     awarded 


138  North  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

a  medal  for  conspicuous  bravery  in  capturing  a  flag 
of  the  Twenty  first  North  Carolina  Kegiment  in  a  charge 
on  our  lines  at  Gettysburg  3  July.  As  I  have  just 
stated  above,  a  most  frightful  and  determined  conflict 
raged  on  the  night  of  the  2nd.  The  ground  was  strewn 
with  dead  and  wounded.  Man  after  man  went  down, 
among  them  Major  Alexander  Miller,  who  picked  up  the  flag 
after  the  first  color-bearer  fell.  He  soon  shared  the  fate  of 
the  former.  It  was  soon  taken  up  by  J.  W.  Bennett,  Com- 
pany F,  who  was,  also,  in  quick  succession,  shot  down.  The 
colors  were  then  taken  by  the  writer  and  very  soon  after  this, 
we  fell  back  to  the  works,  which  we  had  just  passed  over  a 
few  paces  and  continued  such  a  terrific  fire  upon  the  enemy, 
that  their  rifle  fire  was  completely  silenced,  the  enemy  crouch- 
ing behind  their  works.  About  this  time  Corporal  Eli  Wiley, 
Company  M,  asked  permission  to  take  the  fiag,  saying  he 
did  not  see  it  when  it  fell.  It  was  given  to  him  and  after  the 
writer  had  gone  a  few  paces  along  the  line,  orders  were  given 
to  retire  at  once,  which  was  accomplished  under  a  severe  fusil- 
lade. We  had  retreated  about  twenty-five  yards  when  I  saw 
the  flag  for  the  last  time.  Corporal  Wiley  was  killed,  and 
left,  together  with  the  flag,  in  the  lines  of  the  enemy.  In  the 
darkness  and  confusion  the  flag  was  not  missed  until  we  had 
rallied  under  cover  about  the  distance  of  two  hundred  yards. 
The  enemy  did  not  follow,  or  show  any  disposition  to  do  so, 
as  stated  above.  Soon  all  firing  ceased  and  the  battle  was 
ended.  This  was  2  July,  and  as  Private  Kood  claims  to 
have  captured  the  fiag  in  a  charge  on  our  lines,  3  July,  it  is 
evident  that  he  did  not  capture  the  fiag  in  battle  at  all,  as  our 
regiment  was  not  engaged  after  2  July.  Therefore,  it  is 
conclusive  that  he  picked  up  the  fiag  on  the  battle  field  on  the 
following  day,  the  3rd,  and  it  is  altogether  probable  that  he 
took  the  flag  from  the  body  of  the  dead  hero  who  had  been 
cold  and  stark  in  death  for  many  hours.  The  r-egiment,  bri- 
gade or  corps,  were  not  at  any  time  charged  by  the  enemy. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  charging  was  all  done  by  the  Confed- 
erates and  we  reached  Cemetery  Heights,  taking  possession  of 
their  works,  and  if  the  attack  had  been  pressed  on  our  right, 
the  enemy  could  have  been  prevented  from  concentrating  upon 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  139 

the  brigades  of  Hoke  and  Hayes,  compelling  them  to  retire, 
after  having  victory  in  their  grasp.  Eor  details,  see  Greneral 
Early's  report.  We  do  not  wish  to  detract  from  an  antago- 
nist any  distinction,  but  the  records  should  be  kept  straight. 
4  July  we  left  Gettysburg,  our  division  bringing  up  the 
rear  of  Lee's  army.  Halted  at  Hagerstown  several  days, 
then  retired  across  the  Potomac. 

THE  battle  of  PLYMOtTTH. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Ply- 
mouth, ]Sr.  0.,  20  April,  1864,  where  it  successfully  assaulted 
the  enemy's  fortified  position,  the  entire  garrison  surren- 
dering to  Greneral  Hoke.  The  enemy's  position  here  was  a 
very  strong  one,  protected  by  forts  and  gun  boats.  About 
dark  we  were  ordered  to  make  an  assault  upon  one  of  the 
outer  forts  up  to  which  oiir  brigade  charged,  time  after  time, 
with  persistent  courage  and  stern  detenmination.  In  the 
third  attempt  the  parapet  was  gained.  Here  the  fighting 
was  desperate  and  at  close  quarters  and  deadly — ^waxing 
hotter  from  beginning  to  finish.  The  commander  of  the  fort, 
though  mortally  wounded,  refused  to  surrender,  cursing  his 
lieutenant,  (who  had  assumed  command),  for  hoisting  the 
white  flag  and  surrendering. 

IJSrCinENTS   OF   DAEING   COUEAGE. 

It  was  indeed  a  gallant  defense.  The  Twenty-first  Georgia 
and  Twenty-first  North  Carolina  Regiments,  as  at  the  first  of 
the  war,  again  fought  side  by  side  in  this  fierce  conflict — 
mingling  their  voices  together  in  the  same  deafening  yell  of 
triumph.  Many  of  them  were  stricken  down  on  this  bloody 
field  and  many  of  them  sleep  in  a  common  grave.  In  this 
fight  ofiicers  and  men  in  both  regiments,  vied  with  each  other 
in  deeds  of  unsurpassed  courage.  Where  all  acted  as  heroes, 
it  would  seem  invidious  to  make  any  special  mention  of 
names,  but  I  must  call  attention  to  the  distinguished  and  dar- 
ing courage  of  Captain  James  0.  Blackburn,  Company  G,  and 
Private  Francis  Clinard,  Company  A.  Both  fell  far  in  ad- 
vance of  our  line  in  making  the  assault.     The  command  then 


140  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

laid  down  under  arms,  in  line  of  battle,  among  the  dead  and 
wounded,  hearing  all  night  the  distressing  cries  of  ^  the 
wounded.  Knowing  what  was  before  us,  we  slept  but  little, 
expecting  to  make  an  attack  on  the  main  fort  near  the  town 
early  the  following  day.  But  the  Confederate  ram,  the  "Al- 
bemarle," coming  down  the  Eoanoke  river,  sank  or  ran  off  the 
Federal  gun  boats.  Then,  after  a  brief  and  futile  resistance  to 
our  coanbined  land  and  naval  forces,  the  entire  garrison  sur- 
rendered unconditionally  to  General  Hoke,  who  paid  the  bri- 
gade a  handsome  tribute  by  saying:  "My  men,  my  confi- 
dent expectations  in  you  have  been  fully  realized  in  this 
fight." 

NEW  BEEN  AND  DI!EWEY''s  BLUFF. 

We  then  made  a  forced  march  to  New  Bern,  N.  C,  and 
after  a  fierce  combat,  drove  the  enemy  into  his  fortifications. 
Then  we  were  hurriedly  forwarded  to  Drewry's  Bluff,  where 
the  regiment  again  met  the  veteran  foe  in  another  death  strug- 
gle. The  Federals  were  badly  defeated  and  sent  back  to  the 
protection  of  their  gun  boats  on  James  river.  In  this  bat- 
tle the  regiment  held  its  position  under  very  trying  circum- 
stances, being  flanked  both  right  and  left. 

COLD  HAEBOE. 

3  July,  1864,  engaged  in  the  great  battle  of  Cold  Harbor, 
where  Grant  was  repeatedly  repulsed  with  a  slaughter  never 
equaled.  It  is  said  on  this  occasion  he  lost  10,000  men.  His 
men  sullenly  refused  to  renew  the  charge.  At  this  time  the 
writer  was  in  command  of  the  division  sharpshooters  who 
were  a  considerable  distance  in  front  of  our  works,  the  enemy 
making  a  sharp  attack  on  the  skirmish  line  on  our  right. 
They  began  to  fall  back  when  General  Ramseur  rode  tip  to  me 
and  said:  "Don't  fall  back,  hold  your  position  at  all  haz- 
ards." He  immediately  wheeled  his  horse  and  left.  Just 
then  a  shell  burst  directly  in  front  of  my  horse  over  a  rifle  pit, 
killing  five  men,  among  them  Lieutenant  B.  Y.  Mebane,  of 
the  Sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment.  No  braver  or  truer 
man  ever  went  doAvn  in  battle.     General  Kamseur  then  re- 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

1.  W.  W.  Kirkland,  Colonel.  4.    Alexander  Miller,  Lieut. -Colonel. 

2.  Saunders  Fulton,  Colonel.  B.    W.  J,  Pfohl,  Ma,ior. 

3.  B.  Y.  Graves,  Ijieut.-Oolonel.  6.    James  F.  Beall,  Major. 

7.    W.  G.  Foy,  Ist.  Lieut,  and  Adjutant. 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  141 

appeared,  ordering  me  to  fall  back  at  once.  Turning  to  start 
off  his  horse  tripped  and  fell,  throwing  his  brave  rider  who 
rolled  over  and  over  in  the  dust.  Horse  and  man  seemed 
to  rise  together,  and  went  away  amidst  a  storm  of 
shot  and  bursting  shell.  18  July,  after  a  forced  and  very 
tedious  march,  we  met  Hunter  at  Lynchburg,  who 
had  made  his  murderous  and  marauding  expedition  up  the 
valley,  where  many  a  fair  mansion  fell  before  the  incendi- 
ary fire-brand.  After  a  severe  skirmish,  he  fled  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Kanawha,  W.  Va.  The  regiment  lost  a  few  men  in 
this  fight. 

A  stream  reddened  with  blood. 

Then  began  that  memorable  march  down  the  valley  to 
Washington  City.  9  July  we  engaged  the  enemy  in  the 
battle  of  Monocacy,  Md.,  near  a  railroad  bridge.  The  en- 
emy being  badly  defeated,  fied  to  his  fortifications  around 
Washington.  General  Gordon,  in  his  report  of  this  battle, 
said :  "I  desire  in  this  connection,  to  state  a  fact  of  which  I 
was  an  eye  witness,  and  which,  for  its  rare  occurrence,  and 
the  evidence  it  affords  of  the  sanguinary  character  of  this 
struggle,  I  consider  worthy  of  official  mention.  One  portion 
of  the  enemy's  second  line  extended  along  a  branch,  from 
which  he  was  driven,  leaving  many  dead  and  wounded  in  the 
water  and  upon  its  banks.  So  profuse  was  the  flow  of  blood 
fr^m  the  killed  and  wounded,  that  it  reddened  the  stream  for 
more  than  one  hundred  yards  below." 

AGAIN  AT  WINCHESTER. 

12  July  we  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  severe  skirmish  in 
front  of  Fort  Stephens,  retreating  the  same  night.  19  Sep- 
tember engaged  the  enemy  again  at  Winchester,  after  they  had 
driven  back  in  great  confusion  the  divisions  of  Gordon  and 
Ramseur.  At  no  time  during  the  war  was  the  courage,  en- 
durance and  discipline  of  the  regiment  put  to  a  greater  test 
than  in  this  battle.  Amid  great  confusion,  it  fought  with  a 
desperation  rarely  equaled,  and  by  its  steadiness,  contributed 
largely  in  preventing  a  disastrous  rout.     At  no  time  was  its 


142  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

line  broken.  20  September  engaged  tbe  enemy  at  Fisher's 
Hill,  where  our  entire  command  was  driven  back  in  great 
confusion;  our  division,  in  this  retreat,  again  bringing  up 
the  rear.  This  regiment,  in  retreating  column,  fought  the 
enemy  several  days,  the  enemy  pressing  us  with  great  vigor 
all  the  time.  In  this  retreat,  the  men  suffered  great  fatigue, 
being  poorly  fed  and  clad,  and  miserably  shod.  They  had 
no  change  of  clothes  for  weeks. 

THE  ENEMY  SUEPEISED. 

19  October,  1864,  early  in  the  morning,  under  cover  of 
darkness  and  fog,  we  succeeded  in  surprising  the  enemy,  and 
in  turning  his  left  flank,  capturing  many  pieces  of  artillery 
and  many  prisoners.  The  enemy  fell  back  in  great  confu- 
sion, with  heavy  loss,  but  being  heavily  re-enforced,  rallied, 
and  in  turn  assumed  the  offensive,  and  with  overwhelming 
numbers  made  a  most  furious  assault  on  the  two  divisions  on 
our  left,  crushing  them  in  detail.  Our  division  looked  help- 
lessly on  the  terrible  struggle — having  all  that  we  could  at- 
tend to  in  our  own  front. 

A  TRYING  OEDEAIi. 

During  this  battle,  occurred  one  of  the  most  trying  ordeals 
of  the  writer's  life.  We  were  moving  on  the  enemy,  when 
the  writer  met  his  brother.  Captain  T.  B.  Beall,  of  the  Four- 
teenth North  Carolina  Regiment,  coming  out  desperately 
wounded  through  the  lung,  the  blood  spurting  from  his  breast. 
There  wasn't  time  to  give  him  a  word  of  sympathy,  much  less 
attention,  leaving  him  as  I  then  thought  for  the  last  time  in 
this  world.  He  had  the  good  fortune  soon  after,  to  meet  with 
an  ambulance,  which  took  him  and  the  gallant  Lieutenant  W. 
G.  Foy,  of  the  Twenty-first  North  Carolina  Regiment,  who 
was  also  desperately  wounded,  to  the  field  hospital.  They 
received  immediate  attention,  and  both  finally  recovered,  but 
were  left  more  or  less  disabled  for  life.  In  this  battle  fell  the 
lamented  Eamseur. 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  143 

PRIVATE   JOHNSON^S  HEROIC  DEED. 

Here  I  wish  to  relate  the  heroic  deed  of  Private  Johnson, 
(ambulance  driver).  General  Ramseur  was  seen  to  fall,  and 
Johnson  was  ordered  by  Major  Pfohl  to  go  after  him,  which 
he  did  under  a  terrific  fire.  He  succeeded  in  getting  him, 
but  was  overtaken  and  captured  on  the  retreat.  General  Pe- 
gram  seeing  that  the  day  was  lost  to  the  Confederates,  ordered 
the  division  to  fall  back,  saying :  "Men,  you  must  do  this  in 
order — firing  as  you  retreat,  for  your  own  and  the  army's 
safety  deonand  it."  Never  was  greater  heroism  displayed  by 
both  men  and  officers  than  in  this  terrible  retreat.  Then  the 
enemy,  maddened  by  recent  defeat,  and  fiushed  with  sudden 
victory,  with  their  whole  line  made  a  furious  assault  upon 
our  discomfited  line,  which  was  driven  back  in  great  confu- 
sion. In  our  futile  efforts  to  stem  the  tide  of  battle  that 
threatened  to  overwhelm  us,  we  lost  many  brave  officers  and 
men.  Among  the  killed  was  the  heroic  Pfohl,  commander  of 
the  regiment.  No  man  ever  exhibited  in  such  a  time  greater 
coolness,  skill  and  bravery,  which  excited  the  admiration  of 
his  men.  In  this  fight  near  Strasburg,  Va.,  ended  our  last 
attempt  to  invade  the  North  by  way  of  the  Shenandoah.  Af- 
ter this  battle,  the  writer  assumed  command  of  the  regiment, 
which  he  had  the  honor  to  hold  until  24  March,  1865,  when 
he  was  severely  wounded  at  Petersburg  in  an  assault  on  the 
enemy's  lines. 

at   PETERSBURG. 

The  command  was  then  sent  to  Petersburg,  went  into 
winter  quarters  on  Hatcher's  Run,  where  it  remained  all  win- 
ter, doing  very  fatiguing  picket  duty.  16  February,  1865, 
the  regiment  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  very  fierce  combat  on 
Hatcher's  Run.  It  was  here  Captain  Byrd  Snow  fell  mortally 
wounded.  He  was  in  command  of  the  regiment  during  this 
fight,  as  brave  and  true  a  soldier  as  ever  drew  sword  in  his 
country's  honor.  24  March,  1865,  this  regiment,  the  ad- 
vance of  the  assaulting  column,  successfully  charged  the  en- 
emy's works  between  Fort  Steadman  and  Battery  No.  10. 
Then  turning  right  and  left,  captured  several  pieces  of  ar- 


144  North  Carolina  Troops,  186 J -'65. 

tillery  and  many  prisoners.  When  we  were  ordered  to  re- 
treat, the  enemy's  artillery  fire  was  kept  up  so  continuously, 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  Back  to  our  works.  However, 
we  brought  back  about  all  of  our  regiment  except  the 
wounded.  General  Grant  in  his  report,  claimed  the  Confed- 
erate loss  was  4,000,  but  the  number  of  Confederates  engaged 
was  not  much  more  than  half  that. 

THE   LAST   MAEOH. 

A  few  days  after  this  the  Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  re- 
treated from  Petersburg,  falling  back  about  a  hundred  miles 
or  more,  repeatedly  giving  battle,  but  finally  from  sheer  ex- 
haustion, surrendered  at  Appomattox.  We  did  not  lose  a 
great  many  killed  on  this  march,  but  it  saddens  me  to  think 
that  any  had  to  die,  after  going  through  the  whole  war,  and 
when  so  near  the  end  of  it.  In  this  last  sad  scene  of  the 
war,  the  Twenty-first  JSTorth  Carolina  Eegianent  furled  for- 
ever the  flag  to  which  she  had  added  such  lustre;  to  be  em- 
balmed in  the  affectionate  remembrance  of  those  who  re- 
mained true  to  the  end. 

I   FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

W.  W.  KiEKLAND,  Colonel  commanding,  June,  1861,  pro- 
moted to  Brigadier-General. 

Egbert  F.  Hoke^  Colonel,  promoted  to  Major-General. 

Gaston  Lewis,  Colonel,  promoted  to  Brigadier-General. 

S.  F.  Fulton,  Colonel,  killed. 

James  M.  Leach^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  resigned. 

W.  L.  ScoTT^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  resigned. 

E..  K.  Pepper^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  killed. 

B.  Y.  GeaveSj  Lieutenant-Colonel,  resigned. 

W.  S.  Eankin^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  prisoner. 

Alexander  Miller^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  killed. 

J.  M.  EicHAEDsoN^  Major,  resigned. 

W.  J.  ProHL,  Major,  killed. 

Jambs  F.  Beall,  Major. 

William  Foy^  Adjutant. 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  145 

List  of  Captains  of  Twenty-fikst  North  Carolina 
Regiment — J.  H.  Miller,  Captain  Company  A;  R.  E.  Wil- 
son, Captain  Company  B ;  Byrd  Snow,  Captain  Com- 
pany C ;  R.  A.  Barrow,  Captain  Company  D ;  John 
W.  Beard,  Captain  Company  F;  Thos.  B.  Gentry,  Cap- 
tain Company  G;  James  H.  Jones,  Captain  Company  H; 
Matthew  C.  Moore,  Captain  Company  I ;  John  L.  Pratt,  Cap- 
tain Company  K ;  John  E.  Gilmer,  Captain  Company  M. 

Note. — The  loss  of  this  regiment  in  killed,  wounded  and 
dead  was  at  least  75  per  cent,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  the  war.  Forty  or  more  combats  and  skirmishes  of  no 
minor  importance  are  not  included  in  this  sketch  and  many 
incidents  both  instructive  and  amusing,  might  be  given  which 
would  extend  this  paper  to  a  much  greater  length,  but  the 
long  list  of  names  of  wounded  and  killed  speak  more  elo- 
quently than  tongue  of  the  service  of  this  regiment.  I  have 
avoided  speaking  of  incidents  connected  with  other  com- 
mands, but  have  endeavored  to  confine  myself  to  the  deeds 
of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  only.  I  have  written  what  I 
saw  or  knew  of  my  own  personal  knowledge  and  from  infor- 
mation received  from  reliable  and  official  sources. 

Special  Mention. — Matthew  Chamberlain,  private, 
Twenty-first  North  Carolina  Regiment,  Stokes  county,  never 
had  a  furlough,  never  ^missed  a  battle  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged,  never  received  a  wound.  He  died  in  1896. 
Strange  to  say  there  is  no  report  of  Company  L  in 
Moore's  Roster. 

The  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Logan  T.  Whitlock,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  sharpshooters  at  the  battle 
of  Plymouth,  cannot  be  too  highly  commended,  and 
should  not  be  omitted.  It  was  ascertained  that  to  make  an 
assault  upon  the  main  fort  the  command  would  have  to  charge 
across  a  perfectly  level  and  open  field,  which  could  not  be 
done  without  great  loss.  At  this  critical  time,  where  "to  hes- 
itate was  to  be  lost,"  Whitlock  volunteered  to  reconnoitre 
within  the  enemies  lines.     He  foiind  that  he  could  go  into  the 

10 


146  North  Carolina  Troops,  l861-'65. 

town  and  get  behind  and  close  up  to  the  enemy's  fortifica- 
tions by  crawling  along  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  brigade 
followed  Whitlock  and  his  sharpshooters.  After  coming 
into  position,  near  the  fort,  the  attack  was  made  and  with  the 
help  of  the  Confederate  Earn  "Albemarle,"  the  enemy  imme- 
diately surrendered. 

I  wish  to  recall  another  incident  worthy  of  observation  of 
all  ages.  Lieutenant  P.  A.  Oaks  lost  his  arm  at  Cold  Har- 
bor. Some  months  after,  he  caane  to  the  regiment  at  Fisher's 
Hill.  When  he  arrived,  the  regiment  was  on  the  line  and 
under  fire,  and  against  the  appeals  of  officers  and  men,  he 
persisted  in  going  into  the  fight.  After  fighting  all  the  even- 
ing he  was  finally  shot  through  the  left  breast.  In  a  month 
or  so  Oaks  was  back  with  his  regiment  again,  saying  it  was 
too  lonesome  to  stay  at  home.  The  night  before  we  engaged 
the  enemy  in  the  battles  around  Richmond,  Private  H.  C. 
Walser,  who  was  less  than  18  years  old,  had  his  foot  and  ankle 
badly  scalded.  He  was  left  in  camp,  excused  by  the  surgeon, 
but  soon  after  the  firing  commenced,  Walser  made  his  ap- 
pearance bare-footed  and  went  through  the  whole  battle,  in 
bamboo  briers  and  mud  and  water  up  to  his  knees. 

In  conclusion,  I  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  an  extract 
from  an  address  made  by  Colonel  Chas.  S.  Venable,  of  Gen- 
eral Lee's  staff:  "Comrades!  we  need  not  weave  any  fable, 
borrowed  from  Scandinavian  lore  into  the  woof  of  our  his- 
tory, to  inspire  our  youth  with  admiration  of  glorious  deeds 
in  freedom's  battles  done !  In  the  true  history  of  this  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia  which  laid  down  its  arms — not  con- 
quered, but  wearied  with  victory,  you  have  a  record  of 
deeds  of  valor,  of  unselfish  consecration  to  duty,  and  faith- 
fulness in  death  which  will  teach  our  sons,  and  son's  sons  how 
to  die  for  liberty.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  it  shall  be  transmitted 
to  them."  James  F.  Be  all. 

LiNWOOD,   N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


TWBNTY-PIEST  REGIMENT. 

1.  Samuel  0.  James,  Captain,  Co.  D.  4.    John  W.  Miller,  Captain,  Co.  D. 

2.  J.  H.  Miller,  Captain,  Co.  A.  5.    L.  T.  "Whitlock,  Ist  Lieut.,  Co.  C. 

3.  J.  E.  Gilmer,  Captain,  Co.  M.  6.    J.  D.  McTver,  Sergeant,  Co.  A. 

7.    J.  O.  Blackburn,  Captain,  Co.  G. 


ADDITIONAL  SKETCH  TVENTT-FIRST 
KEQIMENT. 


By  lieutenant  L.  E.  POWERS,  Company  A. 


BATTLE   OF  PORT  EEP0BLIO. 

Shields  occupied  a  coinmanding  position.  He  had  a  six- 
gun  battery  on  a  plateau  of  the  mountain  that  could  sweep 
the  whole  field  to  the  river,  and  there  was  no  way  to  approach 
him  without  coming  within  its  galling  range.  It  was  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  that  battery  should  be  silenced,  and  the 
only  way  to  do  so  was  to  walk  up  to  it  and  take  it.  With  this 
battery  in  our  hands,  Jackson  made  short  work  of  Shields. 
His  army  was  soon  routed  and  nearly  all  captured,  which  left 
us  with  that  side  of  the  river  clear  of  foes  and  in  peaceful 
possession  of  the  bridge.  Jackson  had  left  nearly  all  of  Ew- 
ell's  Division,  and  perhaps  part  of  the  old  division,  confront- 
ing Fremont,  who,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  we  were  fighting 
Shields,  made  an  attack  on  Ewell  and  was  repulsed  at  every 
point.  It  was  in  this  engagement  with  Fremont  that  I  saw  a 
whole  regiment  annihilated  at  a  single  fire.  It  was  the  Sev- 
enth ISTew  York,  composed  of  freshly  imported  Germans  who 
could  scarcely  speak  the  English  language  intelligibly.  They 
were  so  foolish  as  to  attempt  to  march  through  an  open  clover 
field  to  a  body  of  timber  within  our  lines,  with  no  sharp  shoot- 
ers in  front  to  locate  our  position.  Two  regiments  of  my 
brigade,  the  Twenty-first  Georgia  and  Sixteenth  Mississippi, 
were  posted  behind  a  fence  that  ran  along  the  edge  of  this 
woods.  There  was  a  large  hollow  in  the  clover  field  just  in 
front  of  our  position,  behind  the  fence.  -The  Germans  came 
marching  across  the  clover  field  in  beautiful  line,  carrying 
their  guns  at  "support  arms."  The  Colonel  walking  back- 
wards in  front  of  them,  seeing  that  they  preserved  a  perfect 
alignment  just  as  though  they  were  simply  drilling.  The 
Georgians  and  Mississippians  were  lying  fiat  on  the  ground, 


148  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

with  their  guns  in  the  bottom  crack  of  the  fence.  When  the 
Germans  got  in  the  hollow  above-mentioned,  they  could  not 
be  seen ;  but  when  they  crossed  it  and  came  into  view  again, 
they  were  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fence.  Colonel  Mercer, 
of  the  Twenty-first  Georgia,  who  was  commanding  this  de- 
tachment, sent  an  order  down  the  line  that  if  any  man  fired 
before  he  gave  orders  to  fire,  he  would  have  him  shot.  As  the 
Germans  came  up  out  of  the  hollow,  their  flag  and  that  of  the 
Georgians  exactly  confronted  each  other  This  gave  the  Mis- 
sissippians  an  enfilading,  or  raking  fire.  The  men  had  their 
sights  drawn  and  their  fingers  on  the  triggers,  and  in  a  quiver 
of  excitement  they  saw  the  Germans  coming  up  out  of  the 
hollow  and  waited  for  the  order  to  fire.  Colonel  Mercer 
made  them  hold  their  fire  until  they  could  be  seen  from  their 
feet  up.  Our  men  had  a  full,  clear  view,  a  lying  down  rest 
and  an  unobstructed  range  of  not  more  than  forty  yards. 
When  the  order  "Fire !"  rang  out  from  Mercer,  a  volley  from 
a  thousand  guns  sounded  in  the  air,  and  a  thousand  bullets 
flew  to  their  deadly  work.  The  poor  Germans  fell  all  across 
each  other  in  piles. 

ON"   TO   EICHMOND. 

We  pushed  on  up  the  Valley  until  we  struck  the  Virginia 
Central  Railroad,  where  we  found  a  lot  of  trains  of  cars 
awaiting  us.  So  actively  had  this  march  been  conducted, 
that  not  a  person  along  our  route  knew  that  Jackson  was 
moving  until  they  saw  the  army  marching  by.  We  were  packed 
in  and  on  the  cars  almost  like  sardines  in  a  box,  and  went 
whirling  through  the  great  Blue  Eidge  tunnel  on  to  Rich- 
mond, or  as  near  Richmond  as  it  was  advisable  to  go,  and 
tumbled  out  of  the  cars,  straightened  out  our  limbs  and  took 
up  the  march  for  McClellan's  rear. 

BATTTLE  OF   COLD  HAEBOE. 

The  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  in  which  we  were  engaged  the 
next  day,  27  June,  was  a  desperate  and  bloody  one.  I  was 
still  serving  on  the  ambulance  corps  and  had  heavy  work  car- 
rying the  wounded  back  to  the  field  hospital,  where  the  field 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  149 

Burgeons  would  dress  their  wounds  or  amputate  their  limhs, 
as  might  be  necessary.  One  of  the  finest  and  most  efficient 
surgeons  of  the  whole  army  was  Dr.  Tanner,  a  citizen  of  Fair- 
fax County,  Virginia,  who  was  assigned  to  our  regiment  and 
served  with  it  nearly  all  the  war.  He  had  improvised  a 
rough  table,  or  couch,  with  a  blanket  spread  over  it,  upon 
which  we  would  lay  the  wounded  men,  and  his  quick  trained 
eye  soon  discovered  whether  amputation  was  necessary  or  not. 
With  his  sleeves  rolled  up  to  his  shoulders,  he  stood  at  that 
table  and  amputated  feet  and  legs,  and  hands  and  arms, 
throwing  them  on  a  blanket  spread  on  the  ground,  until  there 
were  as  many  as  four  men  could  carry  off  and  bury.  It  was 
necessary  to  carry  off  this  blanket  full  several  times  during 
the  day.  Under  the  influence  of  chloroform  some  of  the  poor 
fellows  stormed  and  swore;  some  would  sing,  while  others 
would  lie  still  and  quiet,  as  the  scalpel  and  saw  did  their  work. 
*  *  *  This  was  the  opening  of  a  series  of  desperate  and 
bloody  battles,  known  in  history  as  the  "Seven  Days'  Battle," 
between  McClellan  and  Lee,  near  the  city  of  Richmond,  in 
which  the  former,  with  a  well  fortified  position  and  well 
equipped  army,  vastly  outnumbering  that  of  Lee,  was  driven 
from  his  fortifications  and  beaten  back  to  the  sheltering  pro- 
tection of  a  strong  array  of  marshaled  Fleets  and  forced  to 
abandon  the  siege  of  a  city  he  had  commenced  and  conducted 
with  so  much  eclat,  lii  this  series  of  battles  there  was  so  much 
fighting,  so  much  charging  and  so  many  thrilling  incidents 
and  displays  of  personal  and  individual  courage,  that  I  pass 
over  them,  not  having  a  sufficiently  clear  recollection  at  this 
time  to  relate  them  in  detail. 

BRAGGART  POPE. 

We  did  not  remain  long  in  this  camp.  In  fact,  no  part  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  had  much  rest  at  any  time 
during  the  active  and  bloody  year  of  1862.  The  armies  of 
Fremont,  Banks  and  Shields,  whom  we  had  so  roughly  han- 
dled in  the  Valley  a  short  time  previous,  had  been  united 
and  formed  an  invading  column  under  the  braggart,  Pope, 
who  declared  that  the  only  part  of  a  rebel  he  had  ever  seen 
was  his  back,  issuing  his  orders  from  headquarters  in  the  sad- 


150  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

die,  which  would  seem  to  boast,  "I  am  going  to  do  something. 
I  am." 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN. 

Learning  of  the  advance  of  this  column,  we  broke  camp  at 
Gordonsville  and  marched  to  meet  it,  determined  that 
Pope  should  see  our  faces  when  we  met.  We  en- 
countered our  friend  and  commissary,  Banks,  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  where  we  were  so  persistent  in  present- 
ing our  faces  to  view  that  this  part  of  Pope's  army 
soon  presented  us  a  brief  view  of  their  backs  and  disappeared. 
In  this  battle  I  obtained  the  finest  view  of  an  en- 
gagement I  ever  had.  Cedar  Mountain  is  an  isolated  knob 
with  a  broad,  open  country  all  around  it.  From  this  elevated 
position  we  could  plainly  see  the  two  lines  approach,  and 
when  they  opened  fire  and  engaged  in  deadly  strife,  how  my 
heart  ached  for  the  result  as  I  looked  upon  this  living  pano- 
rama of  war,  with  the  greatest  possible  anxiety  for  the  suc- 
cess of  our  men.  As  long  as  they  stood  and  fired  at  each 
other  the  result  was  in  great  dotibt ;  but  when  our  men  raised 
the  "Rebel  Yell,"  and  swept  down  among  them  in  an  old- 
fashioned  Confederate  charge,  that  settled  it.  The  Federals 
were  swept  from  the  field  and  driven  off  in  confusion,  and 
Banks  was  made  to  honor  another  requisition  from  Jackson 
on  his  commissary  department. 

It  having  been  definitely  ascertained  that  the  army  of  Mc- 
Clellan  was  being  withdrawn  from  the  Peninsula  and  sent  to 
Pope,  General  Lee  began  to  transfer  his  army  to  the  fields  of 
Northern  Virginia  again.  Jackson  began  one  of  his  favorite 
movements  to  turn  Pope's  flank  and  get  into  his  rear.  To  do 
this,  we  had  to  make  a  detour  of  sixty  or  seventy  miles,  sweep- 
ing around  close  to  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge  so  as  to  turn 
his  right  flanlc.  The  march  was  a  forced  and  vigorous  one, 
so  as  to  execute  the  movement  before  Pope  could  be  apprised 
of  our  purpose.  While  marching  up  a  river  and  about  a 
mile  from  it,  a  regiment  of  the  enemy  crossed  over, 
threw  out  a  line  of  sharpshooters  and  began  to  reconnoiter 
our  columns.  They  supposed,  no  doubt,  that  it  was  Mosby 
with  his  little  battalion  of  bush-whackers,  hanging  on  their 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  151 

flanks  and  annoying  them,  as  was  his  custom,  and  they  would 
run  him  off  before  he  could  do  them  any  mischief.  They 
struck  our  column  at  our  brigade.  We  quickly  faced  into 
line  and  charged  them,  running  them  back  to  the  river,  into 
which  they  plunged  precipitately  as  they  came  to  it.  We 
rushed  down  to  the  bank  and  found  the  river  full  of  Federals, 
struggling  to  reach  the  other  bank,  where  many  were  climbing 
up  out  of  the  river.  We  paid  no  attention  to  those  in  the 
water,  it  being  such  a  fair  and  tempting  shot  at  those  climb- 
ing the  other  bank.  We  were  rolling  them  back  in  the  river 
at  a  fearful  rate  when  we  were  ordered  to  join  the  column 
and  resume  the  march.  We  resumed  our  march  and 
pressed  forward  with  all  the  speed  we  could  make.  So  rap- 
idly did  we  move  from  place  to  place,  always  turning  up  at 
a  place  entirely  unexpected  by  the  enemy,  that  we  were 
known  as  "Jackson's  Foot  Cavalry."  In  fact,  we  could  on 
long  marches  outmarch  the  cavalry  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  war.'  They  cotild  ride  off  from  us  for  the  first  few  days, 
but  their  horses  being  thin,  would  soon  become  jaded  and  we 
would  overtake  them  and  march  on  by  them  in  a  week's  time. 
We  made  a  complete  success  of  turning  Pope's  flank  and 
marched  around  into  his  rear.  We  struck  the  raih'oad  at  a 
place  called  Brandy  Station,  distant  only  three  or  four  miles 
from  Manassas  Junction,  at  about  11  o'clock  at  night.  We 
had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes  when  we  heard  the  whistle 
of  a  train  in  the  direction  of  Pope's  army,  and  discovered  it 
was  coming  toward  us.  We  tried  to  tear  up  a  rail  from  the 
track  but  did  not  succeed  before  the  train  came  thundering 
by.  We  fired  a  volley  into  it  as  it  sped  towards  Manassas 
Junction.  Soon  we  heard  another  whistle  coming  from  the 
same  direction.  This  time  we  succeeded  in  getting  some 
rails  up  and  turned  them  so  as  to  cause  the  engine  to  jump 
the  track  down  a  steep  embankment.  We  then  moved  iip  the 
road  a  short  distance,  and  as  it  came  by  we  fired  a  volley  into 
it.  The  engineer  pulled  the  throttle  wide  open  and  gave  his 
engine  all  the  steam.  When  it  struck  the  turned  rails,  it 
jumped  clear  out  from  the  rails  and  buried  itself  in  the  earth 
at  the  foot  of  the  embankment.  The  cars  tumbled  into  piles, 
leaving  not  more  than  half  the  train  standing  on  the  track. 


152  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Soon  we  heard  another  whistle,  and  moving  up  the  road, 
greeted  the  train  with  a  volley  as  it  passed.  The  engineer 
did  as  the  other,  giving  it  all  the  speed  he  could,  out  about 
half  way  through  the  cars  standing  on  the  track,  scattering 
them  in  all  directions  and  doubling  up  his  own  train  into  a 
jumbled  mass.  Soon  we  heard  the  whistle  of  another  train, 
and  treating  it  as  we  had  the  others,  drove  it  headlong  into 
the  mass  of  wreckage  that  already  encumbered  the  track. 
This  was  the  last  one  to  come  down,  and  we  had  three  long 
trains  piled  up  in  a  mass  of  wreckage  on  the  track.  They 
were  all  long  trains  of  empty  box  ears,  filled  up  with  rough, 
board  seats,  and  were  transporting  McClellan's  troops  to 
Pope.  The  first  engine  we  ditched  was  called  "The  Presi- 
dent," and  had  a  very  fair  picture  of  President  Lincoln 
painted  on  the  steam  dome,  with  one  of  our  bullet  holes 
through  his  head. 

If  we  had  struck  the  trains  going  the  other  way,  they  woTild 
have  been  full  of  troops,  and  we  would  have  made  a  big  haul 
of  prisoners.  The  first  train  that  succeeded  in  passing  us  re- 
ported at  the  junction,  where  there  was  a  company  of  artillery 
that  Mosby's  gang  had  fired  on  it  as  it  passed  Brandy  Sta- 
tion and  they  might  look  out  for  an  attack  before  day.  But 
for  this  warning,  we  would  have  caught  the  artillerymen  in 
their  beds. 

My  regiment  was  sent  forward  to  capture  the  junction, 
which  we  reached  about  1  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  artil- 
lerymen, warned  by  the  train  that  escaped  us,  had  their  guns 
loaded  with  grape  shot  and  canister  and  were  in  position  wait- 
ing for  us.  Grape  shot  are  iron  balls  about  the  size  of  mar- 
bles, and  a  12-pound  gun  is  loaded  with  about  a  half  gallon  of 
them.  Canister  is  a  tin  can  about  the  size  of  a  three-po\ind 
tomato  can,  sealed  up  full  of  musket  balls  loaded  into  the 
cannon  that  way.  When  fired,  the  can  is  torn  to  pieces  and 
the  bullets  scatter  out.  Marching  up  to  cannon  loaded  with 
grape  and  canister  is  rough  medicine,  but  soldiers  some  limes 
have  to  take  it.  We  approached  the  station  as  silently  and 
stealthily  as  we  could  and  succeeded  in  covering  behind  some 
box  cars  standing  on  the  track.  We  were  wanting  them  to 
fire,  knowing  they  would  get  a  shot  any  way,  but  we  were 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  153 

dreading  the  fire  at  the  same  time.  They  held  their  fire 
until  we  got  within  a  hundred  yards,  but  we  could  not  see 
them  well  enough  to  shoot  them,  and  they  were  waiting  to  see 
us  plainly.  Finally  we  made  such  a  noise  among  the  cars 
they  thought  we  were  charging,  and  fired  all  four  of  their 
guns.  Fortunately  for  us,  their  aim  in  the  darkness  was 
bad.  Their  grape  shot  and  bullets  went  whistling  over  our 
heads,  and  no  one  was  hurt.  This  was  the  opportuuity  we 
were  wishing  for.  Their  guns  were  now  empty  and  we  were 
careful  not  to  give  them  time  to  load  again.  With  a  quick 
dash  we  were  soon  among  them  and  made  them  all  prisoners 
before  they  could  reload  their  guns.  Having  secured  our 
prisoners  and  arranged  for  their  safe  keeping,  we  laid  down 
and  slept  soundly  until  next  morning. 

SECOND  BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS. 

The  large  warehouse  full  of  rations  that  we  had  burned 
about  six  months  before,  had  been  rebuilt  and  was  full  of 
army  supplies,  this  point  being  used  as  Pope's  base.  It  will 
be  observed  that  Jackson,  with  his  corps  only,  was  square  in 
the  rear  of  Pope's  army,  which  consisted  of  the  united  forces 
of  Banks,  Fremont  and  Shields,  with  heavy  reinforcements 
from  McClellan's  army.  All  this  force  was  between  us  and 
the  main  body  of  our  army.  In  addition  to  this,  on  the  other 
side  of  us  and  not  far  off,  was  the  main  body  of  McClellan's 
great  army,  pressing  up  from  Acquia  creek  to  join  Pope.  We 
were  exactly  between  these  two  great  armies  and  completely 
cut  off  from  our  friends,  and  it  looked  as  though  they  only 
had  to  move  together  and  crush  us  with  their  mighty  weight. 
The  men  as  well  as  the  generals  knew  that  our  position  was 
an  extremely  critical  one,  but  not  one  of  us  had  any  fears  of 
being  crushed  or  captured.  That  Jackson  was  with  us  and 
could  lead  us  out,  was  felt  and  expressed.  If  our  friends 
could  not  reach  us  before  this  great  anaconda  closed  around 
us,  we  knew  that  Jackson  would  concentrate  his  strength  on 
some  weak  point  and  cut  his  way  through  and  walk  off  where 
he  pleased.  We  all  felt  we  were  able  to  do  that  in  a  great 
emergency.     We  filled  our  haversacks  and  loaded  our  wagons 


154  North  Carolina  Troops,  ,  1861-'65. 

as  well  as  several  others,  that  we  captured  at  the  junction, 
with  Federal  rations,  again  drawing  on  our  good  commissary, 
Banks,  for  supplies.  We  then  applied  the  torch  to  the  re- 
mainder, again  burning  down  Manassas  warehouse  full  of 
provisions.  Pope  now  realizing  the  situation,  began  to  press 
down  upon  us  with  the  view  of  crushing  us  before  Lee  could 
send  us  any  assistance.  We  simply  moved  out  a  few  miles 
from  the  junction  and  took  position  on  a  part  of  the  ground 
on  which  the  famous  battle  of  Bull  Eun  was  fought  a  little 
more  than  a  year  previous.  The  lines,  however,  were  nearly 
at  a  right  angle  to  those  of  the  previous  battle,  as  we  were 
being  approched  from  a  different  direction.  Pope  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  place  a  force  at  each  of  the  mountain  passes 
to  prevent  reinforcements  from  reaching  us,  and  began  to 
press  us  with  his  whole  army,  making  the  attack  on  29  Au- 
gust. This  was  the  famous  "Second  Battle  of  Manassas," 
and  was  one  of  the  most  stubbornly  fought  battles  of  the  war. 
Jackson  had  only  his  own  corps  during  this  first  day's  fight  to 
withstand  the  surging  mass  of  Federals  that  was  hurled 
against  him.  But  this  he  did  in  true  Stonewall  style,  beating 
them  back  and  holding  our  position  throughout  the  day.  In 
the  meantime  Longstreet  was  hastening  with  all  possible 
speed  to  our  assistance,  and  when  he  came  to  the  mountain 
gap  through  which  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  pass  in  order 
to  reach  us,  he  did  not  permit  the  force  guarding  it  to  be  any 
obstacle  in  his  way.  He  simply  ran  over  them  with  his  old 
veterans.  He  reached  us  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  30th, 
and  was  beating  back  Pope's  left  wing  before  that  General 
knew  he  had  crossed  the  mountains.  On  the  morning  of  the 
30th  Pope  hurled  his  forces  against  us  with  the  evident  in- 
tention of  crushing  us  before  other  help  could  reach  us,  and 
it  is  doubtful  if  he  yet  knew  that  Longstreet  was  there  wait- 
ing for  him.  He  (Pope)  had  still  been  further  reinforced 
from  McOlellan's  army  and,  no  doubt,  felt  able  to  run  over 
us.  During  this  day  some  of  the  hardest  fighting  that  had 
occurred  thus  far  was  had.  On  one  occasion  the  hostile 
forces  met  at  a  railroad  fill  and  fought  desperately  by  throw- 
ing stones  across  the  fill  at  each  other,  neither  side  daring  to 
cross  it  to  the  other. 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  155 

We  struck  the  enemy  in  a  gully,  or  branch,  that  ran  along 
a  hollow.  We  came  to  a  fence  on  the  ridge  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant  that  seemed  to  run  parallel  with  the  enemy's 
position.  We  halted  at  this  fence  and  quickly  tore  it  down 
and  piled  the  rails  in  front.  It  offered  us  good  protection, 
where  we  lay  down  on  the  ground.  We  opened  fire  on  the  en- 
emy, but  it  soon  became  so  dark  that  we  could  not  see  the  en- 
enemy's  position,  but  we  would  fire  at  the  fiashes  of  their 
guns,  as  I  suppose  they  would  fire  at  our  flashes.  We  re- 
ceived orders  at  one  time  to  charge  the  enemy,  and  started  to 
do  so,  but  did  not  go  many  steps  before  we  were  ordered  to 
halt  and  lie  down  again.  Our  regiment  was  commanded  by 
the  gallant  Colonel  Fulton,  of  Stokes  County.  It  was  during 
this  little  advance  that  he  fell  at  my  side,  falling  against  me, 
shot  through  and  killed  outright.  We  slept  on  our  arms, 
expecting  to  renew  the  battle  at  daylight,  but  when  morning 
came  the  Federals  were  gone.  We  followed  up  the  retreat- 
ing enemy  until  he  was  safely  back  in  the  fortifications 
around  Washington.  General  Pope  had  for  once,  at  least, 
seen  the  rebels  faces  and  had  been  forced,  very  reluctantly,  no 
doubt,  to  show  them  his  back.  So  great  was  his  mortification 
after  all  of  his  intemperate  boasting  that  as  soon  as  he  had 
his  army  safely  behind  the  great  fortifications  of  Washing- 
ton he  resigned  his  commission  and  we  never  heard  anything 
more  of  Pope.  All  the  great  and  well  equipped  armies 
that  had  entered  Virginia  so  cheerily  in  the  early  Spring,  and 
marched  on  to  Richmond,  the  Confederate  Capital,  confident 
of  its  capture,  found  themselves  hurled  back  and  cooped  up 
in  the  fortifications  around  their  own  Capital  and  engaged 
in  its  defence. 

THE   CAPTUEE  OF  HAEPEE''s  FEEEY. 

One  the  morning  of  the  15  th,  having  everything  ready,  we 
opened  a  merciless  fire  upon  the  doomed  garrison.  From 
high  up,  almost  over  their  heads  and  from  every  side,  came 
the  shower  of  shells  pouring  in  upon  them,  from  which  their 
fortifications  afforded  no  protection.  In  our  immediate 
front,  the  ground  was  comparatively  level,  or  rather  it  was  not 


156  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

so  mountainous,  and  on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  the  enemy  had  a 
strong  line  of  entrenchments  heavily  manned.  General  Jack- 
son and  staff  were  sitting  on  their  horses  near  my  regiment's 
position,  watching  the  effect  of  the  bombardment.  A  battery 
of  artillery  on  our  right,  I  think  it  was  Little  Lattimore's, 
that  was  playing  on  the  enemy's  line,  limbered  and  galloped 
to  the  front,  took  a  new  position  on  a  hill  in  two  or  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy  and  fired  as  rapidly  as  I  ever 
saw  artillery  handled  in  my  life.  It  was,  in  fact,  an  ar- 
tillery charge.  Presently  we  saw  Jackson  turn  to  his  cour- 
iers and  speak  a  few  words  to  them  and  immediately  they 
went  galloping  off  to  the  different  divisions.  Our  hearts 
trembled.  We  knew  the  orders  those  couriers  were  carrying. 
It  was  the  order  for  a  general  and  simultaneous  charge  all 
along  the  line.  The  bristling  line  of  bayonets  behind  strong 
fortifications,  was  a  dangerous  thing  to  approach  and  we 
knew  that  many  of  us  would  fall  before  we  could  hope  to 
scale  its  ramparts  and  beat  back  its  defenders.  But  while 
we  were  bracing  our  nerves  in  solemn  dread  for  the  deadly 
encounter,  a  thing  occurred  that  sent  a  thrill  of  joy  to  every 
heart.  On  the  enemy's  works,  in  plain  view,  was  unfurled 
and  fluttered  out  in  the  breeze,  the  white  flag  of  peace.  The 
enemy  had  surrendered.  Cheer  after  cheer  rent  the  air.  We 
had  now  accomplished  the  object  of  our  recent  campaign  and 
supposed  we  would  go  into  camp  and  have  a  rest,  but  to  our 
surprise,  three  days'  rations  were  issued  with  orders  to  cook 
them  and  be  ready  to  march  by  2  o'clock.  Jackson  did  not 
even  take  time  to  receive  the  surrender,  but  left  that  honor  to 
A.  P.  Hill,  and  when  the  sun  went  down  on  that  victorious 
day  we  were  many  miles  away  retracing  our  steps  over  the 
same  route  we  had  come.  We  had  been  on  a  forced  march 
for  some  days  and  in  line  of  battle  all  the  night  previous,  fre- 
quently shifting  from  one  position  to  another,  so  that  but  lit- 
tle sleep  or  rest  could  be  obtained  and  now  we  had  to  march 
all  night,  hastening  to  join  Lee,  who  was  in  danger  of  being 
attacked  by  the  united  armies  of  McClellan. 

Two  or  three  miles  from  the  ford,  near  a  small  town  called 
Sharpsburg,  we  found  the  army  in  line  of  battle  with  the 
sharpshooters  of  the  two  armies  popping  away  at  each  other. 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  157 

I  soon  found  my  regiment  in  line,  taking  what  rest  and  sleep 
they  could,  while  awaiting  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  During 
the  remainder  of  the  day  there  was  very  little  fighting,  both 
armies  manoeuvering  for  position.  That  night  we  slept  on 
our  arms  in  line  of  battle.  We  were  so  exhausted,  not  having 
camped  for  three  or  four  days  and  nights  previous,  that  as 
soon  as  we  could  get  still  we  were  asleep,  depending  on  the 
sharpshooters  in  front  to  apprise  us  of  the  approach  of  the 
enemy.  Next  morning  we  repulsed  an  assault  by  the  enemy 
in  heavy  force.  After  waiting  for  some  time  and  seeing 
no  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  make  a  fur- 
ther advance  upon  us,  who  rather  seemed  to  enjoy  standing 
there  and  shooting  at  us  while  we  lay  still  and  took  it  with- 
out molesting  them,  we  concluded  to  take  part  in  the  play. 
We  had  a  decided  advantage  of  position,  in  that  we  were 
lying  flat  behind  a  fence  and  could  not  be  seen,  while  they 
stood  upright  in  the  open  ground  and  could  be  seen  from 
their  feet  up,  giving  us  their  full  length  at  which  we  could 
take  deliberate  and  careful  aim.  The  distance  between  us 
was  about  300  yards,  which  is  close  and  easy  range  for  the 
good  Enfield  rifles  with  which  we  were  now  armed.  When 
the  "Ready"  came,  every  man  lying  flat  on  his  stomach,  with 
the  muzzle  of  his  gun  through  the  crack  of  the  fence,  took 
careful  aim  and  when  the  order  "Fire"  rang  out  on  the  air, 
a  sheet  of  flame  shot  out  from  the  fence  up  and  down  its 
entire  length,  and  a  line  of  bullets  on  the  wings  of  lightning 
sped  over  the  bosom  of  the  fleld  on  their  hurried  mission  of 
death.  When  the  smoke  lifted,  which  it  quickly  did,  it  could 
be  plainly  seen  that  the  line,  so  dark  and  full  when  our 
fingers  pressed  the  triggers,  was  now  full  of  long,  open  gaps, 
and  staggering  under  the  shock  of  the  fire. 

Then  came  the  order  "Forward,  charge !"  Over  the  fence 
we  sprang  and  raising  the  yell,  as  the  enemy  called  it,  went 
at  them  with  all  speed. 

In  this  charge  the  Color-Sergeant,  whose  name  was  Ryer- 
son,  I  think,  did  a  heroic  thing.  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  be  pos- 
itive about  his  name,  as  he  was  a  member  of  another  com- 
pany. He  ran  ahead  of  the  advancing  line  to  within  100 
yards  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  (which  had  been  rein- 


158  North  Carolina  Troops,   1801-65. 

forced  by  a  fresh  line)  and  jumping  upon  a  stump,  waved  tlie 
flag  defiantly  at  the  enemy,  making  himself  a  most  conspicu- 
ous target  for  their  marksmen.  Of  course,  he  could  not 
have  lived  many  seconds  on  that  stump,  but  his  brilliant 
dash  had  an  inspiring  influence  on  our  entire  line,  which, 
raising  the  "Rebel  Yell,"  rushed  with  such  impetuosity  upon 
the  enemy  that  they  were  quickly  driven  from  the  field  and 
the  gallant  Sergeant,  amid  the  cheers  of  his  comrades,  de- 
scended from  the  stump  unharmed.  History  loves  to  dwell 
upon  the  gallant  act  of  Sergeant  Jasper,  in  climbing  the  flag- 
staff under  the  enemy's  bombardment,  and  restoring  to  its 
place  the  flag  that  had  been  shot  down  at  Fort  Moultrie,  but 
Sergeant  Jasper's  act  was  one  of  prudence  and  safety,  com- 
pared with  the  rashness  and  peril  of  that  of  Sergeant  Kyer- 
son. 

BATTLE  OF  FEEDEEICKSBTJEG. 

On  13  December  the  enemy  opened  the  battle,  moving  a 
heavy  force  against  our  lines  near  Hamilton's  Crossing,  where 
Jackson's  Corps  was  posted,  with  himself  in  personal  com- 
mand. They  made  a  bold  rush  upon  us,  but  we  met  them 
with  such  a  storm  of  shell  and  canister  and  bullets  that  they 
were  soon  driven  back.  There  was  a  place  where  our  lines 
did  not  connect  and  a  column  of  the  enemy  penetrated  this 
gap  and  gained  the  crest  of  the  hills;  but  we  had  a  reserve 
line  which  raised  the  "Rebel  Tell,"  and  charged  upon  them 
and  sent  them  flying  down  the  hills  again.  In  their  retreat  a 
large  number  of  the  enemy  took  shelter  in  a  railroad  cut  that 
ran  along  the  foot  of  the  hills  and  our  pursuing  line  charged 
right  on  over  them,  leaving  them  in  the  rear,  while  it  pursued 
the  others  out  in  the  open  plain  beyond.  In  returning  to  the 
lines  all  those  men  in  the  railroad  cut  were  made  prisoners, 
which  they  recognized  themselves  as  being  when  we  passed 
over  them.  The  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was  now  over,  but 
we  did  not  know  it  and  we  took  advantage  of  the  night  to  re- 
arrange our  lines  and  strengthen  our  position  for  the  next 
day's  anticipated  conflict.  But  when  the  morning  of  the 
next  day  came  and  we  were  bracing  ourselves  for  another 
grapple  with  the  enemy,  we  discovered  in  looking  out  over 


Twenty-First  Regiment.  159 

the  plain  that  they  were  not  there.  The  enemy  had  learned 
by  sad  experience  the  impossibility  of  forcing  us  from  our  ad- 
mirable position,  and  while  we  were  busily  engaged  during 
the  night  in  strengthening  our  position,  he  was  silently  re- 
moving to  the  other  side  of  the  river  out  of  the  range  of  our 
guns  on  those  frowning  hills. 

L.  E.  Powers, 
Lieutenant  Company  A. 

KUTHERFORDTON,  N.  0.. 

9  April,  1901. 


Note. — Soon  after  Pope  issued  his  braggart  proclamation,  above  re- 
ferred to,  including  his  famous  declaration  his  "Headquarters  were  in 
the  saddle,"  news  came  rapidly  of  his  successive  and  overwhelming  de- 
feats. Whereat  the  New  York  Herald,  pithily  and  wittily  said,  "What 
else  could  you  expect  from  a  general  who  did  not  know  his  headquar- 
ters from  his  hindquarters."  Copies  of  the  paper  got  into  the  Southern 
lines  and  created  much  amusement. — Bd. 


TWENTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

1.    Johnston  J.  Pettigrew,  Colonel.  3.    Graham  Daves,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt. 

8.    Thos.  D.  Jones.  Captain,  Co.  A.  4.    W.  W.  Dickson,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  A. 

5.    Walter  Clark,  2d  Lieut,  and  Drill  Master. 


TWENTY- SECO/^D  REQIMENT. 


By  adjutant  GRAHAM  DAVES. 


The  Twenty-second  Eegiment  of  North  Carolina  Troops 
was  organized  in  camp  near  Kaleigh  in  July,  18C1,  by  the 
election  of  the  following  Field  Officers : 

J.  JoiiKSTOiy  Pettigebw,  Colonel,  of  Tyrrell  County,  then 
a  resident  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  Colonel  PettigreAv  had  seen 
service  with  the  forces  in  South  Carolina,  and  conunanded  a 
regiment  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Fort  Sumter  by  the 
Confederates  in  April,  1861. 

John  O.  Long^  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Eandolph  County, 
a  graduate  of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point. 

Thomas  S.  Galloway,  Jr.,  Major,  of  Eockingham  Coun- 
ty, a  graduate  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  at  Lexing- 
ton, Va. 

The  commissions  of  the  Field  Officers  all  bore  date  of  11 
July,  1861. 

The  regiment  was  composed,  originally,  of  twelve  compa- 
nies, but  two  of  them,  C  and  D,  were  very  soon  transferred  to 
other  commands,  and  the  lettering.  A,  B,  E,  F,  G,  H,  I,  K,  L, 
and  M,  for  the  ten  companies,  was  retained.  This  fact  is 
mentioned  because  the  lettering  of  the  companies  of  this  regi- 
ment as  reported  in  the  Eegister  published  by  the  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  State  in  IN^ovember,  1861,  and  in  the  roster  of 
the  troops  published  by  the  State  in  1882,  is  incorrectly 
given. 

The  several  companies  at  the  time  of  their  first  enlistment, 
and  before  their  organization  into  a  regiment,  adopted  local 
names,  which,  as  part  of  their  history,  it  may  be  of  interest 
to  preserve : 

Company  A,  of  Caldwell  County,  Captain  W.  F.  Jones, 

11 


162  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

was  called  the  "Caldwell  Eough  and  Eeady  Boys"  ;  Company 
B,  of  McDowell  County,  Captain  Jas.  M.  N'eal,  tlie  '^McDow- 
ell Eifles"  ;  Company  E',  of  Guilford  County,  Captain  Colum- 
bus C.  Cole,  the  "Guilford  Men"  ;  Company  F,  of  Alleghany 
County,  Captain  Jesse  F.  Eeeves,  the  "Alleghany  True 
Blues" ;  Company  G,  of  Caswell  Coimty,  Captain  Edward  M. 
Scott,  the  "Caswell  Eifles" ;  Company  H,  of  Stokes  County, 
Captain  Hamilton  Scales,  the  "Stokes  Boys" ;  Company  I,  of 
Eandolph  County,  Captain  Shubal  G.  Worth,  the  "Davis 
Guards" ;  Company  K,  of  McDowell  County,  Captain  Alney 
Burgin,  the  "McDowell  Boys";  Company  L,  of  Eandolph 
County,  Captain  Eobert  H.  Gray,  the  "Uwharrie  Eifles"; 
Company  M,  of  Eandolph  County,  Captain  John  M.  Odell, 
the  "Eandolph  Hornets." 

Companies  C  and  D,  which,  as  before  mentioned,  were 
transferred  to  other  regiments,  were  named :  Company  C,  of 
Surry  County, ,  Captain  Eeaves,  the  "Surry  Eegulators" ; 
Company  D,  of  Ashe  County,  Captain  Cox,  the  "Jefferson 
Davis  Mountain  Eifles." 

The  organization  of  the  regiment  was  completed  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  Lieutenant  Graham  Daves,  of  Craven  County, 
as  Adjutant,  24  July,  1861 ;  Dr.  James  K.  Hall,  of  Guilford 
County,  Surgeon,  24  July,  1861;  Dr.  Benj.  A.  Cheek,  of 
Warren  County,  Assistant  Surgeon,  24  July,  1861;  James 
J.  Litchford,  of  Wake  County,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  19 
July,  1861 ;  Eev.  A.  B.  Cox,  of  Alleghany  County,  6  July, 
1861,  Chaplain;  and  Hamilton  G.  Graham  (Company  I),  of 
Craven  County,  as  Sergeant  Major. 

First  called  the  Twelfth  Volunteers,  the  regiment  was 
shortly  after  mtobered  and  designated  the  Twenty-second 
Troops.  The  change  was  made  in  the  Adjutant  General's 
office  at  Ealeigh  to  avoid  confusion.  With  the  exception 
of  the  "Bethel  Eegiment,"  or  First  Volunteers,  which  served 
for  six  months  only,  the  troops  first  enlisted  were  mustered 
into  service  for  one  year  and  were  called  volunteers.  The 
Legislature,  however,  also  authorized  the  enlistment  of  ten 
regiments  "for  three  years  or  the  war" — eight  of  infantry, 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  163 

one  of  cavalry  (Ninth),  and  one  of  artillery  (Tenth), 
to  be  called  "State  Troops,"  and  numbered  one  to  ten. 
This  would  have  caused  the  numbering  of  ten  regi- 
ments each  of  "State  Troops"  and  of  "Volunteers"  res- 
pectively to  have  beeii  the  same,  and  the  numbers  of  the  vol- 
unteer regiments  were  therefore  moved  forward  ten.  This 
will  explain  a  change  in  the  numbering  of  the  regiments,  to 
include  the  .Fourteenth  Volunteers,  afterwards  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Troops,  which  might  not  to  be  understood.  A  dupli- 
cation of  this  sort  in  the  numbering  of  certain  regiments  of 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina  troops  did  actually  exist  and 
caused  much  confusion. 

The  first  Captain  of  A  Company  was  W.  F.  Jones,  of  Cald- 
well County,  who  was  succeeded  by  Thos.  D.  Jones,  of  the 
same.  The  entire  number  of  rank  and  file  in  this  company 
serving  at  one  time  or  another  during  its  whole  term  of  ser- 
vice was  187  men.  Company  B  had  for  its  first  Captain 
James  M.  ISTeal,  of  McDowell  County,  and  numbered  rank 
and  file  from  first  to  last  171  men.  Captain  Columbus  C. 
Cole,  of  Greensboro,  commanded  E  Company,  which  num- 
bered 184  rank  and  file,  while  in  service.  Jesse  F.  Reeves, 
of  Alleghany  County,  was  first  Captain  of  F  Company,  which 
numbered  160  men  during  its  term.  J.  A.  Burns  was  Cap- 
tain of  G  Company  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  but 
was  shortly  after  succeeded  by  John  W.  Graves.  The  com- 
pany numbered  in  all  145  men.  Hamilton  Scales,  of  Stokes 
County,  was  Captain  of  H  Company,  which  numbered  in  all 
200  men.  I  Company's  first  Captain  was  Shubal  G.  Worth, 
of  Randolph  County.  The  company  numbered  188  men  all 
told.  Alney  Burgin,  of  McDowell  County,  was  first  Captain  of 
K  Company ;  Robert  H.  Gray,  of  L  Company,  and  John  M. 
Odell,  of  M  Company,  which  numbered  respectively,  during 
their  several  terms  of  service,  151,  178  and  146  men.  These 
figures  are  mentioned  here  for  convenience,  and  represent,  of 
course,  enlistments  and  assignments  for  the  whole  period  of 
the  war.  At  the  completion  of  its  organization  the  regiment 
numbered  nearly  1,000  enlisted  men.  Shortly  after  its  or- 
ganization it  was  ordered  to  Virginia,  and  made  its  first  halt 


164  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

in  Eiehmond.  Eemaining  in  camp  there  for  a  short  time,  it 
was  next  ordered  to  the  Potomac  to  form  part  of  the  com- 
mand of  General  Theophilus  H.  Holmes,  and  was  first  sta- 
tioned at  Brook's  Station  near  Acquia  Creek.  Soon,  how- 
ever, it  marched  to  Evansport,  a  point  on  the  Potomac  river, 
the  present  Quantico  Station,  between  the  Chappewamsic 
and  Quantico  creeks,  where  batteries  of  heavy  guns  were  to 
be  established  to  blockade  the  Potomac  below  Washington, 
Going  into  camp  at  this  place  late  in  September,  the  regi- 
ment was  stationed  there  during  the  Autumn  and  winter  of 
18 61-' 62,  on  duty  in  the  erection  and  support  of  the  batteries 
which  were  in  great  part  constructed  by  details  of  its  men. 
There  were  three  of  these  batteries  at  first,  mounted  with 
9-inch  Dalghren  guns,  smooth  bore  32  and  42  pounders,  and 
one  heavy  rifled  Blakely  gun,  and  they  were  thought  to  be 
formidable  in  those  days.  ISTo.  2  Battery  was  in  part  manned 
by  Company  I,  of  the  regiment,  detailed  for  that  purpose, 
where  it  continued  to  serve  as  long  as  the  post  was  occupied. 
After  the  batteries  opened,  traffic  by  water  to  Washington 
ceased  almost  entirely,  but  the  river  there  being  about  two 
miles  wide,  some  craft  succeeded  in  running  the  gauntlet  from 
time  to  time,  among  others  the  steam  sloop  of  war  Pensacola, 
which  passed  at  night. 

While  on  duty  at  Evansport,  about  the  middle  of  October, 
1861,  the  following  roster  of  the  line  officers  of  the  regiment, 
with  dates  of  their  commissions,  was  returned: 

Compajsty  a — Thomas  D.  Jones,  Captain,  8  August,  1861 ; 
J.  B.  Clark,  First  Lieutenant,  8  August,  1861;  Eelix  G. 
Dula,  Second  Lieutenant,  8  August,  1861 ;  Wm.  W.  Dick- 
son, Second  Lieutenant,  8  August,  1861. 

CoMPAisTY  B — James  H.  Neal,  Captain,  8  May,  1861 ;  A. 
G.  Halyburton,  First  Lieutenant,  8  May,  1861 ;  J.  M.  Hig- 
gins.  Second  Lieutenant,  8  May,  1861 ;  Samuel  H.  Adams, 
Second  Lieutenant,  8  May,  1861. 

Company  E — Columbus  C.  Cole,  Captain,  23  May,  1861 ; 
H.  E.  Charles,  First  Lieutenant,  23  May,  1861 ;  W.  H.  Fau- 
cett,  Second  Lieutenant,  23  May,  1861 ;  John  N".  Nelson, 
Second  Lieutenant,  27  July,  1861. 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  165 

Company  F — Preston  B.  Eeeves,  Captain,  10  September, 
1861 ;  John  Gambol,  First  Lieutenant,  11  September,  1861 ; 
Horton  L.  Reeves,  Second  Lieutenant,  27  May,  1861 ;  George 
Mc.  Reeves,  Second  Lieutenant,  2Y  August,  1861. 

Company  G^ — John  W.  Graves,  Captain,  11  October, 
1861;  J.  J.  Stokes,  First  Lieutenant,  28  May,  1861;  P. 
Smith,  Second  Lieutenant,  28  May,  1861 ;  John  JST.  Black- 
vi^ell.  Second  Lieutenant,  24  August,  1861. 

Company  H — Hamilton  Scales,  Captain,  1  June,  1861 ; 
Fphraim  Bouldin,  First  Lieutenant,  1  June,  1861 ;  S.  Mar- 
tin, Second  Lieutenant,  1  June,  1861 

Company  I — Shubal  G.  Worth,  Captain,  5  June,  1861; 
E-  H.  Winningham,  First  Lieutenant,  12  August,  1861 ; 
Alex.  C.  McAllister,  Second  Lieutenant,  12  August,  1861 ; 
Hamilton  C.  Graham,  Second  Lieutenant,  15  August,  1861. 

Company  K — Alney  Burgin,  Captain,  5  June,  1861 ; 
Chas.  'H.  Burgin,  First  Lieutenant,  5  June,  1861 ;  A.  W. 
Crawford,  Second  Lieutenant,  5  June,  1861 ;  Isaac  E.  Morris, 
Second  Lieutenant,  5  June,  1861. 

Company  L — Robert  H.  Gray,  Captain,  18  June,  1861 ; 
Claiborne  Gray,  First  Lieutenant,  18  June,  1861 ;  J.  A.  C. 
Brown,  Second  Lieutenant,  18  June,  1861 ;  W.  G.  Spencer, 
Second  Lieutenant,  18  June,  1861. 

Company  M — John  M.  Odell,  Captain,  10  June,  1861; 
Laban  Odell,  First  Lieutenant,  10  June,  1861 ;  J.  M.  Pounds, 
Second  Lieutenant,  10  June,  1861 ;  Henry  C.  AUred,  Second 
Lieutenant,  10  June,  1861. 

At  different  times  during  its  entire  term  of  service  the 
following  were  line  officers  of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment ; 
the  list  is  not  quite  complete : 

Company  A — Captains:  W.  F.  Jones,  Thomas  D.  Jones, 
James  M.  Isbell,  Wm.  B.  Clark.  Lieutenants:  Joseph  B. 
Clark,  James  W.  Sudderth,  Felix  G.  Dula,  Wm.  W.  Dick- 
eon,  Marcus  Deal,  J.  W.  Justice. 

Company  B — Captains:  James  M.  Neal,  J.  T.  Conley, 
George  H.  Gardin.  Lieutenants :  Samuel  H.  Adams,  James 
M.  Higgins,  Robert  A.  Tate,  S.  P.  Tate. 

Company  E — Captains :  Columbus  C.  Cole,  Chas.  E.  Har- 


166  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

per,  Joseph  A.  Hooper,  Martin  M.  Wolfe,  Eobert  W.  Cole, 
Lieutenants :  Andrew  J,  Busick,  W.  H.  Faucett,  Jas.  H.  Ban- 
ner, John  ISr.  Nelson,  0.  0.  Wheeler. 

Company  F — Captains:  Jesse  F.  Eeeves,  Preston  B. 
Eeaves,  W.  L.  Mitchell,  S.  G.  Caudle.  Lieutenants:  John 
GamboU,  N.  A.  Eeynolds,  David  Edwards,  Horton  S.  Eeeves, 
Calvin  Eeeves,  George  G.  Eeeves,  Calvin  C.  Carrier. 

Company  G — Captains:  Edward  M.  Scott,  J.  A.  Burns, 
John  W.  Graves,  Stanlin  Brinchfield.  Lieutenants:  O.  W. 
Eitzgerald,  James  T.  Stokes,  Peter  Smith,  J.  N.  BlackweU, 
B.  S.  Mitchell,  Martin  H.  Cobb. 

Company  H — Captains :  Haimilton  Scales,  Ephraim  Boul- 
din,  Wm.  H.  Lovins.  Lieutenants :  S.  Martin,  C.  C.  Smith, 
John  K.  Martin,  Sam  B.  Ziglar,  Shadrach  Martin,  Joshua  D. 
Ziglar. 

Company  I — Captains :  Shubal  G.  Worth,  Geo.  V.  Lamb. 
Lieutenants :  Eobert  Hanner,  Eli  H.  Winningham,  J«hn  H. 
Palmer,  B.  W.  Burkhead,  Wm.  McAuley,  Hamilton  C.  Gra- 
ham, Alex.  C.  McAllister,  J.  S.  Bobbins,  E.  A.  Glenn,  E.  W. 
Winbourue. 

Company  K — Captains :  Alney  Burgin,  Chas.  H.  Burgin, 
Wm.  B.  Gooding,  E.  J.  Dobson.  Lieutenants :  Isaac  E.  Mor- 
ris, A.  W.  Crawford,  J.  L.  Greenlee,  J.  B.  Burgin,  John  M. 
Burgin,  J.  E.  Bailey. 

Company  L — Captains :  Eobert  H.  Gray,  J.  A.  C.  Brown, 
Lee  Eussell,  Yancey  M.  C.  Johnson.  Lieutenants :  Claiborn 
Gray,  Wm.  G.  Spencer,  E.  C.  Llarney,  Oliver  M.  Pike,  Cal- 
vin H.  Welborn. 

Company  M — Captains:  John  M.  Odell,  Laban  Odell, 
Warren  B.  Kivett,  Columbus  F.  Slier.  Lieutenants :  J.  M. 
Bobbins,  James  M.  Pounds,  Henry  C.  AUred,  Lewis  F.  Mc- 
Mastexs,  John  M.  Lawrence,  A.  W.  Lawrence. 

Besides  the  Lieutenants  named  above,  the  Captains  of  the 
several  companies  had  in  nearly  every  instance  served  as  Lieu- 
tenants previous  to  their  promotion.  Hon.  Walter  Clark, 
now  senior  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  who 
will  compile  and  edit  the  histories  of  our  North  Carolina  Eeg- 
iments,  was  at  its  organization  a  drill  master  in  the  Twenty- 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  167 

second.     He  was  then  not  yet  15  years  of  age,  fresh  from 
Colonel  Tew's  Military  Academy  at  Hillsboro. 

Until  March,  1862,  the  regiment  remained  in  support  of 
the  batteries  at  Evansport,  in  brigade  at  different  times  with 
the  First  Arkansas,  the  Second  Tennessee,  a  Virginia  regi- 
ment, and  perhaps  other  regiments,  under  command  at  differ- 
ent times,  in  the  order  named,  of  Generals  John  G.  Walker, 
Isaac  R.  Trimble  and  Samuel  G.  French.  While  there  the 
health  of  the  men  was  good,  except  for  measles,  which 
seemed  to  be  epidemic  in  all  the  regiments.  The  batteries 
were  frequently  engaged  with  the  enemy's  gunboats, 
and  with  batteries  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Po- 
tomac, but  the  casualties  were  very  few.  Company  I 
had  several  men  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  42- 
pounder  gun  in  Battery  No.  2.  While  on  duty  at  Evansport, 
Colonel  Pettigrew  was  promoted  Brigadier-General,  but  feel- 
ing that  his  services  were  of  more  value  in  furthering  the  re- 
enlistment  and  re-organization  of  the  regiment,  then  near  at 
hand,  he  declined  the  appointment — a  rare  instance  of  patri- 
otism and  devotion  to  the  public  good.  When  the  army  fell 
back  from  Manassas  and  the  Potomac  in  March,  1862,  to  the 
line  of  the  Rappahannock,  General  French  commanded  the 
brigade,  which  took  post  at  Fredericksburg.  Soon  after  Gen- 
eral French  was  transferred  to  a  command  in  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina, and  the  regiment  was  marched  to  the  Peninsula  below 
Richmond  and  shared  in  the  Williamsburg  and  Yorktown 
campaign.  Returning  to  the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  and 
Colonel  Pettigrew  having  been  again  appointed  brigadier,  in 
command  of  the  brigade,  which  appointment  he  this  time  ac- 
cepted, Lieutenant-Colonel  Chas.  E.  Lightfoot,  previously  of 
the  Sixth  Regiment,  was  promoted  Colonel.  Under  his  com- 
mand the  regiment  went  into  the  fight  at  Seven  Pines  in  May- 
June,  1862,  in  which  it  was  heavily  engaged,  and  its  losses 
were  severe.  General  Pettigrew  was  here  wounded  and  made 
prisoner.  Colonel  Lightfoot  was  also  captured.  Captain 
Thomas  D.  Jones  and  Lieutenant  S.  H.  Adams  were  killed, 
besides  many  others,  and  the  aggregate  loss  of  the  regiment 
was  147  in  all. 


168  North  Carolina  Troops,  186J-'65. 

Soon  after  Seven  Pines  the  regiment  was  re-organized, 
when  the  following  were  elected  Field  Officers :  James  Con- 
nor, of  South  Carolina,  Colonel;  Captain  Kobert  H.  Gray, 
of  Company  L,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and  Captain  Columbus 
C.  Cole,  of  Company  E,  Major.  They  took  rank  from  14 
June,  1862.  There  were  many  changes  also  in  the  line  officers. 
Previously  Adj  utant  Graham  Daves  had  been  promoted  Cap- 
tain and  assigned  to  duty  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General  on 
the  general  staff,  and  Lieutenant  P.  E.  Charles  became  Adju- 
tant. A  new  brigade,  too,  was  formed,  consisting  of  the  Six- 
teenth, Twenty-second,  Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-eighth 
North  Carolina  Regiments,  and  placed  under  the  command 
of  Brigadier-General  Wm.  D.  Pender,  in  the  division  of 
General  A.  P.  Hill. 

An  officer  in  describing  the  bearing  of  the  Twenty-second 
at  Seven  Pines  says:  "In  all  my  readings  of  veterans,  and 
of  coolness  under  fire,  I  have  never  conceived  of  anything 
surpassing  the  coolness  of  our  men  in  this  fight." 

In  the  "Seven  Days'  Fight"  around  Richmond  the  regi- 
ment was  next  engaged:  First,  at  Mechanics ville,  26  June, 
in  which  Colonel  Connor  was  badly  wounded;  at  Ellison's 
Mill;  at  Gaines'  Mill,  27  Jime,  where  it  won  the  highest 
encomiums.  General  A.  P.  Hill  says  of  it  in  his  report  of 
the  battle :  "The  Sixteenth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  McEl- 
roy,  and  the  Twenty-second,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gray,  at 
one  time  carried  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  were  in  the  enemy's 
camp,  but  were  driven  back  by  overwhelming  numbers." 
And  General  Pender :  "My  men  fought  nobly  and  main- 
tained their  ground  with  great  stubbornness."  Next  at  Fra- 
zier's  Farm,  30  June.  In  this  fight  the  regiment  was  very 
conspicuous  and  suffered  severely.  Among  the  killed  were 
Captain  Harper  and  Lieutenant  P.  E.  Charles,  of  Company 
E.  The  latter  was  bearing  the  regimental  colors  at  the  time, 
and  near  him,  in  a  space  little  more  than  ten  feet  square,  nine 
men  of  the  color  guard  lay  dead.  Captain  Ephraim  Boul- 
din,  of  Company  H,  was  also  killed. 

On  9  August,  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  was  fought. 
In  this  engagement  the  Twenty-second  Regiment  was  charged 
by  a  regiment  of  cavalry  which  it  easily  repulsed  and  pun- 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  169 

ished  sharply.  Lieutenant  Kobert  W.  Cole,  of  Company  E, 
succeeded  Lieutenant  Charles,  as  Adjutant.  The  regiment 
was  with  Jackson  in  his  battles  with  Pope  of  28  and  29  Au- 
gust, and  bore  an  active  part  at  Second  Manassas  on  30  Au- 
gust. In  these  actions  it  was  efficiently  commanded  by  Major 
C  C.  Cole,  owing  to  the  extreme  sickness  of  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Gray.  Two  days  later  it  was  again  engaged  with  the  enemy 
at  Chantilly,  or  Ox  Hill,  fought  in  a  terrible  thunder  storm,  in 
which  the  artillery  of  heaven  and  of  earth  seemed  to  strive 
in  rivalry.  The  hard  service  and  heavy  losses  of  this  cam- 
paign may  be  understood  by  the  fact  that  at  this  time  there 
were,  out  of  the  twelve  field  officers  of  the  four  regiments  of 
the  brigade,  but  three  left  on  duty  with  their  commands,  and 
some  of  the  companies  were  commanded  by  corporals. 

Pope,  the  braggart,  had  made  good  use  of  his  "Headquar- 
ters in  the  saddle"  to  get  out  of  Virginia,  and  had  learned  all 
about  "Lines  of  Retreat." 

The  Twenty-second  Regiment  took  part  in  the  reduction 
and  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry  15  August,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  17th,  the  day  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  was 
fought.  On  that  day  the  regiment,  with  the  rest  of  A.  P. 
Hill's  division,  arrived  on  the  battlefield  after  a  forced 
march  of  seventeen  miles,  in  time  to  aid,  in  the  afternoon,  in 
the  decided  repulse  of  Bumside's  attack  at  the  "Stone 
Bridge,"  thereby  preventing  the  turning  of  General  Lee's 
right  and  saving  the  day  to  the  Confederates.  On  the  night 
of  the  18th,  the  army  re-crossed  the  Potomac  and  on  the  19th 
was  followed  by  a  division  of  Federals,  which  was  promptly 
attacked  by  part  of  A.  P.  Hill's  command,  routed  and  driven 
back  across  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown  with  great  slaugh- 
ter. The  Twenty-second  took  an  active  part  in  this  success- 
ful fight.  After  the  enemy  had  been  driven  into  the  river,  a 
heavy  fire  was  opened  on  the  Confederates  by  the  Federal  bat- 
teries and  sharp  shooters  from  its  north  bank.  Under  this 
fire  a  detachment  of  the  Twenty-second  under  Major  Cole 
lay,  with  very  slight  protection,  for  nearly  twelve  hours,  and 
could  be  withdrawn  only  after  nightfa,ll. 

Shortly  after  Shepherdstown,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gray  re- 
joined the  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Cole,  previously 


170  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

of  the  Fifty-fourth  Eegiment,  was  assigned  to  the  Twenty- 
second  as  Adjutant.  On  22  JSTovember,  A.  P.  Hill's  Divis- 
ion, which  had  been  on  duty  near  Martinsburg  and  at  Snick- 
er's Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  (where  there  was  constant  skir- 
mishing), marched  for  Fredericksburg,  where  it  arrived 
2  December,  a  distance  of  180  miles.  In  this  winter 
march  many  of  the  men  were  barefooted  but  made  merry 
over  it.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  13  December, 
Jackson's  Corps  formed  the  right  of  Lee's  ■  army  and  Pen- 
der's Brigade  was  on  the  left  of  A.  P.  Hill's  Division  in  the 
first  line.  The  regiment  acquitted  itself  in  this  famous  ac- 
tion in  a  way  well  worthy  its  old  reputation.  The  night  of 
the  12th  a  detail  from  the  regiment,  by  a  bold  dash,  succeeded 
in  burning  a  number  of  haystacks  and  houses  very  near  to, 
and  affording  cover,  to  the  Federal  lines.  Major  C.  C.  Cole 
was  in  charge  of  the  detail,  and  next  day  commanded  the 
skirmish  line  in  front  of  Pender's  Brigade.  He  was  ably, 
seconded  by  Captain  Laban  Odell,  of  Company  M,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Clark,  of  Company  A.  The  brigade  maintained  its 
position  throughout  the  action,  repulsing  every  attack  upon 
it,  but  not  without  heavy  loss.  Major  Cole  was  much  com- 
plimented for  his  handsome  action  in  dispersing  the  strong 
force  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  on  the  brigade  front.  Gen- 
eral Pender  was  wounded,  and  his  Aid-de-Camp,  Lieutenant 
Sheppard,  was  killed  in  the  engagement.  Some  time  before 
Fredericksburg  the  Thirteenth  North  Carolina  Eegiment, 
Colonel  Alfred  M.  Scales,  had  been  added  to  Pender's  Bri- 
gade. 

The  winter  of  1862-63  was  passed  in  picket  and  other  duty 
on  the  Eappahannock  below  Fredericksburg.  Colonel  James 
Connor  rejoined  the  regiment  while  it  was  stationed  there, 
but  was  still  unfitted  by  his  severe  wound  for  active  duty. 
The  services  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gray  were  lost  to  the  reg- 
iment at  this  time.  Always  a  man  of  delicate  health,  he  died 
16  March,  1863.  Major  C.  C.  Cole  was  promoted  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Captain  Odell  became  Major  their 
commissions  dating  16  March,  1862 — positions  that  these  ex- 
cellent officers  were  to  hold  but  a  short  time. 

At  Chancellorsville  in  May,  1863,  the  regiment  was  in 


TWENTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

1.  J.  B.  Clarke,  1st  Lieiif..  Co.  A.  3.    S.  F.  Harper.  Private,  Co.  A 

2.  Sion  H.  Oxford,  Ensign,  4.    William  T  Abernathy,Private,Co.  A. 

5.    Aurelius  J.  Dula,  Private,  Co.  A. 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  171 

Jackson's  flank  attack  on  Hooker,  and  tkrougliout  the  whole 
of  the  action  was  heavily  engaged.  Its  losses  were  very 
severe.  Colonel  Cole  and  Major  Odell  were  both  killed,  two 
hundred  and  nineteen  men  and  twenty-six  out  of  thirty-three 
ofiicers  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  though  the  regiment  was 
distinguished  by  its  accustomed  efficiency  and  gallantry,  noth- 
ing could  compensate  for  this  terrible  destruction.  Chan- 
cellorsville  was  the  eighteenth  battle  of  the  Twenty-second 
Eegiment,  and  the  most  fatal.  It  went  through  the  Mary- 
land campaign  of  1863,  and  Gettysburg,  with  credit.  G-eneral 
Wm.  D.  Pender  had  been  made  a  Major  General  and  was 
now  in  command  of  the  division,  and  Colonel  Alfred  M. 
Scales,  of  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  was  promoted  Brigadier 
in  command  of  the  brigade.  It  participated  in  the  first  day's 
brilliant  success  at  Gettysburg,  was  engaged  also  on  the  sec- 
ond day,  and  on  the  third  the  brigade  was  part  of  General 
I.  R.  Trimble's  division.  General  Pender  having  been  mor- 
tally wounded,  in  sxipport  of  Heth's  division,  then  under  Pet- 
tigrew,  in  the  famous  charge  on  Cemetery  Ridge.  In  this 
charge,  Archer's  and  Scales'  brigades  occupied  and  held  for 
a  ti'me  the  Federal  works,  and  when  they  retreated  to  the 
Confederate  lines,  Scales'  Brigade  had  not  one  Field  Officer 
left  for  duty,  and  but  very  few  Line  Officers.  Its  total  loss 
was  102  killed  and  322  wounded. 

After  the  return  of  the  regiment  to  Virginia  it  was  re-or- 
ganized, when  Thomas  S.  Galloway,  Jr.,  at  one  time  its 
Major,  was  elected  Colonel,  to  date  from  21  September,  1863 ; 
Wm.  L.  Mitchell  was  Lieutenant-Colonel;  J.  H.  Welborn, 
Adjvitant;  J.  D.  Wilder,  Quartermaster;  P.  G.  Robinson, 
Surgeon.  Benj.  A.  Cheek  was  still  Assistant  Surgeon.  The 
Line  Officers,  with  dates  of  commission,  were  as  follows : 

Company  A— Captain,  Wm.  B.  Clark,  12  October,  1862 ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Joseph  B.  Clark,  28  October,  1862 ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Wm.  A.  Tuttle,  25  April,  1863. 

Company  B — Captain ;  First  Lieutenant,  Robert 

A.  Tate,  1  August,  1863 ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  H.  Gar- 
din,  11  May,  1863;  Second  Lieutenant,  Samuel  P.  Tate,  1 
August,  1863. 


172  NoETH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

OoMPANT  E — Captain,  Eobert  W.  Cole,  15  September, 
1863;  First  Lieutenant,  Andrew  J.  Busick,  15  September, 
1863 ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Oliver  0.  Wheeler,  25  April,  1863. 

Company  F — Captain  ;  First  Lieutenant,  David 

Edwards,  20  October,  1862 ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Shadrach  G. 
Caudle,  25  April,  1863. 

Company  G — Captain,  George  A.  Graves,  1  May,  1862; 
First  Lieutenant,  Peter  Smith,  10  May,  1862 ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Eobert  L.  Mitchell,  1  May,  1862 ;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Martin  H.  Cobb,  25  April,  1863. 

Company  H — Captain,  Thomas  T.  Slade,  23  October, 
1863  ;  First  Lieutenant,  John  K.  Martin,  25  May,  1863 ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Mason  T.  Mitchell,  25  April,  1863 ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  C.  L.  Graves,  25  May,  1863. 

Company  I — Captain,  Gaston  V.  Lamb,  18  July,  1862 ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Burwell  W.  Burkhead,  1  July,  1863 ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Richard  W.  Winburne,  1  August,  1863  ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Robert  A.  Glenn,  1  August,  1863. 

Company  K — Captain,  W.  B.  Gooding,  13  November, 
1862;  First  Lieutenant,  ,  ■;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, E.  J.  Dobson,  5  November,  1862. 

Company  L — Captain,  Lee  Russell,  , ;  First 

Lieutenants,  Yancey  M.  C.  Johnson,  1  August,  1863 ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Oliver  M.  Pike,  15  July,  1863 ;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Calvin  H.  Winbome,  1  August,  1863. 

Company  M — Captain,  Columbus  F.  Siler,  2  May,  1863 ; 
First  Lieutenant,  James  M.  Robbins,  2  May,  1863 ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  John  M.  Lawrence,  25  April,  1863. 

Under  this  organization  the  regiment  shared  in  the  events 
of  the  "campaign  of  strategy"  in  October  and  ISTovember, 
1863,  on  the  Eapidan,  and  endured  the  cold  and  other  priva- 
tions in  the  affair  at  Mine  Run,  2  December.  Going  into 
winter  quarters  after  that,  there  were  no  occurrences  of 
much  note  until  the  opening  of  the  great  campaign 
in  the  Spring  of  1864.  Major-General  Cadmus  M. 
Wilcox  had  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  division, 
General  Pender  having  died  of  the  wound  received  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  this  division  with  that  of  Heth,  at  the  Wilderness 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  173 

5  May,  withstood  and  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  every 
attack  of  Grant's  forces  on  that  memorable  day.  So  severe 
had  been  the  struggle  that  at  night  when  General  Heth  asked 
permission  to  readjust  his  lines,  much  disordered  by  the  per- 
sistent fighting,  General  A.  P.  Hill  simply  replied :  "Let  the 
tired  men  sleep,"  a  decision  which,  with  the  delay  of  Lon- 
street's  corps  the  next  morning  in  getting  into  position,  had 
nearly  caused  disaster.  The  Twenty-second  bore  well  its  part 
here,  and  so  on,  always  maintaining  its  high  reputation,  at 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  and  through  the 
weary  winter  of  hardship  and  want  of  1864-'65,  borne  with 
fortitude,  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg ;  on  the  trying  retreat 
at  Appomattox  in  April,  1865,  where  the  sad  end  came. 

COLD  HAEBOE PETEESBUEG. 

After  Grant's  disastrous  attack  upon  Lee  at  Cold  Harbor  in 
June,  18 64,  he  withdrew  from  Lee's  front  and  began  the  move- 
ment which  transferred  his  operations  to  the  vicinity  of  Pe- 
tersburg. To  conceal  this  movement  Warren's  Corps  was  sent 
up  the  roads  towards  Eichmond  to  make  demonstrations,  and 
to  meet  Warren,  Wilcox's  Division,  in  which  were  Scales'  Bri- 
gade and  the  Twenty-second  Regiment,  was  sent.  After  a 
hard  march  Gary's  Brigade  of  cavalry  was  found  falling 
back  before  a  heavy  force  and  Lane's  and  Scales'  Brigades  of 
infantry  were  at  once  ordered  forward.  These  drove  back 
Wilsdn's  cavalry  division  for  one  and  a  half  miles,  and 
secured  and  held  a  cross-roads  near  a  place  called  Smith's 
Shop,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Frazier's  Farm  battlefield.  In 
this  fight  and  advance  (of  more  than  an  hour)  the  centre  of 
the  Twenty-second  Regiment  passed  at  one  time  over  an  open 
knoll,  which  had  been  cleared  for  artillery  two  years  before, 
where  they  received  the  full  fire  of  Wilson's  men  and  lost 
heavily,  but  still  pressed  on,  driving  the  enemy  before  them, 
and  held  the  position  as  mentioned  above. 

BEAMS  STATIOW. 

In  his  account  of  this  action  in  August,  1864,  Swinton 
errs  in  saying  that  three  charges  were  made  by  the  Confed- 


174  North  Carolina  Troops,   18U1-'65. 

erates,  iivo  of  which  were  repulsed.  The  first  charge,  as  he 
terms  it,  was  merely  an  advance  of  a  battalion  of  sharpshoot- 
ers, under  Captain  John  Young,  which  drove  in  the  Federal 
pickets  and  skirmishers.  Captain  Young  reported  that  there 
was  only  a  line  of  picket  pits  in  our  front.  Under  this  im- 
pression the  Sixteenth,  Twenty-second  and  Thirty-fourth 
North  Carolina  regiments,  and  Benning's  Georgia  Brigade, 
were  ordered  to  charge.  On  reaching  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
Benning's  men,  seeing  a  strong  line  of  works,  well  manned,  in 
their  front,  were  halted.  The  Twenty-second  Kegiment 
charged  up  to  the  works,  but,  having  lost  their  support  on 
their  right,  were  withdrawn.  They  were  not  repulsed.  Pri- 
vate Ellison,  of  Company  L,  snatched  an  United  States  flag 
from  the  earth  works  in  this  charge,  and  brought  it  away 
with  him.  Shortly  after  this  Lane's,  MacRae's  and  another 
brigade  of  ITeth's  Division,  with  the  Twenty-second  Regi- 
ment covering  their  left  flank,  charged  the  position  and  car- 
ried the  works  in  splendid  style.  Hampton's  cavalry  shared 
in  the  attack  and  rendered  most  efficient  service. 

An  incident  worthy  of  record  occurred  in  the  winter  of 
1864:-'65,  while  the  Twenty-second  N^orth  Carolina  was  on 
duty  on  the  lines  south  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  in  support  of  Bat- 
tery 45.  General  A.  P.  Hill,  commanding  the  corps,  was 
desirous  of  getting  certain  information  with  regard  to  the 
force  and  position  of  the  enemy  on  his  front.  This  he  thought 
might  be  obtained  by  the  capture  of  some  prisoners,  and  he 
directed  General  A.  M.  Scales,  commanding  brigade,  to  make 
a  foray  on  the  skirmiish  line  or  picket  posts  of  the  enemy  op- 
posite his  lines.  General  Scales  detailed  Captain  C.  Prank 
Siler,  of  Company  M,  of  the  Twenty-second  JSTorth  Carolina, 
to  undertake  the  expedition  with  a  part  of  the  sharpshooters 
of  the  brigade. 

Captain  Young,  who  commanded  the  sharpshooters,  was 
temporarily  absent.  Siler  was  ordered  to  report  to  General 
James  H.  Lane  and  get  a  reinforcement  from  the  sharpshoot- 
ers of  that  brigade,  but  before  making  the  move,  Siler  wished 
to  reconnoitre  the  position.  To  effect  this  thoroughly,  he 
adopted  a  ruse.  Crossing  to  the  Yankee  lines  he  offered, 
with  the  usual  signals,  to  exchange  newspapers,  as  was  often 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  175 

done.  While  haggling  about  the  exchange  he  examined  the 
position  and  its  surroundings  carefully  and  selected  a  path  by 
which  it  might  be  approached  advantageously,  iietuming 
to  his  command,  he  rode  over  to  General  Lane's  quarters  to 
get  the  reinforcements  as  ordered,  General  Scales  having 
loaned  him  a  horse  for  the  purpose.  !N"ow,  for  the  better  de- 
fence of  Battery  45,  the  men  of  the  Twenty-second  had 
dammed  up  a  small  stream  in  its  vicinity  which  had  the  effect 
of  collecting  much  water  in  the  battery's  front  and  rendering 
the  approach  to  it  very  difficult.  Along  the  top  of  this  dam  was 
the  shortest  route  between  the  two  brigades,  and  over  it  Siler 
attempted  to  ride.  It  was  very  dark,  however,  and,  as  he  af- 
terwards discovered,  his  horse  was  "moon-eyed,"  and  in  con- 
sequence, horse  and  man  tumbled  off  the  dam  into  the  water 
and  mud  seventeen  feet  below.  Nothing  daunted,  and  in 
spite  of  cold  and  bruises,  he  fished  himself  and  horse  out, 
and  after  much  tribulation  he  succeeded,  "accoutred  as  he 
was,"  in  finding  Major  Wooten,  who  commanded  Lane's 
sharpshooters,  and  got  the  detail  wanted.  Uniting  them 
with  his  own  men  they  all  proceeded  quietly  to  the  Yankee 
rifle  pits  by  the  path  Siler  had  previously  selected.  Arrived 
at  tlie  pits,  they  found  all  there  asleep  except  a  sentinel  in 
front  of  the  works,  upon  whom  they  closed  before  he  could 
discharge  his  piece.  The  sentry  ran  into  the  works  and  tried 
to  use  his  bayonet,  but  Siler  turned  it  aside  and  secured  him 
before  he  cotild  give  the  alarm.  The  command  then  swept 
up  and  down  the  rifle  pits,  and  after  capturing  sixty  men, 
made  good  their  retreat  with  their  prisoners,  to  the  Confed- 
erate lines,  not,  however,  without  receiving  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  Yankees,  who  had  recovered  from  their  surprise,  which, 
owing  to  the  darkness,  fortunately,  did  no  damage.  From 
some  of  the  prisoners  captured  all  information  wanted  was 
obtained,  and  Captain  Siler  and  his  men  were  highly  compli- 
mented for  their  gallant  action. 

southeeland's  STATIOH". 

An  incident,  well  worth  recording,  happened  near  this  sta- 
tion, after  our  troops  had  evacuated  the  works  on  Hatcher's 


17()  North  Cakolina  Troops,   1861-'G5. 

Run.  Colonel  Galloway,  of  the  Twenty-second  Eegiment, 
who  was  temporarily  in  command  of  Scales'  Brigade,  sent 
Companies  I,  L,  and  M,  of  that  regiment — all  of  Randolph 
County — under  command  of  Captain  C.  F.  Siler,  of  Com- 
pany M,  to  hold  a  woods  a  little  in  advance  on  his  right.  An 
ammunition  wagon  had  broken  down  near  by  and  Captain 
Siler  had  several  boxes  of  cartridges  carried  to  his  line  and 
distributed.  From  this  position  he  repelled  with  his  small 
command,  two  attacks  of  a  full  regiment,  and  held  it  until  he 
was  ordered  to  retire.  Captain  Siler  was  an  excellent  man 
and  officer,  equally  at  home  in  a  fight  or  a  revival,  and  ef- 
ficient in  both. 

Colonel  Thos.  S.  Galloway  is  still  living.  His  residence 
is  now  in  Somerville,  Tenn. 

Dr.  Benj.  A.  Clark,  of  Warren  County,  who  was  with  the 
Twenty-second  Kegiment  as  Assistant  Surgeon,  or  as  Surgeon, 
during  the  entire  war,  reported  in  the  Spring  of  1865  that, 
up  to  that  time,  the  death  roll  of  the  regiment  amounted  to 
580. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  brunt  of  the  fight  on  the  right, 
in  the  first  day's  struggle  at  tlie  Wilderness  in  May,  1864, 
was  borne  by  Heth's  and  Wilcox's  divisions  of  A.  P.  Hill's 
Corps.  They  maintained  their  positions  and  repelled  all  at- 
tacks all  day,  of  a  superior  force,  successfully.  The  Twenty- 
second  Eegiment  was  in  Wilcox's  Division,  and  was  heavily 
engaged. 

The  Twenty-second  Eegiment  served  throughout  the  war  in 
the  Army  of  ISTorthern  "Virginia,  and  participated  actively  in 
every  action  of  consequence  in  which  that  army  was  engaged, 
except  the  first  battle  of  Manassas. 

At  Seven  Pines,  Company  A,  of  the  regiment,  took  into 
action  one  hundred  men,  of  whom  eighteen  were  killed,  or 
mortally  wounded,  besides  the  Captain,  Thos.  F.  Jones.  At 
Shepherdstown  four  were  killed  out  of  thirty  engaged.  At 
Chancellorsville  eight  out  of  thirty-five;  at  Gettysburg  four 
out  of  thirty. 

In  all,  out  of  about  180  who  served  with  the  company 
during  the  whole  period  of  the  war,  44  were  killed  outright, 
10  were  discharged  as  disabled  by  wounds,    13    were    dis- 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  177 

charged  under  the  provisions  of  the  Conscript  Act,  and  23 
died  of  sickness. 

Private  A.  J.  Dula,  of  Company  A,  was  standing  very 
near  General  "Stonewall"  Jackson  when  the  latter  received 
his  death  wound  at  Chancellorsville. 

In  Vol.  125,  "Official  Records  Union  and  Confederate 
Armies,"  p.  816,  claim  is  made  hy  Corporal  Thomas  CuUen, 
of  Company  I,  Eighty-second  New  York  Volunteers,  that  he 
captured  the  flag  of  the  Twenty-second  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment in  the  fight  at  Bristoe  Station,  Va.,  14  October,  1863, 
"while  advancing  under  fire."  The  claim  is  a  very  absurd  one, 
and  looks  like  a  bid  by  the  corporal  for  a  little  notoriety  at  the 
expense  of  the  truth.  The  Twenty-second  North  Carolina 
Regiment  was  not  in  the  engagement  at  Bristoe  at  all,  nor  -did 
any  part  of  Scales'  Brigade  participate  in  that  action.  In 
further  proof,  if  it  were  needed,  the  statement  of  the  Colonel 
then  in  command  of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment,  with  re- 
gard to  the  claim,  is  appended,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
denial  of  the  claim  is  most  positive.  His  remarks  are  in  re- 
ply to  an  inquiry  from  the  writer  who  wished  to  have  the  Col- 
onel's ofiicial  corroboration  of  his  own  knowledge  of  the  facts 
in  the  case : 

"In  reply  I  have  to  say,  and  I  do  so  emphatically,  that  the 
statement  is  untrue.  I  was,  at  the  time  of  that  action.  Colo- 
nel in  command  of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment  North  Caro- 
lina Troops,  and  know  positively  that  my  regiment  was  not  en- 
gaged at  Bristoe  at  all.  We  did  not  arrive  on  the  field  until 
the  fighting  was  over.  I  can  further  state  that  the  Twenty- 
second  North  Carolina  Regiment  never  lost  a  fiag  while  I 
commanded  it,  from  23  September,  1863,  to  Appomattox. 
"Very  truly  your  friend, 

"Thomas  S.  Galloway; 
"Late  Colonel  Twenty-second  Regiment,  N.  C.  Troops,  In- 
fantry." 

SOMEKVILLE,    TeNN., 

15  November,  1900. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  add  that  Corporal  CuUen  is  reported 
12 


178  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

as  stating  that  he  "captured  the  flag  of  the  Twenty-second  or 
Twenty-eighth  ISTorth  Carolina  Regiment  at  Bristoe  Station, 
14  October,  1863,  while  advancing  under  fire."  His  state- 
ment as  to  the  Twenty-eighth  North  Carolina  is  as  untrue  as 
that  as  to  the  Twenty-second.  The  Twenty-eighth  Eegiment 
was  of  General  James  H.  Lane's  Brigade,  of  Wilcox's  Divis- 
ion, and  was  not  in  the  engagement  at  Bristoe.  The  brigades 
most  actively  engaged  in  that  disastrous  fight  were  Cooke's 
and  MacRae's,  of  Heth's  Division,  A.  P.  Hill's  Corps. 

It  is  significant  that  the  report  of  these  flag  captures,  of 
which  there  purport  to  be  many,  (Vol.  125,  p.  814-817, 
"Official  Records  Union  and  Confederate  Armies/')  adds, 
after  recounting  Corporal  CuUen's  doughty  exploit,  that  he  is 
"now  a  prisoner  of  war." 

Quere. — As  there  were  no  exchanges  of  prisoners  at  the 
time,  is  it  not  probable  that  it  was  CuUen,  and  not  the  flag, 
that  was  captured  at  Bristoe  ?  Something  seems  to  have  con- 
fused his  memory. 

At  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  9  April,  1865,  the  brigade 
was  under  command  of  Colonel  Joseph  H.  Hyman, 
of  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  (of  Edgecombe  county), 
and  numbered,  all  told,  720  men,  of  whom  92  were 
ofiicers,  of  the  different  grades,  and  628  were  enlisted 
men.  Of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment  there  were  paroled 
97  men  and  the  following  officers :  Colonel,  Thomas  S.  Gal- 
loway, Jr. ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  W.  L.  Mitchell ;  Captains, 
George  H.  Gardin,  Company  B ;  Robert  W.  Cole,  Company 
E ;  Gaston  V.  Lamb,  Company  I ;  E.  J.  Dobson,  Company  K ; 
Yancey  M.  C.  Johnson,  Company  I;  Columbus  E.  Siler, 
Company  M.  Lieutenants:  Wm.  A.  Tuttle,  Company  A; 
Samuel  P.  Tate,  Company  B ;  Andrew  J.  Busick,  Company 
E;  W.  C.  Orrell,  Company  E;  Calvin  H.  Wilborne,  Com- 
pany L.  In  Company  E  but  eight  privates  "present  for 
duty,"  were  left,  and  in  Company  H  but  five.  Besides  those 
mentioned  several  members  of  the  regiment,  who  were  on  de- 
tached service,  were  paroled  elsewhere. 

And  so  the  regiment  was  disbanded  and  its  few  surviving 
members  sought  their  distant  homes,  with  heavy  hearts,  in- 


Twenty-Second  Regiment.  179 

deed,  at  the  failure  of  the  cause  they  had  upheld  so  long  and 
so  bravely,  undeterred  by  privation  and  unappalled  by  dan- 
gers, but  still  sustained  by  the  parting  words  of  their  illus- 
trious chief,  and  the  consciousness  of  right,  and  of  duty  well 
done.  1^0  nobler  band  of  men  ever  offered  their  all  at  the  be- 
hest of  the  sovereign  State  to  which  they  owed  allegiance,  and 
to  the  little  squad  of  them,  now  "in  the  sere,  the  yellow  leaf," 
who  have  not  yet  "crossed  over  the  river  and  rest  under  the 
shade  of  the  trees,"  an  old  comrade  sends  warmest  greeting 
and  best  wishes.  Would  that  his  feeble  efforts  in  attemp-c- 
ing  to  preserve  some  portion,  at  least,  of  their  record  were 
more  worthy  of  their  matchless  deeds.  Few  of  them,  if  any, 
there  were  who,  when  all  was  over,  might  not  have  said  in 
the  words  of  St.  Paul :  "I  have  fought  a  good  fight.  *  * 
I  have  kept  the  faith." 

And  to  those  of  the  regiment — that  larger  regiment  by 
far — ^who  sleep  their  last  sleep  where  at  duty's  call  they  laid 
down  their  lives,  on  the  plains  and  hillsides  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  from  the  xippomattox  to  the  Antietam,  is  gladly 
rendered  the  fullest  meed  of  grateful  praise.  Their  fidelity 
and  devoted  sacrifice  shall  be  celebrated  in  song  and  story,  and 
shall  be  borne  in  loving  memory  while  time  shall  last. 


*  *  *  "Lament  them  not! 

ISTo  love  can  make  immortal 

That  span  which  we  call  life ; 

And  never  heroes  passed  to  heaven's  portal 

From  fields  of  grander  strife." 


In  offering  this  imperfect  history  of  the  Twenty-second 
Regiment  of  JSTorth  Carolina  Troops  in  the  late  war  between 
the  States,  the  writer  will  say,  in  explanation  of  its  many 
omissions  and  shortcomings,  that  during  more  than  the  last 
two  years  of  its  service,  he  had  been  transferred  to  other  duty 
and  was  not  a  member  of  the  regiment.  He  gratefully  ac- 
knowledges his  indebtedness  to  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Cole,  some 
time  its  Adjutant,  for    much    valuable    information.     He 


180  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

hopes  the  brave  story  of  the  part  the  regiment  bore  in  the  mO' 
mentoTis  campaigns  of  18  64-' 6  5  will  yet  he  told  in  full  detail, 

Graham  Daves, 
New  Been,  N.  C, 
9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 

1.    E.  D.  Johnston,  Colonel.  4.    C.  C.  Blacknall,  Colonel, 

a.    J.  F.  Hoke,  Colonel.  5.    J.  W.  Leak,  Lieut.-Colonel. 

3.    D.  H.  Christie,  Colonel.  6.    E.  J.  Christian,  Major. 

7.    Rev.  Theophilus  W.  Moore,  Chaplain. 


TVENTT-THIRD  REGIME/IT. 


CAPTAIN  V.  E.  TURNER,  A.  Q.  M. 
H.  C.  WALL,  Seegeant  Company  A. 


Up  to  the  re-arrangement  of  the  regimental  numbers  follow- 
ing the  Confederate  Conscription  Act,  which  went  into  effect 
lY  May,  1862,  this  regiment  had  been  known  as  the  Thir- 
teenth Regiment  of  ITorth  Carolina  Volunteers.  The  reason 
of  the  change  is  very  clearly  given  by  Major  Gordon  in  the 
history  of  the  organization.  As  repetition  is,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  be  avoided  in  these  sketches  we  will  not  give  it  here. 

No  North  Carolinians  were  more  forward  in  the  cause  of 
Southern  defence  than  the  men  who  formed  the  Twenty- 
liiird.  They  were  among  the  first  to  respond  when  the  State 
called  upon  her  sons  to  repel  invasion.  The  organization 
of  most,  if  not  all  the  companies,  ante-date  the  Ordinance 
of  Secession,  passed  20  May,  1861. 

This  was  only  ten  days  after  the  act  authorizing  their  en- 
listment was  passed.  Of  course  in  this  case,  as  in  many  oth- 
ers, the  action  of  the  State  had  been  foreseen  and  an- 
ticipated, and  the  raising  of  companies  had  begun  before. 

The  act  authorizing  the  enlistment  of  the  ten  regiments  of 
"State  Troops"  had  been  passed  on  8  May,  two  days  earlier. 

The  power  of  appointing  all  commissioned  officers  in  the 
"State  Troops"  was  lodged  in  the  Governor.  But  the  "Vol- 
unteers" to  which  the  Twenty-third,  then  the  Thirteenth, 
belonged,  were  empowered  to  elect  their  own  officers,  to  be 
commissioned  by  the  Governor.  The  men  of  each  company 
were  to  elect  their  respective  Line  or  Company  Officers.  The 
Line  Officers  were,  by  balloting  among  themselves,  to 
elect  Field  or  Regimental  officers.  The  enlistment  for  the 
"Volunteers"  was  for  twelve  months;  that  of  the  "State 
Troops"  as  long  as  the  war  lasted.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to 


182  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

add  that  both  of  the  above  classes  of  troops  were  in  fact  vol' 
unteers,  the  enlistment  of  both  being  entirely  voluntary. 

The  personnel  of  the  Twenty-third  was  doubtless  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  diverse  racial  strains  of  the  State  as  any  com- 
mand raised  within  her  borders.  The  three  companies  raised 
in  Granville  County,  were  virtually  pure  English,  descend- 
ants of  the  early  Virginia  settlers  who  later  settled  in  this 
State.  In  the  company  from  Eichmond  and  Anson  Counties 
there  was  a  strong  infusion  of  Highland  Scotch,  descendants 
of  the  stout-hearted,  strong  armed  CuUoden  lads  who  were 
"out  wi'  Charlie  in  the  '45."  In  those  from  Catawba,  Lin- 
coln and  Gaston,  the  German  stock,  that  trending  down  from 
Pennsylvania  had  largely  settled  that  part  of  the  State, 
abounded.  While  the  names  in  these  and  other  companies 
from  that  region  show  the  presence  of  many  Scotch-Irish  who 
had  been  co-settlers  with  the  Germans. 

The  regiment  was  composed  of  the  following  compa- 
nies. We  give  the  original  name  which  each  com- 
pany bore,  and  the  county  in  which  it  was  raised. 
Seeking  to  do  justice  to  all,  we  give  as  complete  as 
we  are  able  to  make  it,  a  roster  of  the  Line  and  Field  officers, 
showing  the  promotions  and  casualties  to  the  end  of  the  Avar. 
We  regret  that  lack  of  space  excludes  that  of  equally  worthy 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates.  But  North  Caro- 
lina has  not  been  unmindful  of  them.  All  and  the  casualties  of 
each,  though  not  as  accurately  as  could  be  wished,  down  to  th.e  - 
humblest,  appear  in  the  general  roster  of  which  a  large  num- 
ber of  copies  were  published  by  the  State  in  1882. 

Company  A — Anson  Ellis  Rifles,  Anson  County — Captain 
Wm.  F.  Harlee,  of  Anson  County;  commissioned  May  22, 
1861,  resigned  December  15,  1861.  Captain  James  M. 
Wall,  of  Anson  County,  commissioned  December  15,  1861. 
Captain  Frank  Bennett,  of  Anson  County,  commissioned 
May  10,  1862  ;  promoted  from  First  Sergeant ;  wounded  May 
29,  1862;  wounded  at  Chancellorsville ;  wounded  May  12, 
1864,  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House;  wounded  at  Hatcher's 
Hun.  W.  D.  Redfearne,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Anson  Coun- 
ty; commissioned  May  22,  1861.     James  C.  Marshall,  First 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  183 

Lieutenant,  of  Anson  County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862; 
transferred  as  Adjutant  to  Fourteenth  Regiment  in  1862. 
John  M.  Little,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Anson  County;  com- 
missioned May  22,  1861.  James  Crowder,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, of  Anson  County;  commissioned  May  22,  1861;  wound- 
ed and  captured  at  Sharpsburg ;  wounded  at  Lynchburg  June, 
1864.  Samuel  F.  Wright,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Anson 
County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862;  captured  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

CoMPAiTY  B — Hog  Hill  Guards,  Lincoln  County — Geo. 
W.  Seagle,  Captain,  Lincoln  County ;  commissioned  May  23, 

1861.  Wesley  Hadspeth,  Captain,  Lincoln  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862;  promoted  from  ranks;  wounded  at 
Sharpsburg;  killed  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  1863.  G.  W. 
Hunter,  Captain,  Lincoln  County;  promoted  from  ranks. 
Josiah  Holbrook,  Captain,  Lincoln  County;  promoted  from 
ranks.  T.  J.  Seagle,  First  Lieutenant,  Lincoln  County ; 
commissioned  May  23,  1861.  M.  H.  Shuford,  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Lincoln  Coimty;  commissioned  May  23,  1861.  Lee 
Johnson,  Second  Lieutenant,  Lincoln  County;  commissioned 
May  23,  1861.  S.  A.  Shuford,  Second  Lieutenant,  Lincoln 
County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862.  Wm.  R.  Sloan,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Mecklenburg  County;  commissioned  May 
10,  1862.  M.  H.  Shuford,  Second  Lieutenant,  Lincoln 
County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862.  W.  A.  Thompson, 
Second  Lieittenant,  Lincoln  County;  commissioned  May  10, 

1862.  M.  M.  Hines,  Second  Lieutenant,  Lincoln  County; 
commissioned  November  20,  1861 ;  prisoner  September  19, 
1864. 

Company  C — Montgomery  Volunteers  No.  1 — C.  J.  Coch- 
rane, Captain,  of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned  May 
27,  1861.  E.  J.  Christian,  Captain,  of  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, commissioned  May  10,  1862;  promoted  Major  May  10, 
1862,  and  killed  May  31,  1862  at  Seven  Pines.  A.  F.  Sear- 
borough,  Captain,  of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned 
May  10,  1862 ;  killed  May  30,  1862.  E.  H.  Lyon,  Captain, 
of  Granville  County;  commissioned  May  31,  1862;  trans- 
ferred from  Company  E;  prisoner  September  19,  1864. 
E.  J.  Christian,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Montgomery  County; 


184  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

commissioned  May  27,  1861 ;  promoted  and  killed.  John  E. 
Nicholson,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Montgomery  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862.  E.  J.  Garris,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862;  killed 
W.  Montgomery,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Montgomery  County ; 
commissioned  May  27,  1861.  Jeremiah  Coggins,  Second 
Lieutenant,  of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned  May  10, 
1862 ;  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  1863 ;  one  of  the  600 
officers  placed  under  Confederate  fire  at  Charleston,  S.  C. ; 
died  at  Fort  Delaware.  A.  F.  Saunders,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862;  killed 
at  Spottsylvania  May  9,  1864.  J.  P.  Leach,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, of  Montgomery  County;  commissioned  April  14,  1863. 

Company  I) — Pee  Dee  Guards — Lewis  H.  Webb,  Captain, 
of  Eichmond  County;  commissioned  May  30,  1861;  resign- 
ed. A-  T.  Cole,  Captain,  of  Eichmond  County ;  commissioned 
May  10,  1862  ;  wounded  at  Sharpsburg;  wounded  and  captur- 
ed at  Chancellorsville ;  captured  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H. 
May  12,  1864 ;  one  of  the  600  officers  placed  under  Confeder- 
ate guns  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  James  S.  Knight,  First  Lieu- 
tenant, of  Eichmond  County;  commissioned  May  30,  1861; 
killed  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  1863.  Eisden  T.  Nichols, 
First  Lieutenant,  of  Eichmond  County;  commissioned  May 
10,  1862 ;  died  in  1862.  J.  H.  Chappell,  First  Lieutenant, 
of  Eichmond  County.  John  W.  Cole,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Eichmond  County;  commissioned  May  30,  1861.  B.  H. 
Covington,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Eichmond  County;  com- 
missioned May  30,  1861.  W.  C.  Wall,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Eichmond  County;  commissioned  October  17,  1861;  pro- 
moted Captain  Company  F;  wounded  at  Monacacy  July 
1864.  James  H.  Chappell,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Eich- 
mond County;  commissioned  October  10,  1862;  severely 
wounded  at  Chancellorsville;  captured.  E.  A.  McDonald, 
Second  Lieutenant,  of  Eichmond  County ;  commissioned  Oc- 
tober 10,  1862 ;  severely  wounded  at  Chancellorsville. 

Company  E — Granville  Plough  Boys,  Granville  County — 
J.  H.  Horner,  Captain,  of  G-ranville  County;  commissioned 
June  5,  1861.  B.  F.  Bullock,  Captain,  of  Granville  County; 
commissioned .     E.  E.  Lyon,  First  Lieutenant,  of 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  185 

Granville  County;  commissioned  June  5,  1861.  T.  W. 
Moore,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County ;  commissioned 
August  15,  1861.  J.  H.  Mitchell,  Second  Lieutenant,  of 
Granville  County;  commissioned  June  5,  1861.  A.  D. 
Peace,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County ;  commission- 
ed June  5,  1861 ;  wounded  twice.  E..  V.  Minor,  Second 
Lieutenant,  of  Granville  Coimty;  commissioned  September 
25,  1862.  E.  H.  Lyon,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville 
County;  commissioned  JSTovember  12,  1861;  transferred  as 
Captain  of  Company  C.  B.  F.  Bullock,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Granville  County;  commissioned  December  6,  1861.  J. 
T.  Bullock,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862;  captured  May  12,  1864;  one  of 
the  600  officers  placed  under  Confederate  guns  at  Charleston, 

5.  C.  A.  S.  Webb,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County ; 
commissioned  May  10,  1862  ;  resigned. 

Company  F — Catawba  Guards,  Catawba  County — M.  L. 
McCorkle,  Captain,  of  Catawba  County;  commissioned  June 

6,  1861.  W.  C.  Wall,  Captain,  of  Bichmond  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1864.  Jacob  H.  Miller,  First  Lieuten- 
ant, of  Catawba  County;  commissioned  June  6,  1861.  T. 
W.  Wilson,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Catawba  County;  killed  at 

■  Spottsylvania  May  10,  1864.  M..  L.  Helton,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, of  Catawba  County;  commissioned  June  6,  1861. 
R.  A.  Cobb,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Catawba  County;  com- 
missioned Jime  6,  1861.  G.  P.  Clay,  Secpnd  Lieutenant,  of 
Catawba  County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862.  T.  W.  Wil- 
son, Second  Lieutenant,  of  Catawba  County;  commissioned 
May  10,  1862.  W.  C.  Wall,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Rich- 
mond County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862. 

Company  G^ — Granville  Rifles — C.  C.  Blacknall,  Captain, 
of  Granville  County;  commissioned  Jtine  11,  1861 ;  wounded 
at  Seven  Pines ;  promoted  Major  May  31,  1862 ;  captured  at 
Chancellorsville ;  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettysburg; 
promoted  Colonel  August,  1863 ;  mortally  wounded 
September  19,  1864.  I.  J.  Young,  Captain,  of  Granville 
County;  commissioned  May  31,  1862;  wounded  May  31, 
1862,  at  Seven  Pines;  resigned  August  1862;  wounded  at 
Malvern  Hill.     T.  J.  Crocker,  Captain,  of  Granville  County ; 


186  North  Carolina  Troops,  l861-'65. 

commissioned  August  15,  1862 ;  wounded,  disabled  and  re- 
signed. James  A.  Breedlove,  Captain,  of  Granville  County ; 
commissioned  in  1864;  wounded;  promoted  from  First  Lieu- 
tenant. Isaac  J.  Young,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville 
County;  commissioned  June  11,  1861;  promoted,  wounded, 
and  resigned.  T.  J.  Crocker,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville 
County;  commissioned  May  31,  1862;  promoted,  wounded, 
and  resigned;  J.  A.  Breedlove,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Gran- 
ville County;  commissioned  June  11,  1861;  promoted  and 
wounded.  Washington  F.  Overton,  First  Lieutenant,  of 
Granville  County;  commissioned  in  1864;  wounded  and 
burned  in  woods  at  Chancellorsville.  G.  W.  Kittrell,  Second 
Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned  June  11, 
1861.  Vines  E.  Turner,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville 
County;  commissioned  June  11,  1861;  promoted  Adjutant 
May  10,  1862  ;  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  Jime  27,  1862 ;  pro- 
moted Assistant  Quartermaster  in  1863.  T.  J.  Crocker,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County ;  commissioned  May  10, 
1862 ;  promoted.  William  F.  Gill,  Second  Lieutenant,  of 
Franklin  County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862;  promoted 
from  Sergeant-Major ;  killed  at  Malvern  Hill.  W.  F.  Over- 
ton, Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned 
August  15,  1862 ;  promoted  and  killed.  J.  A.  Breedlove, 
Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  Cotinty;  commissioned  Au- 
gust 15,  1862 ;  promoted  and  wounded.  C.  W.  Champion, 
Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned  No- 
vember 1,  1862;  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Company  H — Gaston  Guards — E.  M.  Faires,  Captain,  of 
Gaston  County;  commissioned  June  12,  1861;  resigned  De- 
cember 1,  1861.  W.  P.  Hill,  Captain,  of  Gaston  County; 
commissioned  December  1,  1861 ;  promoted  from  Sergeant. 
H.  G.  Turner,  Captain,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned 
August  18,  1862  ;  promoted  from  ranks  of  Savannah  Guards ; 
desperately  wounded  and  captured  July  1,  1862,  at  Gettys- 
burg. R.  M.  Ratchf ord.  First  Lieutenant,  of  Gaston  County ; 
commissioned  June  12,  1861;  resigned  December,  1861.  Jos. 
J.  Wilson,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Gaston  County ;  commissioned 
December,  1861 ;  promoted  from  Sergeant.  Joseph  B.  F. 
Riddle,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Gaston  County;  commissioned 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  187 

May  10,  1862;  wounded  September  30,  1864;  promoted 
from  Sergeant.  J.  E.  Hill,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Gaston 
County ;  commissioned  May  10,  1861 ;  promoted  from  ranks. 
T.  N.  Craig,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Gaston  County ;  commis- 
sioned June  12,  1861.  J.  M.  Kendrick,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Gaston  County;  commissioned  June  12,  1861;  captured 
July  1,  1863,  at  Gettysburg.  W.  S.  Floyd,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, of  Gaston  County ;  commissioned . 

Company  I — Granville  Stars — Rufus  Amis,  Captain,  of 
Granville  County;  commissioned  June  17,  1861.  G.  T.  Bas- 
kerville.  Captain,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned  1863; 
killed  at  Gettysburg.  G.  B.  Bullock,  Captain,  of  Granville 
County ;  promoted  from  Second  Lieutenant.  E".  A.  Gregory, 
First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned  June 
17,  1861 ;  wounded  and  disabled  at  Chancellor sville.  G. 
B.  Bullock,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County.  J.  D. 
Knott,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County ;  commissioned 
May  8,  1862;  killed  at  Seven  Pines.  A.  M..  Luria,  Second 
Lieutenant,  of  Georgia;  commissioned  June  17,  1861;  killed 
at  Seven  Pines.  T.  K.  Carrington,  Second  Lieutenant,  of 
Granville  County;  commissioned  June  17,  1861.  G.  B. 
Bullock,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Granville  County;  promoted 
from  ranks  of  Twelfth  Regiment.  J.  D.  Knott,  Second  Lieij- 
tenant,  of  Granville  County;  commissioned  November  16, 
1861 ;  promoted  and  killed.  G.  T.  Sanford,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, of  Granville  County;  commissioned  May' 20,  1862.  W. 
B.  Sims,  Second  Lieiitenant,  of  Granville  County;  commis- 
sioned May  20,  1862  ;  promoted  from  ranks. 

Company  K — Beattie's  Ford  Riflemen,  Lincoln  County — 
Robert  D.  Johnston,  Captain,  of  Lincoln  County;  commis- 
sioned June  22,  1861 ;  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel  May  10, 

1862,  and  Brigadier-General  in  1863.  William  H.  John- 
ston, Captain,  of  Lincoln  County;  commissioned  May  10, 
1862;  promoted  from  First  Lieutenant;  captured  July  1, 

1863,  at  Gettysburg.  W.  H.  Johnston,  First  Lieutenant,  of 
Lincoln  County;  commissioned  June  22,  1861;  promoted 
and  captured.  Daniel  Reinhardt,  First  Lieutenant,  of  Lin- 
coln County;  commissioned  September,  1862.  John  F. 
Goodson,  Second  Jjieutenant,  of  Lincoln  County;  commis- 


188  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

sioned  June  22,  1861.  G.  W*  Hunter,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Lincoln  County;  commissioned  June  22,  1861.  Daniel 
Eeinhardt,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Lincoln  County;  commis- 
sioned May  10,  1862.  J.  A.  Caldwell,  Second  Lieutenant, 
of  Lincoln  County;  commissioned  September  6,  1862.  Wil- 
liam M.  Munday,  Second  Lieutenant,  of  Lincoln  County; 
commissioned  September,  1862;  promoted  from  ranks; 
wounded  at  Malvern  Hill.  H.  W.  FuUenwider,  Second 
Lieutenant,  of  Lincoln  County ;  commissioned  in  May,  1863 ; 
promoted  from  ranks;  killed. 

Nine  of  these  companies  were  assembled  in  camp  near  Wel- 
don,  N.  C,  and  between  that  place  and  Garysburg,  two  miles 
distant,  in  June,  1861.  Here  the  boys  underwent  a  little 
more  drilling  than  they  liked.  But  they  were  patriots,  one 
and  all,  and  as  some  drilling  might  possibly  be  necessary  even 
to  whip  Yankees,  they  submitted  cheerfully.  The  other  com- 
pany, the  Anson  Ellis  Klifles,  remained  in  camp  at  Raleigh  till 
ordered  to  join  the  regiment  as  it  left  for  Virginia.  Garys- 
burg  was  the  point  of  rendezvous.  Here,  in  obedience  to 
orders,  the  Line  Officers  of  the  ten  companies  met  10  July 
and  elected  Field  Officers  for  the  regiment  as  follows.  The 
date,  10  July,  1861,  shows  the  officers  then  elected.  Other 
dates  show  the  result  of  subsequent  elections  and  promotions : 

FIELD    AND    STAFF    OFFICEES. 

John  F.  Hoke^  Colonel,  of  Lincoln  County ;  commissioned 
July  10,  1861. 

Daniel  H.  Cheistie^  Colonel,  of  Granville  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862  ;  wounded  at  Seven  Pines;  wounded 
at  Cold  Habor;  mortally  wounded  July  1,  1863,  at  Gettys- 
burg; died  in  Winchester  August,  1863. 

Chakles  C.  Blacknall,  Colonel,  of  Granville  County; 
commissioned  August  15,  1863;  wounded  at  Seven  Pines; 
captured  at  Ch  ancellorsville ;  wounded  and  captured  at  Get- 
tysburg ;  mortally  wounded  and  captured-at  Winchester  Sep- 
tember 19,  1864;  died  November  6,  1864. 

Wm.  S.  Davis,  Colonel,  of  Warren  County ;  commissioned 
October  1864 ;  transferred  from  Twelfth  Regiment ;  wounded. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  189 

John  W.  Leak,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Richmond  County ; 
commissioned  July  10,  1861. 

RoBT.  D.  JoHNSTONj  Lieutcnant-Colonel,  of  Lincoln 
County;  commissioned  May  10,  1862;  wounded  at  Seven 
Pines;  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  promoted  Brigadier-General 
July,  1863 ;  wounded  at  Spottsylvania. 

Daniel  H.  Cheistie,  Major,  of  Granville  County;  com- 
missioned July  10,  1861 ;  promoted. 

E.  J.  Christian,  Major,  of  Montgomery  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862;  killed  May  31,  1862,  at  Seven 
Pines. 

Charles  C.  Blacknall,  Major,  of  Granville  County; 
commissioned  May  10,  1862 ;  promoted  from  Captain  of 
Company  G. 

Isaac  Jones  Young,  Adjutant,  of  Granville  County ;  com- 
tnissioned  July  10,  1861 ;  wounded  July  1,  1862 ;  promoted 
Captain  of  Company  G  and  resigned  in  1862. 

Vines  E.  Turner,  Adjutant,  of  Granville  County;  com- 
missioned May  10,  1862 ;  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  June  27, 
1862 ;  promoted  to  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster 
June,  1863. 

Junius  French,  Adjutant,  of  Yadkin  County;  commis- 
sioned June,  1863;  killed  July  1,  1863,  at  Gettysburg. 

Charles  P.  Powell,  Adjutant,  of  Richmond  County ;  com- 
missioned July,  1863 ;  killed  May  9,  1864  at  Spottsylvania 
Court  House. 

Lawrence  Everett,  Adjutant,  of  Richmond  County; 
commissioned  May  12,  1864. 

Edwin  G.  Cheatham,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  of  Gran- 
ville County;  commissioned  July  10,  1861,  resigned  Febru- 
ary, 1862. 

W.  I.  Everett,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  of  Richmond 
County ;  commissioned  in  1862 ;  resigned. 

Vines  E.  Turner,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  of  Granville 
County ;  commissioned  June,  1863. 

James  F.  Johnston,  Assistant  Commissary,  of  Lincobi 
County. 

Theophilus  Moore,  Chaplain,  of  Person  County;  later 
Rev.  Mr.  Berry. 


190  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

EoBEET  I.  Hicks,  Surgeon,  of  Granville  County;  T.  0. 
Caldwell,  of  Mecklenburg  County,  Assistant  Surgeon;  later 
Dr.  Jordan,  of  Caswell  County,  killed  at  South  Mountain. 

William  E.  Gill,  Sergeant-Major,  of  Granville  County; 
killed  July  1,  1862  at  Malvern  Hill. 

Ci-iAELES  P.  Powell,  of  Richmond  County;  appointed 
May  10,  1862;  promoted  to  Adjutant  May  9,  1864. 

On  20  May,  the  day  on  which  North  Carolina  seceded 
from  the  Union,  the  Confederate  Capital  had  been 
removed  from  Montgomery  to  Richmond.  It  was  now  plain 
that  the  Old  Dominion  would  be  the  theatre  of  the  war. 
Thither  the  regiment  was  soon  ordered,  to  return  as  an  or- 
ganized body  no  more,  with  one  brief  exception,  till  the  great 
drama  of  blood  and  ruin  had  to  the  last  scene  been  acted. 

On  Wednesday,  17  July,  Colonel  Hoke,  with  seven 
companies  of  the  regiment,  left  the  "Camp  of  Instruction"  at 
Garysburg,  N.  C,  in  freight  cars  for  Richmond,  Va.  Com- 
panies C,  D  and  H,  were  for  the  time  being  necessarily  left  be- 
hind on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  measles  among  the  men. 
Of  this  malady  and  in  the  person  of  John  H.  Harmer,  Com- 
pany D,  the  regiment  lost  its  second  man,  the  first  man  being 
Wm.  LoAvman,  of  Company  A,  who  died  while  in  camp  at 
Raleigh. 

Four  nights  were  spent  in  camp  at  "Rocketts"  in  the 
suburbs  of  Richmond.  It  was  either  here,  or  just  before 
leaving  Garysburg,  that  arms  and  ammunition  were  first 
issued  to  us.  The  arms  consisted  of  smooth  bore  percussion 
muskets,  with  bayonets ;  the  ammunition  of  paper  cartridges, 
containing  ball  and  powder.  A  little  later  in  the  war  we 
were  armed  with  rifles  captured  from  the  enemy. 

MANASSAS. 

Early  on  21  July,  a  bright,  hot  Sunday,  our  seven 
companies  entrained  hurriedly  in  "box"  cars  for  Manassas 
Junction.  Enthusiasm  was  at  flood  tide  in  that  period  of 
boundless  hope.  Cheers  greeted  us  on  every  side  as  we 
steamed  forward  and  at  the  stations  we  were  fed  and  feted. 
All  knew  that  a  battle  was  impending  and  later,  by  means  of 
the  telegraph  line  along  the  railroad,  that  it  was  being  fought. 


Twenty-Third  RKGijrENT.  191 

We  were  eager  to  go  forward ;  more  eager,  perhaps,  than 
we  were  to  reach  later  fields  when  experience  had  unmasked 
the  true,  grim  visage  of  war.  But  many  delays  occurred. 
The  running  of  the  train  was  so  erratic  that  the  engineer  was 
suspected  of  treason,  though  apparently  without  evident 
cause.  The  soldiers  who  crowded  the  tops  of  the  cars  in  their 
eagerness  to  assist,  put  on  brakes  too  hard.  This  caused  one 
of  the  car  trucks  to  take  fire  from  friction,  or  come  very  near 
it.  As  some  of  the  cars  carried,  or  were  believed  to  carry 
powder,  the  men  stopped  the  train  by  means  of  the  brakes  and 
cut  the  endangered  car  loose  till  it  cooled. 

But  these  delays  were  inconsiderable,  compared  with  the 
long  stop  near  the  Rappahannock  bridge,  above  Gordonsville. 
We  had  started  full  early  and  could  have  reached  Manassas 
by  noon,  or  soon  after.  The  presence  of  TOO  men,  fresh  on 
tlae  field,  might  have  had  great  weight  at  more  than  one  junc- 
ture of  that  dubious  battle.  But  we  were  sidetracked  to  meet 
many  trains  of  wounded,  which  began  to  pass  us  at  Louisa 
Court  House.  During  Sunday  night  we  pulled  into  Man- 
assas Junction.  Monday  was  a  rainy,  chilly,  dismal  day. 
The  men  had  stopped  their  cheering  and  horse  play  when  the 
cars  of  bloody-bandaged  wounded  passed  them  the  day  before 
at  Louisa  Court  House.  The  night  spent  on  the  hard  car 
flooi's  seemed  a  real  hardship.  The  twenty-four  hours  fast — 
we  had  left  Richmond  too  suddenly  to  prepare  rations — 
seemed  then  to  border  on  the  heroic.  The  Manassas  water 
reddened  by  contact  with  the  mud,  then  knee  deep  around  the 
station,  drank  like  blood.  The  rows  of  untended  wounded 
who  had  lain  all  night  on  the  field  in  the  rain,  some  of  them 
horribly  mutilated,  grew  longer  and  longer  as  the  ambulances 
came  and  wont.  The  pile  of  amputated  limbs,  naked  and 
whitened  by  tlie  chilling  rains,  grew  higher  and  higher  out- 
side an  amputating  tent  hard-by  the  roadside.  It  was  prob- 
ably the  most  miserable  and  trying  day  that  the  regiment 
spent  diiring  tlae  war.  The  time  when  the  Confederate  sol- 
dier was  to  become  the  marching,  fighting,  fasting  machine 
that  he  did,  insensible  almost  to  hunger,  cold  and  mental  de- 
pression, was  yet  some  distance  ahead. 

We  went  into  camp  at  Camp  Wigf all,  one  and  a  quarter 


192  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

miles  from  the  Junction.  The  three  companies  left  at 
Garysburg  under  Major  Christie,  broke  camp  there  on  5 
August,  and  after  a  few  days  delay  in  Kichmond  wait- 
ing for  transportation,  rejoined  us  here.  For  several  weeks 
encamped  at  this  place,  the  regiment  suffered  exceedingly 
from  the  diseases  which  then,  and  even  now,  seem  unescapa- 
ble  by  the  u.nseason6d  soldier.  By  the  surgeon's  statement, 
the  sick  call  at  one  time  numbered  240,  57  of  the  cases  being 
typhoid  fever.     The  mortality  was  large. 

After  spending  several  weeks  here  our  first  march  was 
made  to  Camp  Ellis,  five  miles  distant,  where  we  remained  six 
weeks.  Near  here,  at  Sangster's  Cross  Eoads,  our  first  picket 
duty  was  performed.  A  little  later  at  Mason's  Hill  the 
whole  regiment  went  on  its  first  picket.  17  September 
we  pitched  camp  and  began  a  long  stay  at  Union  Mills.  ISTear 
here,  on  Bull  Run,  we  built  log  huts  and  went  into  winter 
quarters  in  December,  where  we  remained  with  only  such 
changes  in  position  as  the  exigencies  of  the  situation  in  out- 
post and  picket  duty  required.  This  gave  us  an  opportunity 
to  enjoy  the  boundless  hospitality  of  the  people  of  this  part 
of  Virginia,  upon  whom  the  iron  hand  of  the  war  was  soon 
to  fall  with  such  crushing  weight. 

Meantime  the  regiment  had  been  brigaded  with  the  Fifth 
North  Carolina  "State  Troops,"  Colonel  Duncan  K.  McRae ; 
the  Twentieth  Georgia,  Colonel  Smith;  the  Twenty-fourth 
Virginia,  Colonel  Jubal  A.  Early;  and  the  Thirty-eighth 
Virginia,  Colonel  Jubal  Earles.  Colonel  Early  being  the 
ranking  officer,  he  was  placed  in  command,  and  subsequently 
commissioned  Brigadier-General.  General  Earl  Van  Dorn 
commanded  the  division.  General  Beauregard  the  corps.  Gen- 
eral Joseph  E.  Johnston  the  army.  The  army  was  then  known 
as  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — ^later  upon  the  abandonment 
of  that  line  of  defense,  as  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 
In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1861,  many  changes  took  place  in 
the  Line  Officers  of  the  regiment. 

The  winter  was  a  severe  and  trying  one.  After  January 
1,  1862,  snow,  hail,  sleet  or  rain  fell  almost  every  day.  Fre- 
quently all  fell  the  same  day.  War  doffed  her  holiday  mask 
worn  during  the  tramping  from  camp  to  camp,  and  from 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  193 

picket  to  picket  post  in  the  splendid  weather  of  the  past  Au- 
tumn. Such  duties  now  imposed  hardships  of  a  serious  and 
often  dangerous  nature.  JSTot  yet  hardened  to  endure  all 
things,  as  in  time  they  were,  the  men  suffered  intensely  from 
exposure.  Great  was  the  mortality  from  pneumonia,  typhoid 
fever  and  other  diseases. 

THE  EETEEAT  FEOM  MANASSAS. 

The  early  spring  of  1862  found  the  Confederate  army 
along  Bull  Run  and  north  of  that  stream,  less  than  50,000 
strong.  The  Federal  hosts  under  McClellan,  confronted  it 
over  100,000  strong.  Before  the  opening  of  Spring  rendered 
military  operations  feasible  on  a  large  scale,  General  John- 
ston decided  to  withdraw  from  his  exposed  position  to  a 
stronger  line  south  of  the  Rappahannock.  There  he  would 
also  be  in  better  position  to  meet  and  check  any  advance  of 
the  enemy  whether  direct  or  circuitous,  as  subsequently 
proved. 

The  beginning  of  the  retrograde  movement  found  the  regi- 
ment on  picket  duty  at  Burke's  Station,  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  Railroad,  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy 
who  were  encamped  in  the  neighborhood  of  Alexandria  and 
Springfield.  The  old  camp  on  Bull  Run  was  abandoned 
8  March.  We  moved  out  at  daylight,  throwing  away 
tents  and  camp  equipage;  sum  total  of  the  first  day's 
march  one  and  a  half  miles,  progress  being  checked  by  eon- 
fusion  of  orders.  Early  was  now  acting  as  Major-General, 
in  command  of  the  Fourth  division. 

ISTot  until  sunset  of  the  9th,  did  the  grand  column  move 
again,  reaching  Manassas  Junction  that  night.  The  last  we 
saw  of  the  famous  stone  bridge  across  Bull  Run,  it  was  in 
flames.  Strictly  speaking,  stone  bridge  was  a  misnomer,  all 
but  the  abutments  being  of  wood.  An  immense  amount  of 
property  was  destroyed  as  the  iiecessity  of  change  of  base 
to  the  Peninsula  was  now  anticipated.  A  very  carnival,  re- 
strained to  some  extent  by  the  military  discipline,  reigned 
that  night  at  the  junction.  The  soldiers  got  rich  with  plun- 
der. Depots  of  supplies  and  the  express  office  were  fired. 
13 


194  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Barrels  of  whiskey  were  opened  at  the  head  and  their  con- 
tents poured  in  streams  on  the  ground.  A  rough  soldier  was 
observed  with  six  canteens  of  whiskey  around  his  neck,  as  if 
"he  wept  such  waste  to  see,"  actually  wading  in  a  puddle  of 
the  joyful,  while  in  a  ditty,  tuneless,  but  gay,  he  whistled  his 
regrets  over  "departed  spirits." 

The  next  position  was  south  of  the  Kappahannock.  Large 
numbers  of  refugees  accompanied  the .  army  in  the  retreat. 
Details  of  our  regiment,  as  from  others,  were  made  to  guard 
and  as  far  as  possible,  aid  them  in  their  wild  flight.  As  the 
command  waded  the  Rappahannock  it  witnessed  a  distressing 
accident  to  one.  of  the  unfortunates — a  widowed  lady,  half 
frantic  lest  she  be  left  behind  and  taken  by  the  Yankees, 
missed  the  ford  in  driving  across  the  river  and  was  swept 
down  to  death  by  the  rapid  waters. 

For  several  weeks  the  army  remained  in  position  south  of 
the  Rappahannock  awaiting  a  further  development  of  the 
Federal  plans.  Then  came  a  long,  slow,  impeded  march 
along  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad.  How  like  a 
sealed  book  to  the  private  soldier  are  the  plans  of  his  leaders. 
How  futile  our  conjectures  as  to  the  purpose  of  our  move  and 
the  objects  to  be  gained  by  it.  Many  yearning  hearts — in 
which  the  wish  was  father  to  the  thought — saw  in  this  south- 
ern trend  only  a  return  to  ISTorth  Carolina. 

7  April,  we  took  the  cars  at  Orange  Court  House  and 
that  night,  a  dark  and  rainy  one,  found  us  in  Richmond.  Af- 
ter a  hastily  eaten  midnight  supper,  prepared  for  us  in  the 
market  house  by  the  exlaaustless  hospitality  of  the  good  people 
of  Richmond,  we  were  marched  to  the  Yorktown  depot.  This 
was  the  first  intimation  of  our  destination.  Going  by  rail 
sixty  miles  to  West  Point,  Ave  here  took  schooners  for  York- 
town,  thirty  miles  below. 

THE    PEISriiySULA   OAMPAIGI^. 

8  April,  one  month  after  the  beginning  of  the'  with- 
drawal from  iianassas  the  regiment,  with  other  commands, 
reached  Yorktown.  Here  we  got  our  first  experience  of  the 
trying  duties  of  life  in  the  trenches,  including  much  toil  with 
pick  and  shovel.     On  the  lYth,  after  nine  days  behind  the 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  195 

breastworks,  tlie  boys  had  their  first  experience  with  earinon 
balls  and  bomb-shells.  The  opposing  batteries  were  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  apart.  The  pickets  were  in  rifle  pits 
several  hundred  yards  in  advance,  and  on  that  day  more  than 
one  shell  exploded  in  uncomfortable  proximity  to  them. 
When  the  first  shot  was  fired  direct  at  the  position  occupied 
by  the  Twenty-third  (then  the  Thirteenth),  the  writer  (H. 
0.  Wall)  was  on  duty  in  the  rifle  pits  as  Sergeant  in  com- 
mand. Well  is  remembered  the  "sensation"  produced  by  the 
first  shell  that  fanned  the  cheeks'  of  ye  innocent  braves  who 
occupied  those  rifle  pits,  and  particularly  the  moving  effect 
wrought  upon  a  certain  tongue-tied  individual,  whose  deport- 
ment now,  as  contrasted  with  previous  pretensions,  presented 
a  striking  consistency  with  the  spirit  of  the  ancient  ballad : 

"ISTought  to  him  possesses  greater  charms 

Upon  a  Sunday  or  a  holiday. 
Than  a  snug  chat  of  war  and  war's  alarms. 

While  people  fight  in  Turkey,  far  away." 

For,  with  a  precipitate  bound,  the  tongue-tied  warrior 
made  tracks  for  the  bi'eastworks  exclaiming,  in  answer  to  re- 
monstrances and  threats  of  court-martial:  "Dam  'fi  come  here 
to  be  hulled  out  this  way  when  I  can't  see  who's  a  shootin'  at 
me" — using  the  terms  hulled  instead  of  shelled  as  synony- 
mous, though  he  hardly  thought  of  it  at  the  time.  At  a  period 
a  little  later  in  the  service,  such  conduct  would  have  been  most 
severely  punished.  But  it  is  not  remembered  that  "Dam 
'fi"  got  more  than  a  sharp  reprimand  and  orders  for  an  in- 
stant return  to  his  post.  If  he  ever  afterwards  flinched,  we 
were  not  informed  of  it.     He  was  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

As  the  sharpshooting  grew  hotter  the  pickets  could  be 
posted  and  relieved  only  at  night.  The  opposing  pickets 
fired  at  everything  in  sight.  For  a  space  the  boys  on  such 
duty  embraced  mother  earth  more  intimately  than  they  had 
before  deemed  possible.  But  they  gradually  learned  that 
shooting  and  hitting  were  by  no  means  synonymous  terms. 
At  length  before  the  evacuation  some  of  them,  at  least,  pre- 
ferr«^d  a  prone  position  out  on  the  open  to  the  pits  half  filled 


196  North  Carolina  Tkoops,  1861 -'65. 

with  water  by  the  almost  incessant  rains.  The  trenckea 
themselves  filled  with  water  and  could  not  be  drained.  Yet 
the  artillery  and  rifle  fire  of  the  enemy  held  the  men  close 
down  in  them.  ISTo  fire  could  be  kindled  day  or  night  with- 
out  its  becoming  the  focus  of  heavy  shell  fire  and  it  was  there- 
fore strictly  forbidden.  The  only  food  was  flour  and  salt 
meat  and  these  in  diminishing  quantities.  Food  was  cooked 
by  details  in  the  rear  and  brought  forward  to  us.  Men  sick- 
ened by  thousands.  Soldiers  actually  died  in  the  naud  and 
water  of  the  trenches  before  they  could  be  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital. And  as  many  of  the  cases  of  illness  were  measles,  this 
exposure  meant  death.  Thus  unavoidably  died  a  dog's  death 
many  a  gallant  fellow,  who,  if  spared,  would  have  upheld  with 
his  life  the  Confederate  standard,  through  thick  and  thin, 
and  to  the  bitter  end.  It  is  not  death  amid  the  rapture  of 
the  fray  that  makes  war  most  horrible,  but  the  passing  within 
the  dark  door  of  such  men  under  such  circum- 
stances. Yet  the  term  of  service  at  Yorktown  was  not  all 
irksome,  nor  was  it  unmarked  by  occasional  diversions  from 
the  tread-mill  routine  of  duty.  About  the  quaint  old  town 
were  many  points  of  interest  that  awakened  patriotic  contem- 
plation. The  marble  slab  half  a^  mile  from  town,  'marking 
the  spot  where  eighty  years  before  Cornwallis  had  surren- 
dered to  Washington,  was  a  favorite  place  of  visitation. 

Standing  there  on  consecrated  ground  many  a  fond  prayer 
was  breathed  that  this  self-same  spot  which  witnessed  the 
achievement  of  American  Independence  might  also  see  the  ac- 
complishment of  Southern  Independence. 

The  comparatively  insignificant  Confederate  force  at 
YorktoviTi  had  now  held  McClellan's  vast  army  at  bay  for 
weeks,  while  troops  were  being  concentrated  higher  up  for 
the  defense  of  the  Southern  Capital.  The  Confederate  posi- 
tion exposed  as  it  was  to  turning  movements  by  the  Federal 
fleet  on  both  flanks  was  clearly  untenable.  The  sole  object  of 
Southern  strategy,  after  General  Johnston  made  personal  in- 
spection of  the  surroundings,  was  simply  to  check  the  invasion 
till  the  above  concentration  was  completed. 

This  having  been  accomplished  and  holding  the  enemy  in 
check  longer,  being  possible  only  by  a  pitched  battle,  which  it" 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  197 

was  not  desired  to  fight,  the  Southern  forces  were  quietly 
withdrawn  4  May.  A  deed  which,  in  the  heroic  days  to 
come,  would  have  passed  unnoticed,  impressed  the  unseasoned 
soldiers,  and  is  yet  remembered  by  many.  On  the  day  of  the 
evacuation,  part  of  the  Twenty-third  were  in  the  rifle  pits, 
which  were  that  day  subjected  to  a  fire  of  unusual  keenness. 
When  the  officers  in  the  trenches  knew  that  the  retreat  would 
begin  that  night,  there  was  some  apprehension  that  the  men 
in  the  rifle  pits  should  be  captured  unless  given  exact  orders 
what  to  do.  For  this  purpose  Captain  C.  0.  Blacknall,  Com- 
pany G,  left  the  shelter  of  the  trenches  under  a  ceaseless  fire 
at  400  yards,  made  the  circle  of  the  pits,  gave  the  men  their 
orders  and  returned  unharmed.  The  detail  for  picket  duty 
from  our  regiment  was  the  last  to  leave  the  works,  being  re- 
lieved by  the  cavalry  at  midnight.  We  marched  all  night. 
At  dawn  when  six  miles  out  we  heard  the  furious  cannonad- 
ing of  McClellan's  assault  on  our  empty  intrenchments. 

BATTLE  OF  WILLIAMSBUEG. 

The  retreat,  which  was  much  impeded  by  the  slow  move- 
ment of  the  wagon  trains  over  the  miry  roads,  was  tardy  and 
tedious  in  the  extreme.  The  ancient  town  of  Williamsburg, 
in  Colonial  days  the  Capital  of  the  Old  Dominion,  stands  only 
twelve  miles  from  Yorktown.  The  afternoon  of  5  May,  a 
rainy  day  in  the  midst  of  the  proverbial  cold,  wet  spell  in 
May,  found  us  only  a  mile  or  so  above  Williamsburg,  wait- 
ing to  see  if  our  aid  would  be  necessary  in  the  expected  bat- 
tle. 

From  this  point  Early's  Brigade — now  composed  of  the 
Fifth  and  Twenty-third  (then  Thirteenth)  North  Carolina, 
the  Twenty-fourth  Virginia  and  the  Second  Florida  Bat- 
talion— were  ordered  back  to  aid  Longstreet  in  resisting  the 
inconveniently  eager  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  for  part  of  the 
trains  were  stalled  in  the  deep  mud  where  they  stopped  the 
night  before,  and  must  be  protected  or  abandoned.  The  bat- 
tle was  fought  on  almost  the  same  ground  on  which  the  Amer- 
icans and  British  contended  in  1781.  We  passed  at  double 
quick  through  the  muddy  streets  of  the  historic  town,  pained 


198  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

at  the  shrieks  of  women  and  children  who  were  terrified  at 
the  bloody  drama  then  going  on  in  their  full  view.  A  short 
pause  to  deposit  in  the  campus  of  classic  William  and  Mary 
College  all  knapsacks,  extra  plunder,  etc.,  none  of  which  we 
ever  saw  again — and  we  are  out  upon  our  first  battle  field. 

The  design  was  a  charge  by  Early's  Brigade  against  a 
strong  position  manned  by  Hancock's  Brigade  on  the  enemy's 
right.  When  drawn  up  in  line  for  the  forward  movement, 
General  Early  rode  the  length  of  the  brigade  using,  in  that 
fine- toned  voice  of  his,  something  like  the  words:  "Boys, 
you  must  do  your  duty."  The  line  advanced  a  hundred  yards 
or  more  through  a  wheat  field  wet  with  the  cold  rain  which 
had  fallen  that  day,  but  which  had  now  ceased.  Then  our 
regiment  was  confronted  by  a  forest  of  trees  and  thick  under- 
growth. The  line  at  once  became  irregular  and  more  or  less 
jumbled  by  the  reason  of  the  natural  obstacle  to  its  progress. 
These  woods  also  shut  out  the  view  and  caused  the  line  of  the 
regiment's  advance  to  be  slightly  deflected  to  the  left,  by 
which  it  lost  touch  with  the  Fifth,  on  our  right.  At  this 
moment  General  D.  H.  Hill  appeared,  mounted,  in  our  front, 
and  said  sharply  to  the  men,  now  endeavoring  to  regain  their 
alignment,  and  each  one  commanding  his  fellow,  "hush  your 
infernal  noise." 

In  one  instant  imore  the  right  wing  of  the  brigade,  having 
greatly  the  advantage  of  the  ground  in  marching,  came  first  in 
view  of  the  enemy's  battery,  and  charging  forward  in  the 
open,  outstripped  the  movement  of  the  Twenty-third,  impeded 
by  the  woods,  received  a  withering  fire  and  was  hurled  back 
by  a  fury  of  shot  and  shell  irresistible  by  mortal  force.  The 
Fifth  North  Carolina  made  a  gallant,  but  fruitless  charge, 
losing  many  gallant  lives,  and  our  regiment  was  not  on  hand 
to  support  it  at  the  critical  moment.  That  moment  was  of  the 
briefest  possible  span — like  a  sea  wave  against  the  sea  wall, 
the  charge  bounded  back  almost  instantly. 

Colonel  D.  K.  McEae,  of  the  Fifth  North  Carolina,  alleged 
that  the  Twenty-third  (then  the  Thirteenth)  was  inexcusably 
derelict  in  duty  and  that  Colonel  Hoke  halted  the  regiment 
without  orders.  Colonel  Hoke,  on  the  contrary,  maintained 
that  General  Early  gave  the  order  to  halt,  which  assertion 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  199 

was  never  denied  by  General  Early.  Whether  the  order  to 
"halt"  was  given  us  before  or  after  the  batteries  opened  on 
the  assaulting  line,  would  be  hard  to  tell,  for  this  halt  of  the 
regiment  appeared  to  be  about  the  same  moment  that  a  por- 
tion of  the  assaulting  forces  were  rushing  pell-mell  back  from 
the  attack.  It  was  all  the  work  of  a  few  minutes  and  the 
brigade,  chagrined  by  defeat,  and  mourning  the  loss  of  many 
gallant  spirits,  fell  back  in  good  order.  The  enemy  seemed 
content  to  hold  his  own,  without  much  further  effort  to  ad- 
vance his  line  as  night  came  on.  Only  four  or  five  men  in 
our  regiment  were  wounded,  and  all  but  one  of  them  by  ran- 
dom bullets.  Captain  C.  C.  Blacknall,  Company  G,  in 
eagerly  leading  his  company  forward  through  the  woods,  got 
some  distance  in  advance,  where  he  came  suddenly  upon  two 
Federals  lying  down  in  the  brush.  Receiving  untouched  the 
fire  of  one  at  three  paces,  he  sprang  forward  with  his  sword 
and  made  them  prisoners.  The  ball  that  missed  the  Cap- 
tain struck  James  A.  Gill,  of  Company  G.  This  was  the 
first  wound  of  the  war  received  by  a  member  of  the  Twenty- 
third.  Mr.  Gill  recovered  from  his  wound  and  still,  at  the 
end  of  thirty-eight  years,  survives. 

Genera]  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  in  conversation  with  me  (H. 
C.  Wall)  several  years  after  the  war,  placed  the  responsibility 
of  the  charge  upon  General  D.  H.  Irlill.  lie  said  that  he  did 
not  order  it  to  be  made  and  permitted  it  only  after  repeated 
requests  from  General  Hill.  Much  was  said  at  the  time, 
and  afterwards,  of  the  part  our  regiment  took  in  the  battle  of 
Williamsburg.  Blunders  there  may  have  been,  blunders  una- 
voidable by  a  command  manoevering  under  such  circum- 
stances and  amid  the  exigencies  of  real  warfare  for  the  first 
time;  but  the  writer  of  these  lines  (V.  E.  Turner)  was  pres- 
ent as  one  of  its  Line  Officers,  and  had  every  opportunity  to 
be  fully  conversant  with  the  spirit  that  animated  the  regi- 
ment. He  was  conversant  with  it,  and  he  knows  that  ofiicers 
and  men  were  as  willing,  and  even  as  eager  to  do  their  duty  as 
any  command  in  the  Southern  army.  The  well  known  ten- 
dency of  a  man  or  body  of  men,  endeavoring  to  go  straight 
forward,  but  unguided  by  any  distinct  objective  ahead,  as  we 
were  in  these  woods,  to  bear  unconsciously  to  the  left,  had  pos- 


200  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

sibly  had  its  effect  on  the  deflection  in  our  advance  and  our 
separation  from  the  regiment  on  our  right. 

Wet  as  rain  can  make  us,  with  knapsacks  and  every  shred 
of  extra  clothing  gone,  we  marched  back  to  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  where  we  first  formed  in  line  of  battle.  Here  amid  mud 
and  rain  we  were  held  in  line  of  battle  till  3  a.  m.  As  there 
was  momentary  expectation  of  attack,  not  a  spark  of  fire  was 
allowed.  Then  twelve  miles  were  tramped,  or  rather  stumbled, 
through  darkness,  mud  and  slush,  before  halt  was  made  for 
rest  or  sleep.  The  tenacious  mire  was  often  knee  deep.  Shoes 
were  pulled  from  our  feet  by  it  and  lost.  Pantaloons  became 
so  caked  and  weighted  with  mud  that  many,  in  sheer  despe- 
ration and  utter  inability  in  their  exhaustion,  to  carry  an 
extra  ounce,  cut  off  and  threw  away  all  below  the  knees.  All 
that  night  we  had  no  food,  nor  the  next  day,  though  lunging 
desperately  forward  over  virtually  impassable  roads.  The 
following  day,  the  7th,  found  us  still  marching  and  fasting, 
or  rather,  famishing.  Blessed  indeed  were  the  squad  or  two 
that  found  and  shot  a  razor-back  hog.  But  we  were  the  rear 
guard  and  even  razor  backs  had  become  scarce  and  wary  after 
being  hunted  by  the  30,000  hungry  mouths  that  had  preceded 
us.  One  of  our  Captains  who  was  lucky  enough  to  get  an  ear 
of  corn  a  day,  always  spoke  of  it  as  the  parched  corn  march. 

Many  of  the  troops  "caved"  in  from  sheer  exhaustion  and 
starvation.  The  case  of  Sergeant  Malcolm  ISTicholson,  Com- 
pany D.,  which  occurred  a  little  later  in  the  retreat,  will 
illustrate  our  sufferings  as  well  as  the  grim  resolve  of  the 
men  to  keep  up  with  the  colors  up  to  the  point  of  absolute 
physical  collapse.  This  stripling  refused  to  succumb  or  fall 
out  till  at  a  halt  one  night  he  toppled  over.  His  comrades 
tucked  him  away  in  an  old  wagon  body  lying  near.  When 
the  order  to  "fall  in"  came,  and  they  went  to  arouse  him, 
they  found  that  death  had  given  him  his  discharge  and  that 
the  weary  marching  of  the  boy  sergeant  was  over  forever. 

On  the  evening  of  9  May,  the  Chickahominy  was 
reached,  the  wagons  overtaken  and  the  worst  hardship  of  the 
march,  whose  sufferings  remained  ever  vivid  to  the  men  vt}io 
clung  to  the  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  to  the  bitter  end, 
was  over. 


TWENTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 

1.    J.  H.  Horner,  Captain,  Co.  E.  4.    V.  E.  Turner.Captain,  Quart.  Master. 

8.    Frank  Bennett,  Captain,  Co.  A.  5.    Abner  D  Peace,  Captain.  Co  E 

8.    H.  G.  Turner,  Captain,  Co.  H.  6.    Geo  T.  Baskerville,  Captain,  Co.  I 

7.    Jas.  A.  Breedlove.  Captain,  Co.  G. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  201 

the  eeoeganization. 

While  camped  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy  at  Bar- 
rett's Ferry,  the  regiment  was  re-organized.  This  was  hast- 
ened in  order  to  take  advantage  of  a  provision  in  the  Confed- 
erate Conscript  Act,  passed  16  April,  1862.  This  provision 
allowed  .troops  whose  term  of  enlistment  had  not  expired,  to 
re-organize  with  all  the  privileges,  as  to  election  of  ofRcer^^, 
which  they  had  before  the  act  was  passed,  provided  the  re- 
organization was  effected  within  forty  days  from  the  passing 
of  the  act.  With  that  period  lapsed  the  Confederate  soldier's 
right  to  choose  his  own  officers,  all  commissioned  officers  being 
thereafter  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Confederacy. 

Thus  a  re-organization  of  most  of  the  Volunteer  North 
Carolina  regiments  in  that  army,  a  perilous  thing  in  face  of 
a  vastly  superior  enemy,  took  place  about  this  time,  an  event 
unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  history.  A  large  proportion  of 
officers  failing  of  re-election,  their  places  were  filled  with 
men  raised  from  the  ranks,  or  from  subordinate  positions. 
Nearly,  or  quite  all  the  commands,  had  in  their  ranlvs  plenty 
of  men  competent  to  serve  as  commissioned  officers.  But 
many  thus  elevated  were  not  qualified  by  sufficient  experience 
for  command,  and  the  presence  of  so  many  inexperienced  of- 
ficers told  against  the  South  a  month  later  in  the  prolonged 
death  grapple  with  the  enemy  in  the  Chickahominy  swamps, 
known  as  the  Seven  Days'  Fighting.  That  under  such  circum- 
stances victory  should  have  crowned  Southern  effort,  attest  the 
dauntless  valor  of  Southern  troops. 

Our  boys,  prompted  more  perhaps  by  the  desire  for  change, 
a  strong  factor  in  all  lives  and  strongest  of  all  in  the  monot- 
onous life  of  a  soldier,  elected  as  a  rule,  new  Line  Officers. 

The  following  change  was  made  in  Field  Officers :  Daniel 
H.  Christie  was  elected  Colonel  in  place  of  John  F.  Hoke; 
Robert  D.  Johnston,  lormerly  Captain  of  Company  K,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel ;  Ed.  J.  Christian,  former  First  Lieutenant  of 
Company  C,  Major ;  Vines  E.  Turner,  former  Second  Lieu- 
tenant in  Company  G,  Adjutant.  That  night  the  officers 
who  had  failed  of  re-election  bade  us  farewell,  took  leave  for 
Richmond  and  later  sought,  most  of  them,  other  positions  in 


202  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

which  to  serve  their  struggling  country.  Our  regiment  for- 
'merly  the  Thirteenth  North  Carolina  Volunteers,  was  there- 
after known  as  the  Twenty-third  North  Carolina  Troops. 

In  pursuance  of  our  plan  to  briefly  outline  the  careers  of 
the  Field  Officers  of  the  regiment,  we  give  the  following 
sketch  of  John  F.  Hoke,  the  retiring  Colonel. 

COLONEL    JOHN   F.    HOKE. 

Colonel  Hoke  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  IsT.  C,  8  May, 
1820.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina, and  a  lawyer  by  profession.  He  served  with  credit  as 
First  Lieutenant  in  Captain  W.  J.  Clarke's  company  in  the 
Mexican  war,  taking  part  in  the  campaign  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico.  Subsequently  he  served 
several  terms  in  the  Legislature.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
War  for  Southern  Independence,  he  was  appointed  Adjutant- 
General  of  North  Carolina,  serving  till  the  ten  regiments  of 
"State  Troops"  and  thirteen  regiments  of  "Volunteers"  were 
organized  and  equipped.  In  July,  1861,  he  was  elected  Colonel 
of  the  Thirteenth  (later  Twenty-third)  North  Carolina  Vol- 
unteers, and  commanded  the  regiment  until  its  reorganiza- 
tion, 10  May,  1862.  Failing  of  re-election,  he  returned  to 
North  Carolina  and  in  1864  became  Colonel  of  the  Seventy- 
fourth  Regiment,  Second  Senior  Reserves).  The  close  of 
the  war  found  him  guarding  prisoners  at  Salisbury.  He  died 
in  November,  1888.  Colonel  Hoke  was  an  upright,  honora- 
ble and  cultivated  gentleman.  Great  kindness  and  consider- 
ation characterized  his  bearing  towards  the  subordinate  of- 
ficers of  his  regiment. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  JOHN  W.  LEAK. 

John  W.  Leak  was  born  in  Richmond  County,  N.  C,  16 
March,  1816.  His  grandfather,  Walter  Leak,  Sr.,  served 
throughout  the  Revolutionary  War  as  a  private  in  the  Amer- 
ican army,  and  died  in  the  town  of  Rockingham,  in  1844,  at 
an  advanced  age. 

He  graduated  at  Randolph-Macon  College  about  1837. 

In  July,  1861,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  our 
regiment.  This  office  he  filled  till  the  re-organization  of  the 
regiment  in  May,  1862,  when,  as  was  the  case  with  many  of 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  203 

the  officers,  he  failed  of  re-election.  Being  then  well  ad- 
vanced into  middle  age,  he  retired  to  private  life  and  became 
prominent  in  the  cotton  mill  interests  at  Rockingham.  He 
died  in  May,  18Y4. 

THE  BATTLE   OF   SEVEN   PINES. 

The  retreat  from  the  peninsula  and  up  the  south  banks  of 
the  Chickahominj,  brought  us  within  sight  of  Richmond  on 
Sunday,  18  May.  We  pitched  camp  in  a  dense  undergrowth 
of  woods,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  city,  on  the 
eastern  side.  Soon  the  invading  Federal  hosts  drew  nearer. 
Day  by  day  portents  of  a  desperate  strife  to  come,  accumu- 
late. Picket  firing  grows  heavier  and  more  persistent,  and 
the  shriek  and  roar  of  bursting  shells  seemed  to  have  become 
part  of  the  natural  order  of  things. 

The  strategy  of  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  or  Fair  Oaks,  as 
it  is  sometimes  called,  was  exceedingly  simple. 

McClellan  had  thrown  Keyes'"  Corps,  composed  of  Casey's 
and  Couch's  divisions,  and  TIeintzelman's  composed  of  Hook- 
er's and  Kearney's  divisions,  to  the  southern  bank  of  the 
Chickahominy,  and  Casey  had  advanced  to  Seven  Pines  and 
fortified.  Couch's  line  was  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  in  the 
rear  of  Casey's.  Hooker  and  Kearney  were  in  rear  of  Couch. 
On  Friday  night,  30  May,  a  violent  thunder  and  rain 
storm  had  greatly  swollen  the  streams,  and  Johnston  seized 
upon  this  opportunity  to  deal  with  his  vastly  superior  foe  in 
detail.  He  hoped  to  crush  these  isolated  divisions  before 
more  troops  could  be  thrown  across  the  swollen  Chickahominy 
to  reinforce  them.  D.  H.  Hill's  division,  supported  by  Long- 
street's,  was  to  attack  in  front;  Huger's  division  was  to  at- 
tack the  enemy's  left  flank,  and  Smith's  his  right. 

The  Twenty-third  took  an  important  and  most  gallant  part, 
both  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  and  in  the  reconnoissance 
on  the  Williamsburg  road  the  day  before,  which  disclosed  the 
situation  of  the  enemy  and  led  to  the  Confederate  attack.  In 
this  sortie  doAvn  the  Williamsburg  road  30  May,  several 
men  were  wounded  and  Captain  Ambrose  Scarborough,  of 
Company  C,  in  command  of  the  four  companies  reconnoiter- 
ing,  was  killed.     In  the  person  of  this  gallant  officer  the  reg- 


204  North  Cakolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

iment  lost  its  first  man  from  a  hostile  bullet.  Captain  Frank 
Bennett  commanded  the  advance  line  of  sharpshooters,  who 
really  developed  the  enemy's  strength,  was  severely  wounded, 
being  disabled  for  months. 

In  the  attack  at  Seven  Pines,  made  in  the  afternoon  of 
Saturday,  31  May,  1862,  the  Twenty-third  belonged  to  Gar- 
land's Brigade.  This  with  three  other  brigades,  Kodes',  G. 
B.  Anderson's  and  Raines',  formed  Ilill's  division,  which  as- 
saulted the  strongly  fortified  Federal  front.  Few  attacks  in 
war  were  ever  made  under  circumstances  more  unfavorable  to 
the  assaulting  force.  A  swamp,  in  some  places  waist  deep  in 
water  and  thick  with  undergrowth  and  tangled  vine,  had  to  be 
crossed,  and  a  skillfully  made  abatis  confronted  and  strug- 
gled through  before  the  heavily  manned  hostile  works  beyond 
could  be  reached.  Through  them  all  swept  the  regiment  in 
line,  with  its  comrade  commands,  under  a  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery  as  hot  as  mortal  men  ever  breasted  with  success. 
Many  a  gallant  fellow  was  stricken  down  dead  or  wounded. 
Some  rendered  helpless  by  wound-s,  not  necessarily  fatal,  sank 
and  were  drowned  in  the  deep  waters  of  the  swamp. 

Finer*  tribute  to  fighting  men  was  never  paid  than,  that 
by  a  Northern  writer  who  saw  the  battle  from  the  point  of 
view  which  we  assailed — there  being  no  hotter  section  of  that 
fire-swept  line  than  which  fate  assigned  to  the  Twenty-third. 
This  writer  says:  "Our  shot  tore  their  ranks  wide  open, 
and  shattered  them  in  a  manner  frightful  to  behold,  but  they 
closed  up  and  came  on  as  steadily  as  English  Veterans.  When 
they  got  within  four  hundred  yards  we  closed  our  case  shot 
and  opened  on  them  with  canister.  Such  destruction  I  never 
witnessed.  At  each  discharge  great  gaps  were  made  in  their 
ranks.  *  *  But  they  at  once  closed  and  came  steadily  on, 
never  halting,  never  wavering,  right  through  the  woods 
(swamp),  over  the  fence,  through  the  field,  right  up  to  our 
guns,  and  sweeping  everything  before  them,  captured  our  ar- 
tillery and  cut  our  whole  division  to  pieces." 

Huger's  turning  movement  far  to  our  right  had  been 
stopped  by  impassable  streams.  Smith's  attack  far  to  our 
left,  where  General  Johnston  commanded  in  person,  had  been 
beaten  off,  and  the  Oommander-in-Ohief  severely  wounded. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  205 

But  in  our  front  the  victory  was  complete.  After  two  hours, 
ending  in  the  brilliant  charge  described  above,  Casey's  works 
were  carried  and  his  routed  line  driven  back  on  Couch's. 
Then  the  division  reinforced  by  only  one,  R.  H.  Anderson's, 
smashed  Couch,  though  reinforced  by  Kearney,  and  drove  all 
back  on  their  third  line  two  miles  in  rear  of  the  first  line. 
Twelve  pieces  of  artillery  and  6,000  stands  of  small  arms, 
were  taken.     Darkness  put  an  end  to  the  battle. 

Biit  a  heavy  blood  equivalent  was  paid  for  the  victory. 
Owing  to  much  sickness  the  regiment,  according  to  the  state- 
ment of  Captain  A.  T.  Cole,  was  able  to  go  into  this  action 
only  about  225  strong.  Moore's  Roster,  which  in  countless 
instances,  and  pr6bably  in  this,  is  incomplete,  shows  that 
twenty-four  privates  and  non-commissioned  officers  were 
killed,  and  ninety-five  wounded,  sixteen  of  them  mortally. 
As  will  be  seen,  this  was  an  exceeding  large  proportion  of  the 
number  engaged. 

There  were  also  many  casualties  among  the  commissioned 
officers.  None  of  the  Field  Officers  escaped  injury.  Colo- 
nel Christie  was  wounded.  Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  D.  John- 
ston was  wounded  in  the  arm,  face  and  neck,  had  his  horse 
killed  xmder  him  and  was  shot  down  within  fifty  feet  of  the 
hostile  works.  Captain  C.  C.  Blacknall,  Company  G,  who, 
unable  to  walk,  owing  to  a  sprained  ankle,  had  gone  into 
action  mounted,  was  grazed  by  seven  balls,  and  received 
a  painful  bruise  near  the  spine  from  a  fragment  of  shell.  He 
also  received  painful  injuries  from  his  horse,  which  was  killed 
and  fell  on  him.  Captain  William  Johnston,  Company  K, 
and  Lieutenant  E.  A.  McDonald,  Company  D,  were  also 
wounded.  Lieutenants  J.  D.  Knott  and  A.  M.  Luria,  of 
Company  I,  were  killed.  Luria  was  a  gallant  young  fellow. 
It  was  at  Seawell's  Point  that  he  did  a  heroic  act,  which,  had 
he  been  a  British  soldier,  would  have  brought  him  the  Victo- 
ria Cross  and  caused  the  world  to  ring  with  his  name.  While 
there  early  in  1861,  either  as  a  visitor  or  as  a  member  of  Col- 
quitt's command,  before  he  joined  the  Twenty-third,  a  shell 
from  the  Federal  gunboats  dropped  among  the  Confederates. 
With  rare  presence  of  mind  and  devotion,  he  seized  the  shell 
and  threw  it  over  the  works  before  it  could  explode.     At  our 


206  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

reorganization  he  refused  promotion,  saying  that  he  wished 
nothing  unless  won  on  the  battle  field.  Major  E.  J.  Chris- 
tian was  mortally  wounded,  dying  a  few  days  later. 

MAJOR  EDMUND   J.    CHEISTIAIT. 

Major  Edmund  J.  Christian  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  ISr.  C,  in  1834.  His  uncle,  Samuel  H.  Christian, 
was  elected  to  the  Confederate  Congress,  but  died 
before  taking  his  seat.  While  a  boy,  his  father  died,  leaving 
his  mother  and  her  other  children  largely  dependent  on  him, 
which  duty  he  successfully  performed.  Major  Christian  was 
a  farmer  by  vocation.  He  was  a  man  of  magnificent  physique 
and  had  no  bad  habits.  On  the  outbreak  of  war  he  enlisted 
as  a  private,,  but  was  elected  Lieutenant,  in  the  Montgomery 
Vounteers  ISTo.  1,  which  became  Company  C  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment.  Upon  the  reorganization,  10  May, 
1862,  he  was  elected  Major,  to  fall  in  battle  just  three  weeks 
later.  At  Seven  Pines  he  had  received  two  wounds,  either  of 
which  would  have  justified  his  retirement  from  the  field.  But 
he  pluckily  went  forward  at  the  head  of  his  men  till  stricken 
down  with  the  third  and  mortal  wound.  He  was  conveyed  to 
a  private  house  in  Richmond,  tenderly  nursed  for  the  two  or 
three  days  he  had  to  live,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Confed- 
erate Capital  which  he  had  died  to  defend.  Lieutenant  W. 
P.  Gill,  of  Company  G,  was  also  wounded. 

Captain  C.  C.  Blacknall,  Company  G,  was  promoted  to 
Major  on  the  death  of  Major  Christian. 

The  courage  and  dash  of  the  men  and  officers  in  this 
bloody  onslaiight,  has  never  been  surpassed.  When  in  the 
impetuosity  of  the  onset  through  the  vine-tangled  swamp,  the 
three  right  companies  became  temporarily  separated  from 
the  regiment.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnston  led  them  gal- 
lantly forward  with  the  Fourth  Regiment.  Splendidly  did 
the  whole  command  show  its  alacrity  to  meet  and  close  with 
the  foe,  no  matter  what  the  obstacles,  so  that  they  knew 
where  he  was  and  there  was  no  confusion  of  orders 
as  in  the  woods  at  Williamsburg.  The  conduct  of  private 
Wm.  C.  Cole,  brother  of  Captain  A.  T.  Cole,  at  Seven  Pines, 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  207 

is  a  good  illustration  of  the  high  resolve  of  the  men  to  do  their 
full  duty.  This  youth,  a  mere  stripling  and  in  poor  health 
from  the  hardships  of  the  campaign,  found  in  the  thick  of 
the  fight,  that  the  channel  of  the  tube  was  obstructed,  and 
that  his  musket  would  not  fire,  sat  down  imder  a  hot  fire,  re- 
moved the  tube  with  his  wrench,  screwed  home  a  new  one, 
caught  up  with  the  line  at  a  few  bounds  and  continued  to 
load  and  fire  as  long  as  a  Yankee  was  in. sight. 

After  Seven  Pines,  the  regiment  went  into  camp  near 
Richmond  and  passed  several  weeks  in  drilling.  Here  on 
Tuesday,  17  June,  it  was  re-brigaded,  being  now  placed 
in  brigade  with  the  Fifth,  Twelfth,  Thirteenth  and  Twenti- 
eth, all  ISTorth  Carolina  regiments.  Samuel  Garland,  Jr.,  of 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  remained  in  command  as  Brigadier.  Soon 
after  the  wounding  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  at  Seven 
Pines,  General  R.  E.  Lee  became  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
army. 

THE  SEVEN  DATs'  XflGHTING. 

As  the  month  of  June,  1862,  wore  away,  McClellan's  plans 
developed.  The  Confederate  Capital  was  to  be  taken  by  reg- 
ular approaches.  The  26  June  found  his  splendidly 
organized  and  equipped  army  of  at  least  105,000  ef- 
fectives, strongly  intrenched  on  a  line  straddling  the  Chick- 
ahominy  and  extending  from  White  Oak  Swamp,  twelve 
miles  soiitheast  of  Richmond,  to  Mechanicsville,  six  miles 
northeast.  The  line,  especially  that  part  north  of  the  Chick- 
ahominy,  ran  along  positions  of  great  natural  strength,  rugged 
bluffs  protected  largely  by  streams  or  swamps  on  the  side  next 
to  the  Confederates. 

The  soutliern  strategy  of  this  protracted  death  grapple,  so 
well  described  by  its  name,  the  Seven  Days  Fighting,  was 
masterly — as  brilliant  as  history  records.  The  valor  and 
staying  powers  evinced  by  the  Southern  soldiers  in  that  pro- 
longed combat  is  scarcely  matched  in  the  annals  of  time.  But 
for  an  apparently  inherent  defect  in  the  Southern  mind — its 
inability  to  master,  or  its  universal  contempt  for,  the  practi- 
cal details  of  things,  the  invading  hosts  would  in  all  likeli- 


208  North  GAROLI^:A  Troops,   18t)l-'65. 

hood  have  met  its  doom  in  the  Chickahominy  swamps.  Had 
Southern  practicalness  been  at  all  commensurate  with  South- 
ern generalship  and  Southern  courage,  it  is  hard  to  see  how 
McClellan's  army  could  have  escaped  ruin,  if  not  total  de- 
struction. This  unpracticalness  manifested  itself  here  in 
the  failure  to  prepare  accurate  topographical  maps  of  a  region 
which  the  trend  of  events  had,  for  months,  pointed  out  as  the 
most  probable  scene  of  conflict. 

The  position  of  the  Federal  army  was,  on  the  whole,  nat- 
urally very  strong  and  made  as  much  stronger  as  engineering 
skill  could  make  it.  But  owing  to  the  isolating  effect  of  the 
many  streams  and  swamps,  difficult  of  passage,  it  gave  the 
opportunity  of  the  war  to  the  qualities  in  which  the  Southern 
army  excelled — prowess  and  military  genius.  In  this  in- 
stance these  qualities  were  largely  negatived  by  the  fact  that 
the  Confederate  leaders  fought  and  maneuvered  over  a  region 
of  whose  exact  topography  they  knew  scarcely  more  than  of 
the  craters  in  the  moon.  The  result  of  this  ignorance  of  nat- 
ural obstacles,  and  of  the  roads  that  turn  them,  was  that 
thousands  of  gallant  men,  the  very  flower  of  the  Southern 
army,  were  needlessly  and  heedlessly  sacrificed,  and  that  a 
half  victory  cost  double  the  price  for  what  a  whole  victory 
could  have  been  obtained. 

Lee's  plans  were  that  Jackson,  then  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  by  a  rapid  and  secret  march,  should  strike  the  right 
flank  of  this  twenty-mile  line,  while  he  smote  its  right  front. 
Then  beginning  at  the  end,  55,000  of  his  80,000  men,  were  to 
be  thrown  impetuously  against  the  Federal  line,  flanking  it 
as  far  as  practicable,  and  rolling  it  back  upon  itself,  compass 
its  destruction  if  possible. 

After  Seven  Pines  the  Twenty-third  was  assigned  a  posi- 
tion near  the  left  wing  of  the  army.  Our  tents  were  pitched 
on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream  about  600  yards  in  the  rear  of 
the  works.  As  an  advance  of  the  enemy  was  hourly  expected, 
the  orders  were  that  upon  the  sound  of  a  bugle  at  brigade 
headqxiarters,  the  regiment  must  be  formed  in  'five  minutes 
with  three  days'  rations,  canteens  filled  and  forty  rounds  of 
ammunition  per  man,  ready  to  march  rapidly  to  it§  place  in 
line.     This  rendered  it  necessary  for  the  men  to  sleep  with 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  209 

their  cartridge  belts  on  and  haversacks  and  canteens  by  their 
sides.  Mounted  officers  had  to  keep  their  horses  saddled. 
No  one  was  allowed  to  be  absent  from  the  command  for  a 
moment.  Many  such  alarms  were  given  by  day  and  by 
night.  Two  weeks  of  this  rigid  discipline  made  the  order  to 
advance  a  genuine  relief. 

The  fighting  began  in  earnest  on  Thursday,  26  June,  a 
fine  cloudless  day.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  A.  P.  Hill 
moved  to  the  east  and  without  waiting  for  Jackson's  appear- 
ance on  the  Federal  flank,  as  had  been  agreed,  assaulted  in 
front  the  impregnable  lines  on  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  a  small 
stream  running  north  and  south,  and  emptying  into  the 
Chickahominy.  The  result  was  that  he  M'as  beaten  off  with 
the  loss  of  over  3,000  men,  a  loss  nearly  ten  times  as  great  as 
he  inflicted  on  the  enemy.  This  is  often  called  the  battle  of 
Mechaniesville  from  a  very  small  village  at  the  cross  roads  a 
mile  west  of  the  stream.  [This  premature  assault  and  conse- 
quent disastrous  and  useless  loss  of  life  General  A.  P.  Hill 
afterward  repeated  at  Gettysburg  and  at  Bristoe  Sta- 
tion.— Ed.  J 

The  Twenty-third,  which  belonged  to  D.  H.  Hill's  divis- 
ion, was  not  actively  engaged  on  the  26th.  About  11  a.  m. 
of  that  day,  we  left  our  position  in  line  and  marched  to  the 
left,  striking  the  Mechaniesville  road  as  we  filed  down  the 
hill  towards  a  little  stream.  To  the  left  of  our  line  of  march 
could  be  seen  a  group  of  high  Confederate  oflicers,  including 
President  Davis,  Generals  Lee,  Longstreet,  D.  H.  Hill,  Gar- 
land and  others.  Their  earnest  consultation  and  the  distant 
firing  made  us  feel  that  a  momentous  period  in  the  struggle 
was  now  at  hand.  We  were  marched  up  and  took  position  op- 
posite the  hills  beyond  the  stream,  and  were  for  a  while  under 
a  spirited  cannonade.  Adjutant  Turner's  horse  was  killed, 
falling  on  him,  but  not  inflicting  injury  enough  to  keep  him 
out  of  the  battle  of  the  next  day.  Several  other  casualties 
were  also  sustained  by  the  regiment 

We  slept  that  night  on  our  arms.  Early  the  next  morning 
while  Captain  I.  J.  Young  was  getting  his  company  in  line 
for  the  work  before  us,  one  of  his  men  complained  that  he 
14 


210  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861 -'65. 

was  not  well,  and  wanted  to  report  on  the  sick  list.  Captain 
Young  was  heard  to  say:  "Yes,  damn  it;  I  know  you  are 
sick.  But  it's  only  the  battle  field  colic.  I'll  not  excuse 
you."  The  diagnosis  proved  correct,  the  "colic"  soon  passed 
and  the  patient,  we  believe,  did  his  duty  faithfully  that  day. 

Upon  the  approach  of  Jackson  from  the  north  on  their 
right  flank,  the  enemy  withdrew  from  their  strong  line  on 
Beaver  Dam  Creek,  to  one  scarcely  less  strong  on  Powhite 
Creek,  another  small  stream  running  parallel  with  Beaver 
Dam  and  about  fou.r  or  five  miles  to  the  east  of  it.  A.  P. 
Hill,  Longstreet  and  D.  H.  Hill  followed  closely. 

A  little  to  the  east  of  Powhite  Creek  was  fought  the  battle 
called  Gaines'  Mill,  and  less  commonly  the  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor.  But  for  the  fact  that  it  would  be  confounded  with 
the  battle  fought  there  on  May,  1864,  the  latter  term  is  more 
accurate,  for  the  enemy  were  brushed  back  from  the  line  at 
Powhite  Creek  on  which  stands  Gaines'  Mill  with  compara- 
tively little  fighting.  Their  stand  to  the  death  was  made 
behind  a  great  semi-circle  of  swamps  a  mile  or  more  to  the 
east  of  Powhite  Creek,  and  much  nearer  JSTew  Cold  Plarbor 
than  Gaines'  Mill.  On  the  morning  of  the  27^1,  D.  H.  Hill's 
division  was  thrown  forward,  well  to  the  left  along  the  road 
running  by  Bethesda  Church,  so  as  to  reach  Porter's  right 
rear.  When,  after  much  delay  and  perplexity,  at  2  :30  p.  m., 
we  came  into  collision  with  the  enemy  near  old  Cold  Harbor 
and  three  miles  northwest  of  jSTew  Cold  Harbor,  our  brigade, 
Garland's,  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  nearly  sun  doAvn  when  the  two  brigades  of  Anderson 
and  Garland  got  permission  from  D.  II.  Hill,  their  division 
commander,  to  adva,nce  to  the  charge.  The  assault  was  deliv- 
ered under  conditions  not  unlike  those  at  Seven  Pines  nearly 
a  month  earlier.  A  swamp  densely  covered  with  undergrowth 
had  to  be  passed  under  fire  before  the  Federals  could  be 
reached.  These  consisted  of  United  States  regulars  under 
Sykes,  a  hard  and  persistent  fighter. 

But  nothing  could  withstand  the  impetuosity  of  our  on- 
ward sweep.  Alignment  was  soon  lost  in  the  contraction  of 
the  lines  necessary  in  attacking  a  shorter  front  than  our  ovsoi. 
But  the  Twenty-third,  along  with  the  other  regiments,  pressed 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  211 

forward,  tearing  their  way  through  brush  and  briar  and  vine. 

After  clearing  these  bewildering  obstructions  we  emerged 
into  a  thin  piece  of  woods  with  no  undergrowth.  This  brought 
us  in  full  view  of  a  battery  on  our  left,  which  opened  upon  us, 
as  we  went  forward  at  the  double  quick  down  a  little  slope. 
The  men  became  excited  and  began  to  fire;  but  Colonel 
Christie  sent  his  Adjutant,  the  writer  of  this,  to  stop  the  fir- 
ing till  they  got  closer.  So  down  we  swept  and  then  up  the 
hill  to  the  enemy's  position.  Just  at  this  juncture  came  the 
critical  moment  of  the  day,  and  possibly  of  the  campaign. 
Their  line  began  to  waver.  Officers  and  men  seemed  by  one 
accord  to  grasp  the  situation.  We  pressed  forward  in  the 
charge  as  a  part  of  an  Alabama  regiment  rushed  back  upon 
our  line.  Its  Colonel  shouted  that  he  was  going  back  to  reform. 
Captain  Young,  then  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Colonel 
Christie  having  just  fallen  severely  wounded,  exclaimed: 
"Don't  go  back  to  reform.  We  are  all  needed  to  carry  this 
line."     So  the  regiment  turned  and  charged  with  us. 

Up  the  hill  we  pressed.  The  enemy  now  broke  and  fied  in 
great  disorder  through  a  dense  swamp  in  their  rear,  leaving 
large  numbers  of  knapsacks  behind  them.  We  took  sixty  or 
seventy  prisoners.  It  was  now  dark.  We  were  hungry, 
worn  out  and  entirely  separated  from  the  other  regiments  of 
the  brigade  which  had  gone  in  and  broken  the  line  to  the  right 
and  left  of  us. 

We  bivouaced  in  a  body  of  pines,  too  worn  out  to  stand 
guard  over  prisoners,  who  seemed  as  tired  and  worn  out  as 
ourselves.  The  Adjutant  counted  them  and  cautioned  them 
not  to  move  during  the  night.  Then  lying  down  around 
them,  we  slept  soundly.  They  seemed  well  contented  and 
showed  no  disposition  to  escape  while  with  us. 

There  has  been  much  dispute  as  to  what  troops  first  broke 
the  enemy's  line  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  thus  began  the  long 
chain  of  McClellan's  reverses.  But  l^orthern  writers  state 
that  the  right  wing  gave  way  first.  This  is  where  D.  H. 
Hill's  assault  was  delivered.  General  Hill  himself  says  that 
Garland's  charge  made  the  first  break  in  the  hostile  line. 
General  Lee  officially  paid  high  compliment  to  the  division 
for  its  part  in  this  battle. 


212  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Our  regiment  was  not  actually  engaged  at  Savage  Station, 
Eraser's  Farm,  or  any  of  the  subsequent  battles,  till  Malvern 
Hill,  fought  on  Wednesday,  1  July.  McClellan  beaten  and 
harried  on  every  hand,  saw  that  escape  would  be  difficult, 
probably  impossible,  unless  Lee's  pursuit  could  be  checked. 
For  this  purpose  on  Tuesday  night,  30  June,  and  early  the 
next  morning,  he  hurried  to  Malvern  Hill  his  shattered  com- 
mands. If  the  hand  of  Omnipotence,  molding  plastic  nature 
at  will,  had  contrived  a  fastness  in  which  a  beaten  and  dis- 
pirited army  might  take  refuge  and  grow  strong  in  a  sense 
of  security,  it  need  do  no  more  than  fashion  another  Malvern 
Hill.  Here  with  the  James  river  to  his  back,  and  his  fleet  of 
gunboats  on  his  left  flank,  he  felt  that  he  might  meet  even 
Lee's  dauntless,  though  shattered  divisions.  Here,  frowning 
tier^  above  frowning  tier,  in  implacements  made  by  nature's 
own  hand,  his  300  pieces  of  splendid  artillery  were  concen- 
trated. Hither  his  still  formidable  army,  now  as  at  the  be- 
ginning, far  outnumbering  the  Confederates,  was  drawn  back 
and  skilfully  massed  in  time  to  strengthen,  with  partial  en- 
trenchments, the  points  that  were  least  strong.  A  clearing 
of  500  to  900  yards  between  the  Federal  position  and  the 
woods  and  Swamp  in  their  front,  gave  a  full  view  of  their  as- 
sailants. 

Against  this  inland  Gibraltar,  the  Southern  troops  were 
hurled.  A  simultaneous  attack  along  the  whole  line  would 
have  been  desperate.  Attacks  at  intervals,  at  the  different 
points  by  different  commands  without  concert  of  action,  were 
hopeless.  Yet  such,  by  an  unfortunate  concatenation  of 
errors,  was  the  mode  of  attack.  Late  on  that  sultry  summer 
afternoon  our  division  (D.  H.  Hill's)  struggled  through  an 
almost  impassable  swamp  and  opened  the  battle  with  the  first 
direct  assault.  Our  brigade  (Garland's)  was  in  the  first 
line,  and  advanced  through  the  broadest  part  of  the  belt  of 
cleared  ground,  which  had  been  broken  by  the  plow  on  the 
side  next  to  the  enemy.  Though  only  Whiting's  small  divis- 
ion was  to  the  left  of  us,  our  attack  was  directed  against  the 
Federal  centre.  Here  we  fought  Couch's  men  which  we  had 
routed  at  Seven  Pines  and  when  here,  as  there,  hard  pressed,. 
Kearney  came  to  their  aid. 


Twenty-Thikd  Regiment.  213 

But  the  task  now  assigned  us  was  beyond  the  power  of 
mortal  men.  From  the  first  step  in  the  open,  the  fire  of  that 
huge  volcanic  amphitheatre  and  of  the  gun  boats  on  the  river 
was  focused  on  us,  much  as  the  ribs  of  a  fan  meet  at  the  han- 
dle. Yet  onward  we  swept;  the  line,  when  shattered  and 
hurled  back  in  places,  reforming  and  pushing  with  grim  de- 
tertoiination,  doggedly  forward,  breaking  in  part  the  first 
line  of  the  enemy.  No  field  ever  more  fully  tested  the  fibre 
of  Anglo-Saxon  manhood,  and  on  no  field  has  it  ever  acquitted 
itself  better.  ISTot  till  they  had  striven,  unaided  for  more 
than  an  hour  against  McClellan's  whole  army  and  2,000  had 
fallen,  did  they  yield  to  the  inevitable  and  were  swept  back- 
ward by  the  moving  wall  of  lead  and  iron. 

As  at  Seven  Pines,  we  will  let  foeman  pay  tribute  to  their 
matchless  ardor.  A  French  officer,  the  Oomte  de  Paris,  who 
was  on  McClellan's  staff,  saw  it  all  and  said  the  following : 

"Hill  advanced  alone  against  the  Federal  position.  *  * 
He  had  therefore  before  him  Morell's  right.  Couch's  division, 
reinforced  by  Caldwell's  Brigade  *  *  and  fronting  the 
left  of  Kearney.  As  soon  as  they  (Hill's  troops)  passed  be- 
yond the  edge  of  the  forest,  they  were  received  by  a  fire  from 
all  the  batteries  at  once,  some  posted  on  the  hills,  others 
ranged  midway  close  to  the  Federal  infantry.  The  latter 
joined  its  musketry  fire  to  the  cannonade  when  Hill's  first 
line  had  come  within  range,  and  threw  it  back  in  disorder  on 
its  reserves. 

While  it  was  reforming,  new  battalions  marched  up  to  the 
assault  in  their  turn.  The  remembrance  of  Cold  Harbor 
doubles  the  energies  of  Hill's  soldiers.  They  try  to  pierce 
the  line,  sometimes  at  one  point,  sometimes  at  another,  charg- 
ing Kearney's  left  first  and  Couch's  right  *  *  and  af- 
terAvards  throwing  themselves  upon  the  left  of  Couch's  divis- 
ion. But  here  also  after  nearly  reaching  the  Federal  posi- 
tion, they  are  repulsed.  The  conflict  is  carried  on  with  great 
fierceness  on  both  sides,  and  for  a  moment  it  seems  that  the 
Confederates  are  at  last  to  penetrate  the  very  centre  of  their 
adversaries  and  of  the  formidable  artillery  which  was  now 
dealing  destruction  in  their  ranks.  But  Sumner,  who  com- 
mands on  the  right,  detaches  Sickles'  and  Meagher's  brigades 


214  NoKTH  Carolina  Tkoops,   1861-'65. 

to  Couch's  assistance.  During  this  time,  Whiting  on  the 
left  and  Huger  on  the  right,  suffer  Hill's  soldiers  to  become 
exhausted  without  supporting  them.  *  *  At  7  o'clock, 
Hill  reorganized  the  debris  of  his  troops  in  the  woods  *  * 
his  tenacity  and  the  courage  of  his  soldiers  had  only  had  the 
effect  of  causing  him  to  sustain  heavy  loss." 

Not  till  far  in  the  night  did  the  terrific  volcano  of  Malvern 
Hill  become  extinct.  Fearful  had  been  its  execution  not  only 
on  the  fighting  line,  but  numbers  of  the  supports  far  back  in 
the  woods  to  the  rear  had  been  struck  down.  It  was  one  of 
the  few  battles  in  history  in  which  the  casualties  from  artil- 
lery fire  were  as  large,  probably  larger,  than  those  from  small 
arms. 

Battered  and  shattered,  but  undismayed,  the  Twenty-third 
slept  that  night  upon  its  arms  ready  for  the  eventualities  of 
the  morrow.  But  the  stir  and  rumble  within  the  hostile  line 
had  been  significant.  Jackson's  drowsy  response,  when 
awakened  from  the  slumbers  which  from  sheer  exhaustion 
had  mastered  him,  and  asked  what  must  be  done  should  Mc- 
Clellan  attack  tomorrow.  "He  won't  be  there,"  had  been 
indeed  prophetic  words.  The  morrow  broke  over  Malvern  Hill 
tenanted  only  by  Federal  dead  and  wounded,  all  of  which  the 
enemy  had  left  in  their  flight.  It  broke  over  the  "Little  Na- 
poleon"— ^very  little  he  then  appeared  at  Washington,  if  not 
to  himself — safe  under  shelter  of  his  gunboats  at  Harrison's 
Landing,  clamoring  for  50,000  fresh  troops.  McC51ellan  had 
lost  15,849  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  besides  52 
pieces  of  artillery,  27,000  stands  of  small  arms  and  millions 
of  dollars  worth  of  stores.  But  the  Confederates  being  every- 
where the  assailants,  sustained  a  still  heavier  loss,  their  casu- 
alties reaching  the  enormous  aggregate  of  19,749. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  with  accuracy  our  regiment's  loss 
during  the  Seven  Days  fighting.  Moore's  Roster,  often  inac- 
curate and  incomplete,  is  here  unusually  so.  According  to 
statement  of  Captain  A.  T.  Cole,  Company  D,  who  esti- 
mates the  casualties  of  the  regiment  in  proportion  to  those 
known  to  have  been  sustained  by  his  own  company,  the 
Twenty-third  began  the  Seven  Days  fighting  with  about  175 
men.     It  sustained  the  heaviest  loss  at  Malvern  Hill.     Here 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  215 

about  30  were  killed  and  75  wounded.  These  figures,  while 
only  approximate,  are  believed  to  be  near  the  mark.  These 
losses  left  the  command  a  mere  skeleton,  till  strengthened  by 
recruits  and  the  return  of  wounded  men  who  had  recovered. 
Colonel  D.  H.  Christie  and  Adjutant  V.  E.  Turner  were 
wounded  at  Cold  Harbor.  Captain  I.  J.  Young,  who  com- 
manded the  Twenty-third  at  Malvern  Hill  was,  in  that  bat- 
tle, wounded  in  the  face,  and  Private  C.  C.  Courtney,  Com- 
pany A,  killed  in  taking  him  from  the  field.  Here  also  Cap- 
tain A.  T.  Cole,  Company  D,  and  Lieutenant  Munday,  Com- 
pany K,  were  wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Wm.  F.  Gill,  of 
Granville  County,  killed.  The  list,  though  incomplete, 
covers  so  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  the  casualties  of  the 
commissioned  officers. 

LIBUTEITANT    WM.    P.    GILL. 

Wm.  p.  Gill  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  JST.  C,  October 
1842.  While  yet  a  lad  fresh  from  college,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  Granville  Eifles,  afterwards  Company  G,  was 
appointed  Sergeant  Major  and  at  the  reorganization,  elected 
Second  Lieutenant  in  the  company.  His  diities  as  Sergeant 
Major  had  brought  him  in  frequent  contact  with  the  officers 
of  his  regiment,  and  most  of  the  men.  His  death  caused 
genuine  sorrow  and  regret  to  every  member  of  the  command. 
He  was  handsome  in  person,  and  his  bearing  that  of  a  gentle- 
man. His  bravery,  manliness,  his  frank,  open  face  alight 
with  the  quenchless  enthusiasm  of  a  youth,  won  and  held  the 
love  and  respect  of  all.  For  though  gentle  and  polite,  he  was 
firm  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  His  abilities  were  so  gen- 
erally recognized  that  his  promotion  must  have  been  rapid 
had  he  been  spared  to  his  country  and  the  army.  He  said 
the  morning  of  Malvern  Hill,  that  he  would  not  survive  the 
battle.  So  strong  was  this  premonition  that  when  Captain 
I.  J.  Young  was  borne  to  the  rear,  wounded,  he  asked  the 
Captain  to  take  charge  of  a  watch  which  had  just  been  en- 
trusted to  him  (Lieutenant  Gill)  by  a  dying  Federal,  for 
transmission  to  his  mother.  And  I  will  add  that  after  the 
war  Captain  Young  found  the  mother  and  delivered  the 
watch.     Lieutenant  Gill,  now  in  command  of  the  regiment, 


216  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

was  instantly  killed,  being  almost  cut  asunder  by  a  shell,  after 
the  attack  was  over.  He  was  then  only  nineteen.  With  his 
fall  perished  one  of  the  noblest  spirits  of  the  command. 

It  was  at  Malvern  Hill  that  private  Charles  P.  Powell,  of 
Company  D,  emulated  the  fearless  deed  of  Luria  at  Seawell's 
Point.  While  lying  in  line  under  heavy  artillery  fire,  wait- 
ing for  the  order  to  charge,  a  shell  dropped  among  us.  The 
men  could  not  leave  their  places  in  the  line  of  battle,  so  they 
flattened  to  earth  while  their  unwelcome  visitor  sputtered 
away.  An  instant  later  the  heroic  Powell  sprung  forward, 
lifted  the  shell  and  deliberately  sousing  the  head  in  one  of 
the  small  water  pools  of  the  swamp,  put  out  the  fuse.  The 
fuse  must  by  some  error  have  been  cut  a  trifle  long,  or  after  so 
much  delay  it  must  have  exploded  in  his  hands  before  it 
reached  the  water.  This  gallant  fellow  was  wounded  a  little 
later  in  this  battle  and  also  at  Gettysburg,  promoted  Adju- 
tant and  was  killed  in  the  "Bloody  Angle"  12  May,  1864 — an 
immortal  record,  surely.  The  wounding  of  Captain  Young 
left  Second  Lieutenant  Gill  in  command  of  the  regiment  till 
he  was  killed.  After  his  fall  the  Twenty-third  seems  to  have 
had  no  commissioned  officer  left  on  the  field. 

After  the  battle  we  spent  several  weeks  of  grateful  and 
well  needed  rest  near  Richmond.  When  Jackson,  followed 
later  by  the  bulk  of  the  army,  marched  against  Pope  at  Man- 
assas, our  division  was,  with  McLaws'  left  behind  to  observe 
the  enemy  and  guard  Richmond.  In  fact,  D.  H.  Hill's  divis- 
ion oftener  than  any  other,  was  detached  on  independent  ser- 
vice of  that  kind. 

When  McClellan's  army  was  withdrawn  to  reinforce  Pope 
and  safeguard  the  Federal  Capital,  we  were  thrown  forward 
by  forced  marches  northward.  We  rejoined  the  Confederate 
army  at  Chantilly  2  September,  three  days  after  the 
battle  of  Second  Manassas  was  over.  The  eaTth  was  yet 
encumbered  with  unburied  dead.  The  most  gruesome  of  our 
whole  war  experience  were  the  many  swollen  corpses  crushed 
and  mangled  by  the  cannon  wheels,  which  in  the  urgency  of 
that  fierce  and  prolonged  combat  had  passed  over  them.  Ar- 
tillery must  manoeuvre  somewhere ;  the  dead  lay  thick  nearly 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  217 

everywhere,  and  men  had  been  too  engrossed  wielding  the 
sickle  of  death  to  gather  in  the  harvest. 

THE    FIRST    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 

At  Chantilly  we  were  within  a  few  miles  of  the  scene  of 
our  picket  duty  the  previous  Fall,  Winter  and  Spring.  But 
our  pause  there  was  of  the  briefest.  Our  brigade  formed 
Lee's  vanguard  in  the  invasion  of  Maryland.  Moving  rap- 
idly northward  Friday,  5  September,  we  waded  the  Poto- 
mac near  Leesburg,  at  Poland's  Ford,  lower  down,  we  be- 
lieve, than  the  Southern  army  crossed  it  before  or  after  in  its 
many  passages.  With  what  bounding  hearts  did  we  climb 
the  opposite  banks  of  the  Potomac,  looking  eagerly  for  the 
support  of  "Maryland,  My  Maryland."  Cherishing  hopes 
which,  alas,  like  so  many  other  Confederate  Hopes,  withered 
on  the  stem. 

Strong  indeed  must  have  been  the  Southern  proclivities  of 
Maryland  men  to  see  aught  of  attraction  in  a  service  like  ours. 
We  were  a  hungry,  jaded,  weather-beaten,  battle-worn  set. 
In  the  forced  marches  to  the  northward  wagon  trains  had 
been  outstripped,  green  corn  and  apples  forming  for  days  al- 
most our  only  food.  The  fields  of  "roasting  ears,"  most  of 
them  now  too  hard  to  be  really  edible,  were  bought  from  the 
farmers  and  the  men  turned  in  to  help  themselves.  One  of 
General  Hill's  first  acts  after  crossing  the  Potomac  into 
Maryland,  was  to  buy  a  large  field  of  com  and  turn  in  his 
division.  All  supplies  obtained  during  this  campaign  were 
paid  for  in  Federal  currency. 

A  cartoon  in  Harper's  Weekly  represented  a  Maryland 
Quaker  woman  placing  a  wash  stand  at  her  door  and  implor- 
ing the  rebels  that  if  they  must  possess  her  house,  please  to  use 
that  first;  while  the  rebels  mistaking  this — to  them — strange 
apparatus  for  some  infernal  machine  contrived  for  their  de- 
struction, skedaddled  forthwith.  But  the  lion,  though  un- 
kempt and  half  starved,  was  a  lion  still,  as  the  foe  discov- 
ered when  he  threw  his  90,000  against  our  ranks  thinned  by 
battle,  disease  and  the  giving  out  of  foot-sore  men,  to  less 
than  30,000. 


218  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

From  the  6tli  to  the  10th  of  September,  we  remained  in 
camp  near  Frederick,  Maryland.  Here  rest,  full  rations  and 
delightful  weather  recuperated  us  fast.  It  was  while  in 
camp  at  this  place  that  the  famous  "Lost  Order"  was  dropped 
by  some  one  at  the  headquarters  of  our  division  commander, 
General  D.  H.  Hill.  General  HiU  subsequently  established 
the  fact  that  he  never  saw  this  duplicate  order.  The  sol- 
dier who  lost  it  was  never  guilty  of  a  more  culpable  act, 
nor  one  fraught  with  more  moment.  This  order,  which  was 
picked  up  on  the  13th  by  a  Federal  soldier,  wrapped  around 
some  Confederate  cigars,  and  at  once  transmitted  to  McClel- 
Ian,  revealed  not  only  the  dangerous  secret  that  Lee's  army 
was  divided,  but  told  in  minute  detail  the  present  position 
and  future  movements  of  infantry,  artillery,  cavalry  and 
trains.  In  the  hands  of  an  able  and  active  foe — one  alive  to 
the  tremendous  advantage  thus  given  him  and  quick  and  res- 
olute in  availing  himself  of  it — this  paper  must  in  all  proba- 
bility, have  been  the  death  warrant  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy. For  by  a  strange  fatality  it  revealed  the  faults  of 
Sotithern  strategy  at  its  faultiest  moment,  and  told  where 
and  when  to  meet  and  overcome  the  Confederate  commands 
when  their  strength  was  at  the  lowest  ebb. 

Fortunately  McClellan  had  few  of  the  qualities  of  a  Jack- 
son, a  Forest  or  even  a  Hood.  He  acted  upon  the  informa- 
tion thus  obtained,  but  not  with  the  promptitude  and  energy 
that  Fate  demands  when  at  long  intervals  she  places  such  op- 
portunity in  mortal  hands.  McClellan's  report  of  the  find 
to  Lincoln  was  not  only  characteristic,  but  a  fine  tribute  to  the 
valor  of  his  weakened,  scattered  and  now  betrayed  antago- 
nists. "I  have  all  the  plans  of  the  rebels,"  he  wires,  "and 
will  catch  them  in  their  own  trap,  if  my  men  are  equal  to  the 
emergency."  Lee's  strokes  had  been  so  hard  and  his  strat- 
egy, based  upon  the  prowess  of  his  army,  so  bold,  that  Mc- 
Clellan informed  Halleck  that  he  had  "120,000  men  to  fight." 

McClellan  thus  apprized  of  the  situation,  moved  forward 
on  the  morning  of  13   September,  to  take  advantage  of  it. 

One  column  vmder  Franklin  was  thrown  forward  south- 
westerly towards  Crampton  Gap  of  South  Mountain.  Its 
objective  was  to  crush  Jackson's  force,  then  hammering  the 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  219 

Federal  garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry.  The  bulk  of  the  Fed- 
eral army  was  moved  westerly  against  us  through  Turner's 
and  Fox's  Gap,  its  object  being  Hagerstown,  which  the  "Lost 
Order"  had  disclosed  as  Lee's  point  of  rendezvous. 

We  had  withdrawn  from  Frederick  10  September,  moving 
slowly   through    Turner's     Gap    of     South    Mountain    to- 
wards Boonsboro,  on  the  direct  road  to  Hagerstown.     Our 
division  was  the  rear  guard  of  the  army  and  was  encumbered  - 
with  all  the  wagon  and  artillery  trains. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  BOONSBOEO,  OB  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN. 

By  the  afternoon  13  September,  we  had  marched  to 
the  west  of  Boonsboro,  and  gone  into  camp  near  Funks- 
town.  From  here  we  were  hurried  back  east  to  South  Moun- 
tain; meeting  General  Stuart  coming  down  as  we  marched 
up.  That  night  we  spent  on  the  western  slope  of  the  ridge ;  a 
chilly  bivouac  without  blankets  or  any  manner  of  covering 
from  the  keen  mountain  air. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  Sunday,  14  September,  General 
D.  H.  Hill  came  in  person  and  posted  Colquitt's  brigade  in 
Turner's  Gap  and  our  brigade  (Garland's)  in  Fox's  Gap,  a 
mile  to  the  south  of  Turner's.  These  two  Gaps,  which  are 
virtually  one,  are  traversed  by  many  roads.  If  McClellan's 
advance  was  to  be  checked  till  Jackson  could  take  Harper's 
Ferry  and  join  Lee,  all  these  roads  must  be  held  by  this  hand- 
ful of  men  against  McClellan  to  the  last  extremity.  This 
necessitated  the  scattering  of  the  regiments  of  the  brigade 
and  resulted  almost  in  the  destruction  of  some  of  them,  but 
the  pass  was  held  and  the  precious  time  necessary  for  Lee 
to  concentrate,  gained. 

Garland's  brigade  of  five  regiments  numbered  less  than 
1,000  men.  Our  regiment  had  been  severely  cut  to  pieces 
at  Seven  Pines  and  Malvern  Hill,  and  not  yet  having  been  re- 
cruited by  conscripts  to  the  same  extent  as  some  of  the  others, 
was  much  smaller  in  proportion  than  the  brigade.  Our  posi- 
tion was  in  the  centre  of  the  brigade  and  along  the  crest  of 
the  ridge  behind  an  old  stone  fence,  so  common  in  that  region. 


220  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  fence  had  been  more  or  less  dismantled  by  time  and  was 
in  places  very  low. 

To  our  right  was  the  Fifth  and  then  the  Twelfth ;  to  our 
left  the  Thirteenth  and  then  the  Twentieth.  An  interval  of 
fully  250  yards  separated  the  Thirteenth  from  the  Twenty- 
third,  and  one  probably  as  great  severed  it  from  the  Twen- 
tieth. 

Against  Garland's  1,000  Cox  led  3,000  of  Eeno's  Corps. 
The  action  begun  at  9  a.  m.  From  oiir  elevated  position  we 
had  a  full  view  of  the  movement  in  our  front.  Below  us 
in  plain  view,  went  forward  through  the  woods  the  skirmish 
line  of  the  brigade.  Near  them  and  slowly  drawing  nearer 
and  nearer,  came  a  dark-blue  line.  Yet  they  apparently  did 
not  see  each  other.  Not  till  the  lines  seemed  within  a  few 
yards  of  each  other  was  the  calm,  radiant  Sabbath  morning 
broken  by  the  crack  of  rifles.     The  battle  was  on. 

Our  skirmish  line  was  soon  forced  backward  by  weight  of 
numbers.  General  Garland  seeing  this,  ordered  Colonel  Mc- 
Kae  to  take  his  regiment,  the  Fifth,  and  the  Twelfth  regiment 
and  support  the  skirmish  line.  This  he  attempted  to  do, 
but  the  main  line  of  the  enemy  coming  up  at  this  juncture, 
forced  our  skirmish  line  back  in  disorder  and  developed  so 
much  strength  that  McRae  not  being  able  to  prevent  the  ad- 
vance, fell  back  to  his  position  on  our  right. 

The  Federals  now  pressed  forward,  striking  first  the  Thir- 
teenth and  Twentieth  on  our  left.  Here  General  Garland 
fell.  But  as  General  Hill  says,  the  main  attack  was  against 
the  Twenty-third  behind  the  stone  wall  (tumbled  down  stone 
fence).  A  little  later,  but  while  still  fiercely  contending  on 
the  left,  assault  after  assault  was  made  against  our  front. 
These  we  beat  off,  inflicting  heavy  loss  on  the  assailants.  At 
length  Colonel  Christie  seeing  that  a  still  stronger  force  which 
was  advancing  against  him  could,  while  engaging  his  front, 
envelop  his  left,  sent  his  Adjutant,  V.  E.  Turner  (the  writer 
of  this)  to  apprize  General  Garland  of  the  situation.  Finding 
that  Garland  had  fallen,  the  Adjutant,  making  his  way  to- 
wards the  rear  of  the  Thirteenth  and  Twentieth,  delivered 
the  message  to  Colonel  McEae,  then  in  command  of  the  bri- 
gade.    Colonel  McEae  having  no  horse  or  Staff   (General 


j'-M  ^>^^.;iXW/(^^5^%c)]r?^^e@^^^9^*^^5A3 


TWENTY-THIED  EEGIMENT. 

1.  Geo.  Burns  Bullock,  Captain,  Co.  I.  5.    William  H.  Harris,  Private,  Co.  I. 

2.  N.  A.  Gregory,  1st  Lieut..  Co.  I.  6.    John  T,  Santord,  Private,  Co.  I. 

S.    Richard  V.  Minor,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  E.         7.    Nicholas  T.  Green,  Private,  Co.  E. 
4.    W.  P.  Gill,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  Q.  8.    John  H.  Breedlove,  Private,  Co.  G. 

9.    James  E.  Hart,  Sergeant,  Co.  I. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  221 

Garland's  Staff  having  gone  off  with  his  body)  had  no  means 
of  immediate  communication  with  General  HiU,  and  was 
unable  to  fill  the  gap  and  to  avert  the  disaster  apprehended 
by  Colonel  Christie. 

The  returning  Adjutant  after  almost  running  into  the  hos- 
tile lines,  reached  the  position  of  the  Twenty-third  just  as  it 
was  abandoned.  Colonel  Christie,  with  his  short,  weak  line, 
hopelessly  enveloped  and  enfiladed,  and  seeing  capture  sure  if 
he  remained  longer,  had  ordered  the  regiment  to  withdraw. 
This  withdrawal,  as  it  had  to  be  precipitate  in  the  extreme, 
was  effected  in  great  disorder  down  the  steep  and  bewilder- 
ing mountain  side.  Company  E  and  a  few  other  men  on  the 
left,  the  side  on  which  the  flank  attack  came,  either  did  not 
hear  the  order  to  withdraw,  or  being  already  enveloped,  were 
mostly  captured.  It  was  here  and  by  this  gallant  Company 
that  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets  were  so  freely  used  in  the 
vain  struggle  to  repel  outnumbering  foes.  The  regiment 
had  been  too  roughly  handled  to  be  taken  into  action  again 
that  day. 

The  whole  brigade  was  likewise  driven  back,  though  the 
Thirteenth  on  the  left,  managed  by  a  change  of  front,  to 
maintain  itself  till  reinforced  by  Anderson's  brigade.  The 
exact  loss  of  the  Twenty-third  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  but 
it  was  heavy  in  killed  and  wounded  and  of  the  200  prisoners 
captured  from  the  brigade  it  lost  its  share.  It  also  inflicted 
heavy  loss  upon  the  enetmy  before  the  stone  fence,  its  post  of 
vantage,  was  enfiladed  and  rendered  useless.  General  Jesse 
L.  Reno,  commanding  the  corps  assailing  us,  and  who  had 
been  prominent  in  the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island,  Kinston, 
and  other  places  in  ISTorth  Carolina,  was  killed  at  long  range 
by  Charles  W.  Bennett,  of  Granville  County,  Orderly  Ser- 
geant of  Company  E.  Sergeant  Bennett  was  severely 
wounded  at  Sharpsburg.  Among  our  wounded  was  also  Cap- 
tain G.  T.  Baskerville,  of  Company  I.  General  Garland  was 
killed  early  in  the  action.  In  making  his  way  to  the  firing 
line,  he  passed  through  an  open  space  to  the  rear  of  the  gap, 
between  the  Twenty-third  and  the  Thirteenth.  He  had  been 
told  that  the  Federal  sharpshooters  commanded  this  space, 
but  could  not  believe  that  they  had  yet  advanced  far  enough 


222  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

to  reach  the  crest  and  dominate  the  place.  Venturing  through 
the  opening,  he  at  once  became  their  target  and  was  shot 
down. 

The  arrival  of  reinforcements  late  in  the  day  enabled  Hill, 
by  desperate  fighting,  to  hold  Tox's  and  Turner's  Gap  till 
dark,  as  Crampton  Gap,  to  the  south,  had  been  held.  Under 
cover  of  night  all  three  gaps  were  evacuated  and  the  Conf  ed- 
ate  forces  concentrated  on  Sharpsburg,  whither  Jackson  hast- 
ened on  the  fall  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

DE.    JOUBDAITj  ASSISTANT   SUEGEON. 

When  the  enemy  at  last  succeeded  in  getting  in  on  our  left 
flank  and  cutting  us  off  from  the  other  regiments  of  the  bri- 
gade. Dr.  Jourdan  was  so  near  the  firing  line  that  he  was  not 
recognized  as  a  "non-combatant,"  and  was  deliberately  shot 
down.  He  was  a  native  of  Eoxboro,  Caswell  County,  N.  C. ; 
was  most  highly  esteemed  as  a  gentleman  and  an  efiicient  of- 
ficer, always  kindly  and  considerate  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

On  the  march,  when  the  ambulance  was  filled  with  the 
sick,  he  often  gave  up  his  horse  to  disabled  men  and  marched 
on  foot  himself.  The  whole  regiment  were  greatly  devoted 
to  him. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  SHAEPSBTJEG^   OE  ANTIETAM. 

Jackson  captured  Harper's  Ferry  15  September,  and 
by  forced  marches  joined  Lee,  with  most  of  his  forces,  at 
Sharpsburg  on  the  16th.  McClellan  advanced  and  threw 
part  of  his  command  over  the  Antietam  Creek  that  night. 
The  battle,  joined  at  daylight  of  the  17th.  And  in  that 
bloody  Wednesday  was  crowded  more  desperate  fighting  and 
more  carnage  than  theJSTew  World  had  ever  seen  in  one  day. 
Ketreating  along'  the  Boonsboro  road,  we  reached  the  field 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  with  the  enemy  close  behind 
us  as  we  crossed  the  bridge  over  Antietam  Creek.  We  at 
once  took  position  along  the  ridge  and  in  an  open  field. 

The  Twenty-third  regiment  was  here  able  to  muster  but  few 
men,  many  being  barefoot  and  absolutely  unable  to  keep  up  in 
the  forced  marches  over  rough  and  stony  roads.     The  brigade 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  223 

■which  since  Garland's  fall,  had  been  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  McRae,  of  the  Fifth,  went  into  action  with  Colquitt's 
brigade  in  the  Confederate  center,  and  were  advancing  in 
perfect  steadiness  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  from  the  oppo- 
site hills,  till  the  unaccountable  "run  back"  occurred.  This 
happened  as  follows:  The  Federals  advanced  against  us  in 
dense  lines  through  a  corn  field,  which  concealed  the 
uniforms,  though  their  flags  and  mounted  ofiicers  could 
be  seen  plainly  above  the  corn  tassels.  As  the  blue 
line  became  more  distinct,  approaching  the  edge  of 
the  corn  field,  which  brought  it  in  our  range,  we 
commenced  to  fire  and  effectively  held  it  in  check. 
But  some  of  Early's  men,  who  had  come  from  the  corn  field, 
begged  iis  not  to  fire,  saying  that  their  men  were  in  our  front. 
Some  one  in  a  regitaent  tO'  the  right  of  us  also  shouted: 
"Cease  firing.  You  are  shooting  your  own  men."  Hands 
were  also  seen  waving  the  line  back.  This  confused  the  men. 
The  artillery  fire  grew  constantly  hotter.  Several  of  the 
regiments,  nearly  exterminated  at  Williamsburg,  Seven  Pines 
and  Malvern  Hill,  had  been  recruited  with  raw  men,  largely 
ignorant  of  discipline  and  of  the  machine-like  duties  of  a  sol- 
dier. 

At  this  the  regiments  on  our  right  began  to  fall  back,  strag- 
gling through  the  woods  in  our  rear.  But  we  could  plainly 
see  that  we  were  not  firing  on  our  friends,  and  in  our  front  the 
enemy  was  firmly  held  in  check,  till  we  found  that  they  were 
moving  on  our  flank  unopposed.  This  compelled  us  to  re- 
tire, which  was  done  in  good  order,  considering  the  circum- 
stances. The  greater  part  of  our  regiment  stopped  in  a 
sunken  road  (the  famous  Bloody  Lane)  and  joining  the  main 
line  there,  fought  the  remainder  of  the  day.  General  Hill 
says  distinctly  that  the  Twenty-third  was  kept  intact  and 
moved  to  the  sunken  road. 

The  brigade  was  gotten  together  that  night  and  early  the 
next  morning.  The  18th  was  spent  in  line  of  battle 
ready  for  the  attack  which  did  not  come.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
R.  D.  Johnston  was  now  in  command  of  the  Twenty-third, 
Colonel  Christie  having  been  placed  in  command  of  Gen- 
eral Anderson's  brigade. 


224  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

There  is  a  great  gap  in  the  Southern  part  of  the  War  Rec- 
ords covering  the  first  Maryland  campaign.  The  Confeder- 
ate reports  were  either  lost  or  destroyed  in  that  fortnight  of 
strenuous  marching  and  fighting.  The  casualties  of  the  reg- 
iment at  Sharpsburg,  as  at  South  Mountain,  will  never  be  ac- 
curately known.  Captain  Wall's  estimate  of  about  45 
wounded  and  20  killed  is  believed  to  be  right.  Captain  A.  T. 
Cole,  Company  D,  and  Captain  Wesley  Hedspeth,  Company 
E,  are  the  only  two  ofiicers  given  in  Moore's  Roster  as  having 
been  wounded,  though  there  were  almost  certain  twice  or 
three  times  that  many.  Few  soldiers  in  any  war  have  ever 
been  killed  under  the  same  circumstances  as  W.  C.  Watkins, 
of  Company  A.  This  man  had  been  discharged  as  not  physi- 
cally able  to  serve.  But  wishing  to  take  part  in  one  more  bat- 
tle, he  remained  and  fought  at  Sharpsburg,  and  fell  and  was 
found  dead  with  the  discharge  in  his  pocket. 

THE  EETUEN  TO  VIEGINIA. 

McClellan's  desperate  and  repeated  attempts  to  pierce  and 
shatter  the 'Confederate  lines,  had  been  substantially  foiled. 
But  Sharpsburg  proved  to  us  but  a  pyrrhic  victory  at  best. 
Lee  with  less  than  30,000,  could  not  afford  victories  bought  at 
the  expense  of  10,000  men,  even  if  it  inflicted  a  loss  of  15,000 
on  the  enemy.  Holding  his  lines  undisturbed  through  the 
18th,  he  withdrew  that  night  across  the  Potomac,  near  Shep- 
herdstown.  Just  as  the  last  of  our  own  army  crossed  the 
enemy  appeared  and  a  brush  occurred,  but  they  did  not  press 
us  closely  till  the  next  day,  when  we  turned  and  drove  them 
back  with  fearful  loss. 

After  returning  to  Virginia,  our  command  lay  encamped 
till  late  in  October  along  the  Opequon,  not  far  from  its  battle 
ground  of  19  September,  1864.  The  region  was  one  of  great 
thrift  and  plenty.  The  long  rest  was  exceedingly  grateful  to 
our  weary  and  foot-sore  men.  During  this  campaign  an  in- 
trepid deed  was  performed  near  Bunker  Hill  by  Frank  Bow- 
ers, of  Company  A.  He  was  then  driving  an  ammunition 
wagon  drawn  by  six  mules.  The  jolting  over  the  rough  road 
exploded  one  of  the  shells  in  his  wagon  and  others  rapidly 
followed.     Few  men  would  have  hesitated  at  instant  flight. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  225 

ISTo  man  could  have  been  expected  to  do  otherwise.  But  Bow- 
ers was  one  of  that  heroic  mold  which  never  abandons  a  trust 
or  a  duty.  With  marvellous  presence  of  mind  and  courage, 
he  sprang  to  the  ground,  unhitched  the  team,  and  escaped 
with  them  all  unhurt  from  the  verge  of  the  volcano  of  bursting 
shells.  Yet  history  vouchsafes  this  gallant  fellow  but  the 
stint  of  two  words,  one  of  them  abbreviated  to  a  single  letter, 
"k,  Gettysburg."   (Killed  at  Gettysburg.) 

Here  the  army  was  recruited  and  reorganized.  The  Twen- 
ty-third received  its  share  of  recruits.  What  was  more  im- 
portant, it  was  strengthened  by  the  return  of  many  of  its  mem- 
bers who  had  recovered  from  wounds  and  diseases.  Colonel 
Alfred  Iverson,  of  the  Twentieth  JSTorth  Carolina,  was,  after 
Sharpsburg,  commissioned  Brigadier-General  and  assumed 
command  of  the  brigade.  The  Thirteenth  Regiment  was 
about  this  time  transferred  to  Scales'  Brigade,  leaving  bri- 
gaded with  us  the  Fifth,  Twelfth  and  Twentieth 

In  November  came  the  march  southeast  to  Fredericksburg. 
The  following  incident — a  trifling  flotsam  of  memory — oc- 
curring in  this  month,  will  illustrate  the  humorous  side  of  a 
soldier's  life.  One  of  the  Staff  officers  of  the  regiment,  for 
slightly  overstaying  a  leave  to  visit  some  ladies  was,  as  was 
the  usage,  placed  under  arrest  by  Colonel  Christie.  ISTow  an 
officer  under  arrest  must  march  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment, 
and  cannot  address  his  superior  officer  except  in  writing.  This 
incompetency  to  address  the  Colonel  would  have  been  without 
complications  except  for  the  fact  tliat  the  weather  was  cold 
and  the  above  officer  and  the  Colonel  were  bed-fellows  and 
slept  on  a  very  narrow  bunk.  J^ow  not  even  a  Confederate 
soldier  was  willing  that  all  the  freezing  that  fell  to  his  lot 
should  be  endured  by  one  half  of  his  body.  So  an  occasional 
turning  of  the  frozen  side  in  was  a  sine  qua  non.  But  a  lux- 
ury of  this  kind  could  be  safely  obtained  only  by  co-opera- 
tion— there  must  be  a  simultaneous  action  of  both  occupants 
of  the  bunk  or  dire  consequence  might  follow.  For  co-opera- 
tion communication  is  essential.  Written  communication  in 
the  dark  was  impossible.  Finally  after  long  consultation 
with  two  other  officers  in  the  same  tent — the  Colonel  remain- 
]5 


226  North  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ing  a  silent,  but  doubtless  highly  amused  auditor — it  was  de- 
cided that  an  officer  under  arrest  might  in  extremity,  address 
his  superior  by  proxy.  Thi-s  was  forthwith  done,  a  change 
of  base  effected  and  Confederate  comfort  assured. 

FEEDEKICKSBUEG. 

The  Twenty-third  took  no  active  part  in  repelling  the 
Federal  army — now  under  Burnside — at  Fredericksburg. 

We  were  held  in  reserve  near  Hamilton's  Crossing  behind 
Early  on  the  right.  Here,  though  exposed  to  the  artillery  fire 
from  Stafford  Heights,  only  one  man  was  killed  and  a  few 
hit.  But  Sunday  morning,  14  December,  our  division  was 
carried  around  and  placed  in  the  front  line  on  the  extreme 
right.  During  the  day  we  affiliated  for  a  while  with  the 
Federal  officers  in  our  front,  truce  being  granted  by  Lee  to 
Burnside  to  bury  his  dead. 

That  evening  preparations  were  made  for  a  night  attack. 
A  white  band  on  the  arm  was  to  be  the  distinguishing  badge 
of  our  troops  in  the  night  assault.  These  were  provided  and, 
we  believe,  in  a  few  instances,  actually  put  on.  JSTo  attack 
was  ordered,  the  crushing  blow  that  we  had  so  easily  dealt  the 
enemy  not  being  yet  realized  by  our  commanders. 

On  Monday  night,  15  December,  a  picket  line  from  our 
regiment  was  thrown  well  to  the  front.  Captain  H.  G.  Tur- 
ner, of  Company  H,  in  command  of  the  pickets,  seems  to 
have  been  the  first  man  in  the  afmy  to  discover  signs  of  the 
Federal  retreat  across  the  Rappahannock.  The  night  was 
boisterous,  a  strong  northwesterly  wind  had,  as  is  so  often 
the  case,  followed  the  snow  fall  of  some  days  ago.  This  wind 
muifled  any  sounds  in  the  enemy's  lines,  which  were  to  the 
east  of  us.  But  Captain  Turner  observed  a  scarcely  precepti- 
ble,  though  incessant  fiickering  of  the  lights  on  the  distant 
hills  across  the  river.  This  he  could  account  for  only  on  the 
theory  that  long  columns  of  troops  were  there  moving  under 
cover  of  night.  This  movement  he  at  once  construed  to  be  a 
retreat.  What  he  had  seen  and  the  inferences  he  drew  there- 
from, were  at  once  reported  to  his  superiors.  Nothing  came 
of  his  report.     Soon  after  Fredericksburg,  General  Eodes 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  227 

was  placed  in  command  of  our  division,  General  Hill  being 
assigned  to  another  position. 

The  battle  over,  we  went  into  winter  quarters  near  Freder- 
icksburg, out  towards  Guinea  Station.  Here,  in  January  or 
February,  1863,  we  took  part  in  a  great  snow  battle.  The  long 
roll  was  beaten  and  the  brigade  ignorant  of  what  it  was  to  do, 
fell  into  line,  officers  at  their  posts  as  if  for  real  battle.  Or- 
ders were  given  and  we  marched  rapidly  out  towards  Dole's 
Georgia  brigade,  which  we  were  to  attack.  The  Georgians 
had  thrown  up  breastworks  of  snow,  prepared  a  supply  of 
snow  balls  and  were  ready  for  us.  It  was  a  grateful  relief 
from  the  tedium  of  camp  life  and  the  men  entered  with  zest 
into  the  sport.  After  preparing  as  much  ammunition  as  we 
could  conveniently  carry,  our  line  m.oved  forward  to  the  as- 
sault. The  battle,  though  brief,  was  sharp,  many  of  us  were 
knocked  down  and  several  quite  seriously  hurt,  but  the  snow 
fort  was  stormed,  our  opponents  routed  and  chased  back 
through  their  camp.  Many  prisoners  Were  taken.  The  horse 
play  was  ended  by  rolling  in  the  snow  a  supercilious  general 
officer  participating  in  the  fun.  The  irate  General  sought  a 
court-martial,  but  was  told  that  an  officer  waived  his  rank 
when  he  took  part  in  frolics  of  that  kind. 

The  enemy  was  still  in  full  force  across  the  river  opposite 
us.  This  kept  Lee's  army  constantly  on  the  qui  vive.  Our 
regiment  did  a  great  deal  of  shivering  picket  duty  on  the 
Rappahannock  below  Fredericksburg.  The  winter  was  one 
of  great  rigor.  The  men,  though  pretty  well  hardened,  suf- 
fered severely  from  want  of  proper  clothing  and  food  and 
from  exposure.  Some  time  in  January  or  February  the 
command  was  marched  to  Mine  Run,  and  though  they  did 
only  a  little  desultory  fighting,  they  suffered  much  hardship 
from  cold,  being  held  in  line  in  the  snow  for  several  days  and 
nights.  The  enemy  being  in  sight,  no  fires  could  be  allowed 
and  our  suffering  was  intense. 

THE   BATTLE    OF    CHANOELLOESVILLE. 

If  the  consensus  of  the  intelligent  opinion  of  the  world 
was  taken  as  to  what  battle  gave  most  lustre  to  Southern 
generalship,  it  would  almost  surely  designate  Chancellors- 


228  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ville.  Lee  holding  strong  positions  along  the  Rappahannock 
and  higher  up  upon  its  tributary,  the  Eapidan,  had  deemed 
it  expedient  to  detach  Longstreet  to  spend  part  of  the  winter 
near  Suilolk,  Va.,  gathering  supplies  from  that  region  and 
from  Eastern  North  Carolina.  Thus  less  than  55,000  men 
were  left  to  confront  Hooker,  who  had  superceded  Burnside 
as  commander  of  the  Federal  army. 

Hooker  took  advanage  of  this  separation  of  the  Confeder- 
ate forces  by  strategic  stroke  that  may,  in  its  inception,  be 
called  brilliant.  Making  a  feint  against  Lee's  front  at  Fred- 
ericksburg and  his  right  below  that  place,  he  suddenly  29 
and  30  April,  1863,  threw  120,000  men  across  the  Rapidan 
on  the  Confederate  left  flank.  Had  Hooker  possessed  the  har- 
dihood and  moral  courage  of  Grant  and  have  advanced  from 
the  Wilderness  into  the  open  country  where  his  vastly  supe- 
rior force  could  have  told,  things  must  have  gone  hard  with 
Lee.  But  as  has  been  well  said,  while  Hooker  hesitated,  Lee 
acted.  Jackson,  with  22,000  men,  by  a  rapid  march  whose 
very  boldness  bewildered  the  enemy,  swept  from  Hooker's 
left  flank  across  his  front  and  fell  upon  the  unsuspecting  right 
flank  like  a  bolt  from  the  skies. 

The  Twenty-third  took  a  highly  important  part  in  this  bril- 
liant movement.  It  led  the  van  in  Jackson's  immortal 
march.  Friday  evening  and  Saturday  morning,  2  May, 
its  skirmish  line  was  in  contact  with  the  enemy  not  far  from 
the  Chancellor  House.  At  daybreak,  it  was  so  hastily  with- 
drawn that  two  of  its  companies,  then  on  the  skirmish  line, 
were  left  behind  and  did  not  rejoin  the  regiment  till  late  in 
the  evening. 

Our  regiment  on  being  withdrawn  from  contact  with  the 
Federals,  went  swiftly  forward  through  the  Wilderness, 
striking  now  and  then  a  dim  path  or  road.  Strict  silence 
was  enforced,  the  men  being  allowed  to  speak  only  in  whis- 
pers. Occasionally  a  courier  would  spxir  his  tired  horse  past 
us  as  we  twisted  through  the  brush.  For  hours  at  the  time 
we  neither  saw  or  heard  anything.  Great  was  the  curiosity 
to  know  where  we  were  going  and  what  "Old  Jack"  was 
about.  But  we  agreed  tliat  he  did  know  and  that  the  novel 
march  meant  much.     Our  brigade  led  tlie  division,  our  regi- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  229 

ment  the  brigade.  While  swinging  onward  a  turn  in  the 
dim  road  brought  us  suddenly  face  to  face  with  a  piece  of 
Federal  artillery,  which  firing  point  blank,  double-shotted 
with  canister,  struck  down  the  head  of  the  column,  discon- 
certing for  a  moment  many  of  the  bravest.  Major  C.  C. 
Blacknall,  with  rare  presence  of  mind,  instantly  rallied  a 
company  and  springing  forward  with  the  bayonets,  captured 
the  piece  before  it  could  be  reloaded. 

During  the  afternoon  we  reached  the  position  assigned  to 
us.  The  Twenty-third  was  the  very  last  regiment  on  the  left 
wing  of  the  army.  Tired,  breathless,  but  bouyant,  we  lay 
down  in  the  woods  near  the  unwary  foe  and  waited  till  or- 
dered to  attack.  As  the  afternoon  passed  we  were  swung 
around  still  farther  to  the  left  and  to  the  rear  of  the  right 
flank  of  the  Federal  Eleventh  Corps.  The  attack  was  begun 
back  to  our  right.  As  the  sun  was  round  and  red  and  low, 
the  regiment  moved  directly  towards  it  on  the  foe.  At  the 
first  sight  of  the  Federals,  we  were  ordered  to  yell  our  loudest 
and  to  move  forward  up  the  hill  at  the  double  quick.  We 
struck  their  very  rear,  charging  in  over  their  beef  slaughter- 
ing and  cooking  detail.  The  enemy  began  jumping  up  before 
us  and  holding  up  their  hands  to  surrender.  But  little  re- 
sistance was  met  with,  the  surprised  enemy  surrendering  or 
breaking  before  us  in  the  wildest  rout  and  disorder.  Chas- 
ing them  like  hares,  our  boys  surged  forward.  Prisoners, 
pieces  of  artillery,  a  regimental  flag  and  countless  stands  of 
small  arms  were  taken  by  the  Twenty-third.  Albutress 
Gabriel,  a  private  in  Company  K,  captured  a  brigade  com- 
mander. The  frenzied  flight  of  the  foe  is  well  illustrated  by 
a  cannon  which  was  seen  hanging  up  a  tree.  In  the  panic 
it' had  been  driven  over  a  small  tree  which  bent  under  its 
weight,  but  finally  broke  it  loose  from  the  caisson  in  front. 
Then  the  upspring  of  the  tree  raised  the  entangled  gun  from 
the  ground.  There  it  hung  as  eloquent  an  attest  of  mad 
flight  as  perchance  war  has  ever  seen.  We  soon  emerged  into 
a  large  field  occupied  by  a  large  part  of  Hooker's  army. 
Their  line  of  battle  was  snugly  intrenched,  but  the  works 
faced  the  wrong  way.  We  came  up  obliquely  behind  their 
works.     Their  line,  in  hurriedly  trying  to  face  about  and 


230  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

meet  us,  was  soon  tangled  and  scattered  pell-mell  all  over  tlie 
big  field.  Over  this  field  rushed  helter-skelter  cannon, 
wagons,  loose  horses,  dogs,  men,  everything.  A  spectacled 
Adjutant  was  here  shot  dead  with  a  congratulatory  order  in 
his  hand,  telling  that  Lee  was  surrounded  and  would  be  cap- 
tured the  next  day.  It  was  well  into  the  night  before  our  onset 
spent  itself  and  we  must  have  been  then  not  very  far  from  the 
point  from  which  we  set  out  in  the  early  morning.  Then 
were  heard  all  through  the  woods  the  Yankee  officers 
calling  out  and  offering  to  surrender.  We  heard  distinctly 
without  knowing  its  fateful  meaning,  the  sudden  outburst  of 
musketry  which  struck  down  the  right  arm  "of  Lee  and  of  the 
Confederacy — Stonewall  Jackson. 

Our  loss  that  night  was  small,  as  it  had  been  with  us  rather 
a  chase  than  a  fight.  Our  turn  to  fight  came  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

On  Saturday  night  both  Lee  and  Hooker  made  different 
dispositions  for  the  stem  Sabbath  work  to  come.  Major 
Eowe,  of  the  Twelfth,  having  been  wounded  the  evening  be- 
fore, Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  D.  Johnston,  of  the  Twenty- 
third,  commanded  the  Twelfth  in  this  battle.  Iverson's 
brigade  went  into  action  on  the  left  of  the  Confederate  line 
and  to  the  left  of  the  plank  road.  Having  been  in  the  first 
line  the  day  before,  it  was  now  placed  in  the  second  line  as 
a  support.  Our  brigade  reached  the  first  line  as  it  was  falling 
back  from  its  assault  on  the  third  line  of  Federal  intrench- 
ments.  General  Eodes  says  of  this  attack:  "The  enemy 
was  compelled  to  fall  back  and  pressing  on  Colonel  Hall's  two 
regiments  (Fifth  and  Twenty-sixth  Alabama)  together  with 
the  Twenty-third  Worth  Carolina,  Colonel  Christie,  carried 
the  heights  in  magnificent  style,  planting  their  flags  inside  the 
works." 

The  rest  of  Eodes',  Iverson's  and  Pender's  troops  were  re- 
pulsed. This  exposed  the  three  above  regiments,  and  an 
overwhelming  flanking  attack  by  the  Federal  Generals, 
French  and  later  Humphreys,  being  made,  they  were  forced 
to  retire  with  heavy  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  But 
the  troops  which  had  been  repulsed  soon  rallied  and  on  being 


Twenty-Third  Eegiment.  231 

reinforced,  drove  back  the  attacking  forces  and  the  general 
Confederate  advance  followed. 

Major  N.  A.  Gregory  (then  Lieutenant  Company  I)  gives 
a  graphic  account  of  several  incidents  in  the  battle.  He  says 
substantially  as  follows:  "They  (Pender's  men)  had  cap- 
tured two  lines  of  works  from  the  enemy  and  were  standing 
behind  the  second  line  when  we  came  up.  They  told  us  that 
they  were  out  of  ammunition  and  could  go  no  further.  Gen- 
eral Pender  went  forward  with  iis.  After  crossing  a  little 
branch  and  fighting  for  some  time  in  a  hot  place,  Pender  told 
us  to  charge.  We  rushed  ahead.  My  company  was  on  the 
right.  I  bore  to  the  right  of  the  road  and  got  into  a  little 
fort,  which  stood  in  the  open  field  near  the  road.  Here  I 
seized  a  rifle  from  a  man  who  went  into  the  fort  with  me  and 
blamed  away  at  the  colors  of  the  Federal  artillery  company 
that  was  then  moving  off  the  field.  Just  then  this  man  called 
my  attention  to  the  shots  coming  in  on  our  left.  As  we  two 
were  alone,  we  got  out  of  there.  I  suppose  that  we  went 
closer  to  the  Chancellor  Plouse  than  any  other  command  that 
day.  These  shots  were  from  French's  flanking  force  about 
to  strike  the  Confederate  left." 

The  loss  of  the  Twenty-third  at  Chancellorsville,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  50  per  cent,  larger  than  any  other  regiment 
in  the  brigade,  was  ofiicially  reported  by  General  Kodes  at 
173  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Moore's  Eoster  gives  the 
casualties  as  follows:  Wounded  48,  killed  17,  mortally 
wounded  6.  Captain  Wesley  Hedspeth,  Company  B,  was 
killed.  Lieutenant  James  S.  Knight,  Company  B,  was  mor- 
tally wounded,  dying  that  night.  Lieutenant  Washington  F. 
Overton,  Company  G,  was  wounded  and  burned  with  many  of 
our  dead,  and  probably  some  other  wounded,  in  the  fire  that 
raged  that  morning  in  the  woods  to  the  left  of  the  plank  road 
und  east  of  the -little  aldertangled  branch.  Captain  A.  T. 
Cole  was  wounded  and  captured  while  being  carried  to  the 
rear.  Major  C.  C.  Blacknall  and  Lieutenant  George  B.  Bul- 
lock were,  with  the  men  they  led  forward,  surroimded  and 
captured  in  a  redoubt  of  the  work  which  they  had  just  car- 
ried.    These  two  ofiicers  after  being  fellow  prisoners  in  the 


232  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

Old  Capitol  Prison  at  Washington  with  Miss  Belle  Boyd, 
the  famous  Confederate  spy,  were  exchanged  in  two  weeks 
and  took  part  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign. 

TPIB  GETTYSBURG  CAMPAIGS". 

In  no  period  of  the  war  was  the  Southern  heart  more  buoy- 
ant or  did  hope  gleam  brighter  or  larger  than  when  it  was 
known  that  Lee's  victorious  army  had  invaded  the  ISTorth. 
All  things  now  seemed  possible.  But  at  no  period  of  the 
struggle  was  hope  really  more  fallacious  and  deceptive. 
Southern  Independence  had  already  been  lost.  Chancellors- 
ville  was  its  grave.  With  Gettysburg  won  and  Vicksburg 
lost,  Southern  Independence  could  not  have  been  attained. 
But  Chancellorsville  won — decisively  and  overwhelmingly 
won — Lee  could  easily  have  detached  a  force  to  relieve  Vicks- 
burg. ■  Chancellorsville  must  have  been  a  decisive  and  over- 
whelming victory  but  for  the  fatal  blunder  of  one  man — a 
man  brave  and  otherwise  competent.  At  5  :30  p.  m.  Satur- 
aay  evening,  2  May,  1863,  Jackson  held  the  fate  of  Hooker's 
army  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  His  subordinates  had  but 
to  move  forward  when  and  where  he  had  distinctly  ordered, 
and  within  an  hour  a  blow  would  have  been  struck  the  enemy, 
which,  followed  up  with  a  tithe  of  Jackson's  energy,  could 
have  ended  only  in  Hooker's  undoing.  This  unfortunate  of- 
ficer was  General  Colquitt,  commanding  a  Georgia  brigade, 
to  whom  had  been  assigned  an  exceedingly  important  posi- 
tion on  Jackson's  right.  The  duty  assigned  this  wing  was  to 
strike  the  routed  Eleventh  Corps  on  the  flank  and  rear  and 
not  only  destroy  or  capture  it,  but  what  was  even  more  im- 
portant, assail  the  other  commands  then  open  to  attack.  But 
this  duty  was  never  performed.  Colquitt  saw  some  horsemen 
in  Federal  uniform  on  his  right  front.  The  apprehension 
of  an  attack  on  this  flank — an  impossible  thing — sud- 
denly overcame  him.  He  halted  his  regiments  and  changed 
front  and  also  forced  Ramsevir's  brigade  to  do  likewise. 
Having  the  right  of  way  over  the  "Stonewall"  brigade  and 
four  regiments  of  Stuart's  cavalry  his  halt  halted  them.  This 
change  of  front  and  the  purposeless  marching  it  entailed, 
kept  inactive  seventeen  regiments  of  excellent  troops  for  an 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  233 

hour — an  hour  as  big  with  fate  as  battle  field  ever  saw. 
For  in  that  hour  the  torrent  of  Federal  rout  passed  by  to  a 
place  of  safety,  flooker,  or  his  subordinates,  made  new  dis- 
positions and  brought  up  their  powerful  artillery.  When  at 
length  the  seventeen  regiments  came  up  and  the  Confederates 
moved  forward  the  golden  opportunity  had  passed ;  rout  and 
disorder  had  with  the  foe  given  place  to  order  and  determi- 
nation. Jackson,  realizing  the  exigency  of  the  new  turn  in 
the  battle,  went  forward  to  inform  himself  and  fell. 

But  to  return  to  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  Leaving  the 
vicinity  of  Fredericksburg  4  June,  1863,  we  marched,  via 
Culpepper  Court  House  and  Front  Royal,  to  Berryville,  Va. 
Here  the  army  captured  the  camp  equipage  of  1,500  men 
who  fled  without  a  battle.  Thence  to  Winchester,  where 
3,000  of  Milroy's  men  were  taken  and  marched  past  ouv  com- 
mand. At  Martinsburg  we  cut  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road and  pressing  forward,  waded  the  Potomac  at  Williams- 
port  on  Monday,  15  June.  Passing  through  Chambers- 
burg  we  reached  Carlisle,  the  northern  limit  of  our  invasion, 
about  2Y  June.  The  Twenty-third  acted  as  provost  guard 
at  several  places  on  this  march.  At  Carlisle  we  rested  for 
several  days  in  the  Federal  barracks.  Here  many  of  our 
jaded,  weary  boys,  drank  too  much  United  States  Government 
whiskey  and  a  battle  with  a  Georgia  regiment,  for  the  time 
likewise  drowning  their  weariness,  was  narrowly  averted. 
Many  of  the  Carlisle  people  knew  General  Iverson,  he  having 
been  quartered  in  the  barracks  there  when  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  Federal  army. 

As  Lee  threw  our  corps  (Ewell's)  north  to  Carlisle,  threat- 
ening Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  Pennsylvania,  he  concen- 
trated his  other  two  corps,  A.  P.  Hill's  and  Longstreet's,  at 
Chambersburg  on  his  line  of  communications.  Stuart  having 
taken  his  cavalry  on  his  famous,  but  fatal,  raid  around  the 
Federal  army,  Lee  was  long  in  complete  ignorance  of  the  ene- 
mies whereabouts. 

Orders  had  already  been  given  for  the  march  on  Harris- 
burg, when  on  the  night  of  the  29th  Lee,  then  at  Chambers- 
burg, learned  from  a  scout  that  the  enemy  were  on  his  right 


234  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

flank,  the  head  of  their  column  being  then  near  Frederick, 
our  resting  place  of  the  fall  before. 

Our  corps  was  at  once  put  in  rapid  motion  southward.  The 
intelligence  received  had  changed  Lee's  whole  plan.  His 
plan  now  was  to  concentrate  at  Oashtown  with  the  mountains 
at  his  back  and  beyond  them  the  rich  Cumberland  Valley, 
for  a  granary.  Here  Meade,  who  had  now  superceded  Hook- 
er, would  have  had  to  attack  us  with  everything  in  our  favor. 
A.  P.  Hill,  contrary  to  orders,  precipitated  battle  at  Gettys- 
burg with  the  enemy  on  the  defensive  and  everything  in  their 
favor.  However,  it  is  but  fair  to  General  Hill  to  add,  that 
owing  to  the  absence  of  cavalry,  he  had  no  means  of  knowing 
that  the  forces  unexpectedly  interposed  between  him  and  Get- 
tysburg, whither  part  of  his  command  was  marching  to  pro- 
cure a  supply  of  shoes,  were  other  than  militia  or  at  most  a 
small  detachment  of  Meade's  army. 

Leaving  Carlisle  on  Tuesday,  the  last  day  of  June,  we 
marched  swiftly  southward.  Cherries  were  ripe  along  the 
rock-walled  lanes.  Bringing  camp  hatchets  out,  fruit  ladened 
limbs  were  severed  and  we  regaled  ourselves  as  we  swung 
onward.  The  spirit  and  morale  of  the  army  were  then  superb. 
Many  German-descended  members  of  our  regiment  belong- 
ing to  the  companies  raised  in  Lincoln,  Catawba,  Gaston  and 
Montgomery  Counties,  were  in  this  region  amid,  or  not  far 
from,  their  kin.  From  here  their  ancestors  had  emigrated 
to  North  Carolina  about  one  h\mdred  years  before.  But  I 
doubt  if  many  of  them  thought  of  it  at  that  time.  Little  did 
the  families  at  the  separation  imagine  that  the  descendants 
of  the  emigrants  should  in  a  generation  or  two  return  as  in- 
vaders to  the  old  home.  To  this  day  (1900)  there  are  Ger- 
man families  around  Gettysburg  which  recognize  their  dis- 
tant kinship  to  and  occasionally  visit  their  people  who  came  to 
this  State  about  1750. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  in  hand.  Sounds  of  strenuous 
battle  reached  us  early  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  1  July, 
as  we  pressed  forward  towards  Gettysburg,  the  obscure 
Dutch  town  so  soon  to  be  made  famous.  Our  brigade  (Tver- 
son's)  led  Ewell's  corps  and  was  the  first  to  become  engaged 
as  he  hurried   forward  to   succor   A.    P.    Hill,   tlien  hard 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  235 

pressed.  At  Willoughby  Run  our  Field  Officers  dis- 
mounted. Approaching  from  the  north  by  the  Heidelburg 
road  till  within  about  a  mile  of  the  field  of  battle,  we  were 
filed  off  by  the  right  flank  to  the  Mummersburg  road.  As 
we  emerged  from  the  woods  and  moved  down  the  slope  to  the 
latter  road  twenty  pieces  of  artillery  opened  on  us  with  grape, 
from  the  left,  inflicting  some  loss. 

The  Mummersburg  road  here  runs  east  and  west.  Very 
close  to  the  road  on  the  south  side  stands  the  Forney  house. 
This  house  stands  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Forney  field, 
which  extends  about  half  a  mile  from  the  house  along  the 
Mummersburg  road,  and  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  broad. 
Across  this  road  near  the  Forney  house  the  brigade  was  form- 
ed facing  east.  Along  the  path  or  eastern  side  of  the  field  and 
on  a  ridge  ran  a  stone  fence,  which  formed  part  of  the  enemy's 
line.  Behind  this  fence,  alone,  lay  hidden  from  view,  more 
men  than  our  assaulting  column  contained.  A  body  of  woods 
extended  from  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  field  for  about 
two  hundred  yards  along  its  southern  side. 

The  brigade,  about  1,450  strong,  advanced  under  artillery 
fire  through  the  open  grass  field  in  gallant  style,  as  evenly  as 
if  on  parade.  But  our  brigade  commander  (Iverson)  after  or- 
dering us  foTAvard,  did  not  follow  us  in  that  advance,  and  our 
alignment  soon  became  false.  There  seems  to  have  been  utter 
ignorance  of  the  force  crouching  behind  the  stone  wall.  For 
our  brigade  to  have  assailed  such  a  stronghold  thus  held, 
would  have  been  a  desperate  undertaking.  To  advance 
southeast  against  the  enemy,  visible  in  the  woods  at  that  cor- 
ner of  the  field,  exposing  our  left  flank  to  an  enfilading  fire 
from  the  stronghold  was  fatal.  Yet  this  is  just  what  we  did. 
And  unwarned,  unled  as  a  brigade,  went  forward  Iverson's 
deserted  band  to  its  doom.  Deep  and  long  must  the  desolate 
homes  and  orphan  children  of  North  Carolina  rue  the  rash- 
ness of  that  hour. 

When  we  were  in  point  blank  range  the  dense  line  of  the 
enemy  rose  from  its  protected  lair  and  poured  into  us  a  with- 
ering fire  from  the  front  and  both  flanks.  For  Battle's  bri- 
gade, ordered  to  protect  our  left  flank,  had  been  thrown  into 
confusion  by  the  twenty  pieces  of  artillery  and  repulsed  by 


236  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tlie  right  wing  of  the  Federal  line  just  as  we  came  up.  This 
effected,  the  enemy  moving  under  cover  of  the  ridge  and 
woods,  disposed  his  forces  to  enfilade  our  right  from  the  woods 
just  as  our  left  was  enfiladed  from  the  stone  fence. 

Pressing  forward  with  heavy  loss  under  deadly  fire  our 
regiment,  which  was  the  second  frojn  the  right,  reached  a 
hollow  or  low  place,  running  irregularly  north,  east  and  south- 
west through  the  field.  We  were  then  about  eighty  yards 
from  the  stone  fence  to  the  left  and  somewhat  further  from 
the  woods  to  the  right,  from  both  of  which,  as  well  as  from 
the  more  distant  corner  of  the  field  in  our  front,  poured  down 
upon  us  a  pitiless  rifle  fire. 

Unable  to  advance,  unwilling  to  retreat,  the  brigade  lay 
down  in  this  hollow  or  depression  in  the  field  and  fought  as 
best  it  could.  Terrible  was  the  loss  sustained,  our  regiment 
losing  the  heaviest  of  all  in  killed,  as  from  its  position  in 
line  the  cross  enfilading  fire  seems  to  have  been  the  hottest  just 
where  it  lay.  Major  C.  C.  Blacknall  was  shot  through  the 
mouth  and  neck  before  the  advance  was  checked.  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel R.  D.  Johnson  was  desperately,  and  Colonel  D. 
H.  Christie  mortally  wounded,  as  the  line  lay  in  the  bloody 
hollow.  There,  too,  fell  every  commissioned  officer  save  one ; 
the  recorded  death-roll  footing  up  54  killed  and  82  wounded. 
The  real  loss  was  far  greater,  almost  surely  50  per  cent, 
greater.  Captain  Gr.  T.  Baskerville,  Company  I;  Lieutenant 
C.  W.  Champion,  Company  Gr,  and  Adjutant  Junius  B. 
French,  were  killed.  Captain  A.  D.  Peace,  Company  E, 
and  Lieutenant  Wm.  M.  Mundy  were  wounded.  Captain  H. 
<jr.  Turner,  Company  H,  was  wounded  and  captured.  Cap- 
tain Wm.  H.  Johnston,  Company  K,  was  captured. 

The  carnage  was  great  along  our  whole  line  which,  except 
the  Twelfth  Regiment  on  the  right,  was  at  the  mercy  of  the 
enemy.  The  Twelfth,  under  Colonel  Davis,  protected  some- 
what by  the  lay  of  the  field  and  being  further  from  the  stone 
wall,  refused  both  wings  and  fighting  to  right,  left  and 
front,  gallantly  beat  off  its  assailants  till  help  came. 

Kamseiir  was  now  hastening  to  otir  relief.  The  wary  foe 
aware  of  this,  swarmed  over  the  wall  and  rushed  down  upon 
our  weakened  line.     Leaving  the  wounded  they  drove  off 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  237 

with  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets  49  prisoners  and  carried 
our  flag  with  thefm.  The  One  Hundred  and  First  New  York 
regiment  has  marked  with  a  stone  the  point  reached  in  this 
charge.  It  stands  about  where  the  Twenty-third  lay.  This 
rush  was  all  over  in  a  moment,  for  Ramseur  was  coming  up. 
This  gallant  officer,  had  he  continued  to  advance  as  he  started, 
straight  against  the  stone  fence,  must  have  met  with  disaster 
just  as  we  did.  It  is  said  that  Lieutenant  Crowder,  of  Com- 
pany A,  and  Lieutenant  Dugger,  of  another  regiment,  ran 
back  and  advised  him  to  file  oj0f  to  the  left  and  strike  the 
Federal  right.  At  any  rate  he  effected  this  movement  with 
brilliant  and  decisive  success.  The  enemy  saw  it  and  ap- 
prehending its  meaning,  strove  to  change  front  to  meet  him. 
They  were  too  late.  Ramseur  caught  them  in  the  act,  and  his 
rifles  silent  till  then,  enfiladed  their  line  along  the  stone  fence 
with  terrible  and  crushing  effect.  This  fire  also  killed  Rial 
Stewart,  and  perhaps  others  of  our  regiment,  who  had  just 
been  captured  and  were  being  taken  to  the  Federal  rear. 

Ramseur's  onset  began  the  enemy's  reverses  which  ended 
in  their  being  driven  back  through  the  town  of  Gettysburg 
with  the  loss  of  5,000  prisoners,  besides  many  killed  and 
wounded.  What  was  left  of  our  regiment  and  brigade  went 
forward  in  the  attack  and  pursuit.  Fire  was  opened  on  us 
from  the  houses  as  we  rushed  into  the  place,  but  we  shouted 
that  we  would  burn  the  town  unless  it  stopped.  The  firing 
ceased. 

General  Rodes  said  that  Iverson's  men  fought  and  died 
like  heroes.  When  the  brigade  went  from  its  position  in  the 
hollow  its  dead  and  wounded  lay  in  distinctly  marked  line 
of  battle  from  one  end  to  the  other.  The  imperfect  returns 
show  512  killed  and  wounded.  The  most  careful  estimate 
makes  it  over  750.  A  member  of  the  Twenty-third  lying 
stone  dead,  his  musket  clinched  in  his  hand  and  five  bullets 
through  his  head  attests  the  close  and  deadly  fire  under  which 
they  lay.  Thirty-five  years  after  the  battle  the  writer  found 
in  the  clay  of  the  pits  from  which  Iverson's  dead  had  been  re- 
moved to  Richmond,  flattened  bullets  which  had  evidently 
fallen  from  the  disinterred  skeletons.  The  field  was  even  then 
a  veritable  mine  of  war  relics — bullets,  grape  shot  and  pieces 


238  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861 -'65. 

of  shrapnel.  Lieutenant  George  B.  Bullock,  Company  I,  said 
that  it  was  the  only  battle — and  he  was  in  all  in  which  his 
command  was  engaged  from  Williamsburg  to  Appomattox — 
where  the  blood  ran  like  a  branch.  And  that  too,  on  the  hot, 
parched'ground. 

The  handful  left  of  our  regiment  were  not  taken  into  ac- 
tion on  the  second  or  third  day  at  Gettysburg.  While  being 
conveyed,  wounded,  on  the  retreat  through  South  Mountain 
Sunday  night.  Colonel  Christie,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnston 
and  Major  Blacknall  were  captured  by  Kilpatrick's  cavalry 
near  Monterey  Springs.  Christie  and  Johnston  were  rescued 
by  the  Confederate  cavalry  and  carried  to  Williamsport. 
Blacknall  escaped  on  Kilpatrick's  own  horse,  but  being  too 
badly  wounded  for  rapid  flight,  was  recaptured. 

Colonel  Christie  died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and  in  his  native 
county,  soon  after  the  army  reached  that  place.  His  wife, 
whom  he  so  longed  to  see,  and  who  had  hastened  to  him,  ar- 
rived a  few  hours  after  he  was  buried. 

COLONEL  D.  H.  CHEISTIE. 

Daniel  Harvey  Christie  was  born  in  Frederick  County, 
Virginia,  28  March,  1833,  and  was  educated  at  a  military 
school.  He  became  a  citizen  of  Henderson,  N.  C,  in  1857. 
The  breaking  out  of  the  war  found  him  in  charge  of  the  Hen- 
derson Military  Institute  which  he  had  established.  His  gallant 
conduct  and  wounds  at  Seven  Pines  and  Cold  Harbor  have  al- 
ready been  mentioned. 

Although  the  latter  wound  was  very  severe,  within  sixty 
days  he  returned  to  his  command  and  devoted  himself  dili- 
gently to  the  work  of  recruiting  and  disciplining  his  regi- 
ment. At  South  Mountain  his  management  of  his  regiment 
was  such  as  to  elicit  from  General  Garland  words  of  the 
highest  praise  for  himself  and  his  regiment,  a  few  minutes 
before  Garland  fell.  After  Sharpsburg  he  commanded  An- 
derson's brigade  till  Colonel  Bryan  Grimes  reported  for  duty. 
At  Gettysburg,  his  last  battle,  Christie's  conduct  was  espe- 
cially gallant.  Here  he  held  his  men  in  position  under  a 
most  terrific  fire  for  an  hour  till  the  whole    regiment    was 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  239 

killed,  wounded  or  captured,  except  a  Lieutenant  and  sixteen 
men.  He  was  in  the  act  of  leading  a  charge  against  the 
stone  fence  when  he  fell,  with  his  men  and  officers  thick 
around  him.  Colonel  Christie  was  buried  at  Winchester, 
another  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-third  being  laid  by  his  side  a 
year  later. 

CAPTAIW   BASKEEVILLE. 

George  Thomas  Baskerville  was  born  in  Mecklenburg 
County,  Virginia,  16  October,  1827.  He  graduated  with  high 
honors  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina  at  the  age  of  17, 
being  the  valedictorian  of  his  class — delivering  his  address  in 
Latin.  About  1849,  he  became  a  citizen  of  Granville 
County. 

Captain  Baskerville  was  without  military  ambition.  But, 
impelled  by  a  strong  sense  of  duty,  he  joined  the  army  and 
was  elected  Captain  of  Company  I,  Twenty-third  North  Car- 
olina, in  1862.  Refusing  promotion  he  remained  with  his 
company,  serving  with  courage  and  ability.  Falling,  wounded 
to  death,  at  Gettysburg,  he  died  the  next  day.  His  devoted 
wife  crushed  at  the  tidings  of  his  death,  took  to  her  bed  and 
never  rose  again.  Captain  Baskerville  was  of  the  highest 
type  of  Southern  gentlemen.  He  was  a  devout  Christian,  a 
good  neighbor  and  a  devoted  husband.  His  domestic  life 
was  a  most  beautiful  one.  Plighting  their  troth  when  chil- 
dren, marrying  very  early  in  life,  their  devotion  to  each  other 
was  complete.  And  when  the  sturdy  oak  was  stricken  down, 
the  clinging  vine  fell  with  it. 

The  virtual  destruction  of  Iverson's  brigade  at  Gettysburg 
was  largely,  if  not  wholly,  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  had  no  bri- 
gade commander  on  the  field  to  govern  its  movements,  as  a 
whole,  in  accordance  with  the  exigencies  of  the  battle  and  to 
halt  it  before  it  entered,  unsuspecting,  the  deathtrap  laid  for 
it.  Iverson's  part  in  the  heroic  struggle  of  his  brigade  seems 
to  have  begun  and  ended  with  the  order  to  move  forward  and 
"Give  them  hell."  The  brigade  refusing  to  serve  under  him 
longer,  he  was  transferred  to  the  cavalry  and  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel R.  D.  Johnston  was  commissioned  brigadier  and  assumed 
command  on  8  September,  1863.     General  lyerson's  conduct 


240  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

at  Chancellorsville  had  also  been  severely  criticised.  Where 
he  was  when  Pender  led  forward  his  (Iverson's)  brigade,  has 
never  been  explained.  The  Confederate  newspapers  of  that 
period  spoke  of  strained  relations  between  Lee  and  Davis  be- 
cause Davis  refused  to  let  Lee  court-martial  the  "delinquent 
brigadiers"  for  their  action,  or  rather  non-action,  at  Gettys- 
burg.  However,  the  fact  of  any  coldness  between  them  was 
denied. 

THE  EETUEN   TO  VIEGINIA. 

On  the  retreat  we  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Falling  Waters 
near  Williamsport,  10  July.  After  operating  in  the 
valley  for  a  short  while,  our  corps  moved  towards  Madison 
Court  House.  Here  we  rested  till  Lee's  move  9  October 
to  strike  Meade's  flank,  who  was  then  at  Culpepper  Court 
House.  On  that  march  the  Twenty-third,  Fifth  and  part  of 
the  Twelfth,  all  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis, 
of  the  Twelfth,  crossed  the  Eapidan  at  Raccoon  Ford.  This 
detachment  was  highly  commended  for  a  gallant  charge  on  a 
battery  and  its  support.  The  regiment  sustained  loss  both  at 
Vidiersville  and  near  Brandy  Station  during  the  same  move- 
ment. 

We  went  into  winter  quarters  near  Orange  Co^irt  House. 
But,  in  February,  or  March,  our  brigade  was  detached  to 
guard  bridges  over  the  JSTorth  and  South  Anna  rivers,  near 
Hanover  Court  House.  Here  we  were  recruited,  equipped, 
and  put  in  good  trim. 

In  barracks  at  Taylorsville,  near  Hanover,  with  no  enemy 
near,  the  command  had  the  only  really  good  time  during  the 
war.  The  only  thing  like  work  was  the  attempt  to  overtake 
the  raiding  force  imder  Dahlgren.  Neat  uniforms  and  even 
pleated-bosom  shirts,  long  unknown,  were  here  to  be  seen,  and 
some  of  the  boys  bent  on  luxury  in  the  extreme — thorough- 
going sybarites— actually  boarded  out.  Eating  regularly 
three  times  a  day,  keeping  dry  and  sleeping  warm  of  nights 
seem.ed  a  preposterous  thing  to  a  Confederate  soldier.  We 
even  went  into  politics.  11  March,  1864,  the  brigade  held  a 
convention  at  Taylorsville,  endorsing  Vance  as  against  Hol- 
den  and  his  treasonable  influences.     But  there  never  was  a 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  241 

dream  so  bright,  or  paradise  so  sweet  that  some  one  did  not 
come  to  spoil  it.     Grant  spoiled  ours. 

Beginning  at  midnight  of  3  May,  1864,  Grant,  now  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Federal  armies,  suddenly  threw 
nearly  120,000  men  under  Meade,  across  the  Eapidan. 
Grant's  plan  was  to  flank  Lee  out  of  his  entrenched  position 
on  Mine  Run  and  fight  him  somewhere  between  the  river  and 
Eiichmond  if  he  would  >  stand.  That  Lee  did  stand  is  at- 
tested by  the  fall  during  this  movement  of  more  Federals  than 
Lee  had  men.  Our  brigade  left  Taylorsville  at  11  a.  m., 
4  May  and  by  the  (Quickest  forced  march  on  record 
covered  sixty-six  miles  in  twenty-three  hours.  Ar'my  mules 
fell  dead  in  their  traces  under  the  severe  strain,  but  without 
stopping  for  bivouac,  or  hardly  for  rest,  we  held  out  and 
reached  the  plank  road  near  the  Wilderness  Tavern,  on 
the  5th. 

Dead  tired  as  we  were,  we  were  ordered  forward  about  sun- 
set, with  J.  B.  Gordon's  brigade.  The  movement  was  under 
Gordon's  command  and  was  directed  against  the  Federal 
right.  Driving  the  enemy  back  a  mile  or  more  with  slight 
loss  to  ourselves,  we  halted  on  the  turnpike  and  slept  as  even 
tired  soldiers  hardly  ever  slept  before.  During  the  night  of 
7  May,  Grant  began  his  flanking  movement  around  Lee's 
right.  Lee  swung  Anderson's  division  aroimd  and  headed 
him  off  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  It  was  while  on  the 
march  to  Spottsylvania  that  Johnston's  brigade  was,  much 
to  their  regret,  transferred  from  Rodes'  division  to  Early's, 
Early  being  assigned  temporarily  to  the  command  of  Hill's 
corps,  Gordon  commanded  the  division. 

On  the  9th,  at  Spottsylvania,  our  brigade,  with  300  or 
400  men,  made  a  reconnoissance  on  the  Confederate  right 
and  drove  back  a  division  of  Burnside's  corps,  but  seeing 
himself  nearly  enveloped  by  the  enemy  in  overwhelming 
force,  Johnston  withdrew  his  brigade  in  time  to  escape  cap- 
ture. The  Twenty-third  lost  .20  to  30  men  in  this  move. 
Sergeant  Thomas  Powell  was  wounded,  captured  and  died  a 
few  days  later  in  Washington.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis,  of 
the  Twelfth,  was  now  in  conimand  of  the  Twenty-third. 
16 


242  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

About  this  time  the  brigade  now  but  a  handful,  fought  and 
ran  off  a  heavy  cavalry  force  endeavoring  to  hold  the  high  and 
open  ground  around  the  old  court  house .  at  Spottsylvania. 
The  cavalry  vs^as  a  splendid  body  and  fought  desperately,  but 
no  incident  of  the  war  was  more  relished  by  the  boys  than 
trouncing  and  chasing  that  prim  set  of  blue-coated  horsemen. 

We  took  no  part  in  the  battle  of  10  May  till  nearly  sun- 
set. The  enemy  had  broken  over  the  works  by  Dole's  bri- 
gade and  were  advancing  direct  against  General  Lee's  head- 
quarters. While  other  troops  assaulted  his  flanks,  our  bri- 
gade took  the  most  important  part  in  repelling  this  assault  of 
the  enemy.  The  men  refused  to  go  forward  till  General  Lee, 
then  on  the  field,  went  to  the  rear.  The  following  account 
of  the  battle  is  from  notes  of  Captain  A.  T.  Cole,  ,made  not 
long  after  the  war :  "About  sunset  the  enemy  broke  through 
our  line  at  an  angle  in  the  works  and  were  advancing  rapidly 
towards  General  Lee's  headquarters  then  in  sight,  and  directly 
before  them.  Our  brigade  was  doubled-quicked  by  the  right 
flank  in  column  from  behind  a  pine  thicket  where  it  had  been 
resting  and  concealed.  Emerging  suddenly  in  their  front, 
then  going  by  the  left  flank  in  line  of  battle,  we  met  and 
drove  the  enemy  back  across  the  breastworks  and  regained  sev- 
eral pieces  of  artillery  which  were  still  in  position.  Some  of 
the  Confederate  gunners  who,  concealed  in  the  cannon  pits, 
had  escaped  capture,  now  sprung  out  and  used  the  guns  very 
effectively  on  the  retreating  Federals.  Just  as  the  brigade 
faced  by  the  left  flank  and  advanced  towards  the  enemy,  T 
saw  facing  the  head  of  the  column  General  Lee  on  horseback, 
hat  in  hand,  cheering  on  the  men,  within  not  more  than  100 
yards  of  the  enemy.  The  flghting  lasted  till  probably  9 
o'clock  that  night.  Killed  and  wounded  in  our  regiment 
numbered  20  to  25." 

In  making  the  charge  Major  Brooks,  of  the  Twentieth 
JSTorth  Carolina,  and  Captain  Jos.  F.  Johnston,  Aid-de-Camp 
to  General  E,.  D.  Johnston,  were  competitors  in  a  race  for  a 
Federal  flag  which  had  been  planted  on  the  captured  Confed- 
erate works  now  held  by  three  lines  of  battle.  Brooks  reached 
out  his  hand  just  in  front  of  Johnston  and  seized  the  flag, 
carried  it  back  to  the  rear  and  presented  it  to  General  Lee 


Twenty-Thtrd  Regiment.  243 

with  the  request  that  it  be  sent  back  to  North  Carolina  as  one 
of  the  trophies  of  the  brigade.  It  was  sent  to  this  State  with 
a  letter  from  General  Lee  very  complimentary  to  North  Caro- 
lina troops. 

After  repulsing  the  attack  of  the  10th,  the  brigade  was 
again  withdrawn,  occupying  its  place  on  reserve  till  the  12th. 
Daybreak  12  May,  a  foggy,  dismal  dawn  as  May  ever 
saw,  found  us  at  the  Harris  House  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  of 
the  apex  of  Lee's  salient,  thence  forward  to  be  known  as  the 
"Bloody  Angle."  The  Confederate  line  of  fortification  swept 
around  Spottsylvania  Court  House  in  an  irregular  semi-circle 
seven  miles  long.  A  mile  due  north  of  the  Court  House  a 
spur  in  the  hills  made  it  necessary,  in  order  to  prevent  the  en- 
emy from  occupying  a  commanding  position,  to  construct  a 
great  angle  or  salient  in  the  works.  This  salient,  not  unlike 
a  huge  horse  shoe  in  shape,  was  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
long  and  half  a  mile  broad  at  its  base.  This  position,  with 
artilleiy,  was  strong ;  but  without,  it  was  weak.  Lee  believ- 
ing that  Grant  had  resumed  his  movement  by  the  left  flank, 
had  ordered  the  withdrawal  of  all  artillery  on  this  part  of  the 
line  not  easy  of  access.  On  the  night  of  the  11th  General  Ed. 
Johnson,  who  with  his  division  of  2,000  men,  held  the  toe  of 
the  horse  shoe,  apprehending  an  attack  from  the  movements 
in  his  front,  asked  that  the  artillery  be  returned.  The  guns 
were  just  going  back  into  position  when  at  daylight  Grant 
threw  a  solid  imass  of  20,000  men  against  Johnston's  2,000, 
taking  the  guns  before  they  could  open  fire.  The  victorious 
enemy  then  pressed  onwards  to  seize  the  whole  salient  and 
pierce  Lee's  centre.  Our  weak  brigade  in  bivouac  at  the 
Harris  House,  half  a  mile  to  the  rear,  were  the  only  troops 
immediately  available  to  stem  the  onset.  General  Gordon  at 
the  sudden  outbreak  of  battle,  threw  us  forward.  Going  for- 
ward at  the  double  quick  in  the  woods  below  the  McCool 
House  and  far  down  in  the  salient,  we  ran  upon  the  Federals 
coming  forward  in  three  dense  lines  of  battle.  Our  numbers 
were  so  few  and  the  enemy  so  strong,  the  intervening  distance 
so  short,  that  twice  Federal  Line  Officers  came  within  ten 
steps  of  us  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  brigade.  Our 
reply  in  both  instances  was  a  volley  that  struck  down  the  ven- 


244  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

turesome  officer  and  for  a  moment  staggered  the  oncoming 
host. 

But  what  availed  a  few  hundred  against  20,000.  The  bri- 
gade after  one  of  the  bloodiest  combats  of  the  war  and  with 
heavy  loss,  was  forced  backward  fighting  desperately  as  it 
went.  Other  troops  soon  came  up,  striking  the  invaders  on 
both  flanks.  The  brigade  reformed  and  renewed  the  battle. 
General  K.  D.  Johnston  seized  the  flag  of  the  Twenty-third 
and  ordered  a  charge.  The  brigade  rushed  forward  carrying 
the  position  in  their  front,  Johnston  falling  wounded  as  he 
planted  the  flag  on  their  works.  The  struggle  continued  with 
the  utmost  fury  till  night.  On  the  14th  Lee  withdrew  to  a 
line  of  works  constructed  across  the  base  of  the  salient.  Our 
regiment,  though  small,  contained  many  a  gallant  spirit  and 
many  heroic  deeds  were  done  on  that  dark  and  dismal  mom. 
E.  S.  (Scip.)  Hart,  the  flag  bearer  of  the  Twenty-third,  was 
especially  brave ;  again  and  again  rushing  forward  with  the 
colors,  which  were  never  for  a  moment  lowered  except  when 
Scip  was  felled  by  a  clubbed  musket  in  the  hands  of  a  stal- 
wart Yankee.  Among  the  captured  on  that  terrible  day 
was  Captain  A.  D.  Cole,  Company  A.  It  was  Captain  Cole's 
fate,  along  with  Lieutenants  Coggin  and  Bullock,  to  form 
three  of  the  six  hundred  officers  which  the  Federals  placed  un- 
der the  Confederate  fire  at  Charleston  for  several  weeks  in 
1864,  and  to  endure  the  horrible  tortures  inflicted  on  them  by 
starvation  at  Port  Royal  a  little  later.  The  minute  stint  of 
spoiled  meal — a  gill  a  day — and  pickle  on  which  they  sub- 
sisted for  forty  days  ended  by  killing  Lieutenant  Coggin 
and  bringing  Captain  Cole  to  death's  door  and  keeping  him 
there  for  agonizing  months  and  even  years.  This  too,  crown- 
ing three  years  of  gallant  service  in  the  field.  To  few,  if  any, 
of  all  the  sons  of  the  South  was  it  given  to  endure  more  and 
suffer  more  in  her  defense  than  did  this  gallant  officer. 

THE  MAECH  ON  WASHINGTON. 

After  the  Bloody  Angle  fight  our  brigade  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  the  19th.  Colonel  C.  C.  Blacknall,  commis- 
sioned Colonel  15  August,  1863,  had  been  exchanged  in  May, 
and  after  commanding  a  brigade  at  Petersburg  for  several 
weeks,  joined  his  regiment  about  1  June  and  assumed  com- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  245 

mand.  Leaving  camp  near  Cold  Harbor  at  3  a.  m.  18  June 
1864,  we  went  with  the  corps  now  commanded  by  Early, 
on  the  Valley  campaign.  Marching  to  the  railroad  at  Char- 
lottesville we  took  cars  for  Lynchburg,  on  which  Hunter  was 
rapidly  advancing.  We  arrived  just  in  the  nick  of  time  to 
save  the  town.  Passing  at  double  quick  through  the  streets, 
within  twenty  minutes  after  leaving  the  cars  we  were  skir- 
mishing with  Hunter's  advance  guard. 

Lieutenant  Crowder,  the  same  officer  whose  suggestion  to 
General  Ramseur  at  Gettysburg  proved  of  so  much  value,  and 
a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  was  severely  wounded  that  night 
whole  posting  the  picket  lines. 

Skirmishing  at  Liberty  and  driving  Hunter  across  to  Salem 
and  westward  into  the  mountains.  Early  wheeled  suddenly  up 
the  valley. 

There  was  a  little  loitering  to  see  what  Hunter  would  do, 
during  which  the  army  making  a  detour  crossed  the  Natural 
bridge  and  rested  there  a  few  hours,  which  detour  to  see  the 
bridge  was  put  to  a  vote  of  the  men  and  earned  by  a 
small  majority.  Leg-weariness  is  a  great  stifler  to  curiosity. 
However,  pretty  soon  the  race  up  the  valley  begun.  Staun- 
ton was  reached  27  June.  Pressing  rapidly  forward  we 
reached  Harper's  Ferry  on  4  July.  Our  advance  had  been 
so  rapid  and  unexpected  that  we  here  surprised  and  broke  up 
a  Fourth  of  July  celebration,  our  advance  guard  eating  with 
appetites  whetted  by  hard  marching,  the  feast  not  intended 
for  us.  As  the  enemy  held  the  heights  beyond  the  river  and 
commanded  the  approaches  to  Harper's  Ferry  with  artillery, 
only  the  skirmish  line  went  into  the  toA'S'n,  except  a  few  ven- 
turesome officers  who  galloped  do^\m  that  night,  fired  on  in 
every  moonlit  stretch  by  the  Federal  guns.  Crossing  the 
Potomac  a  few  miles  above,  our  forces  for  a  few  days  made 
feints  here  and  there  to  confuse  the  enemy  as  to  our  designs. 

But,  finally,  we  dashed  off  for  Washington.  On  9  July 
we  met  Lew  Wallace  at  Monocacy  Junction,  near  Frederick, 
Maryland,  who  gave  battle  to  bar  our  way  to  the  Federal 
Capital.  Resisting  our  advance  through  the  town,  Wallace 
made  a  determined  stand  at  Monocacy  river. 

Wliile   Gordon's   Division  crossed  the  river   and   strviek 


246  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

the  enemy's  right  flank,  Johnston's  brigade  was  ordered  to 
capture  a  block  house  on  the  other  side  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Eailroad.  A  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  were  in 
a  railroad  cut  and  perfectly  protected.  The  Twenty-third 
under  Colonel  Blacknall,  made  a  dash  for  the  block  house, 
but  were  met  by  a  hot  enfilading  fire  from  the  line  of  battle  in 
the  railroad  cut.  A  heavy  battery  across  the  river  also  swept 
them  with  a  raking  fire.  Captain  W.  C.  Wall,  Company  F, 
was  severely  wounded.  Colonel  Blacknall  was  stunned  for  the 
moment  by  an  impact  of  a  bullet  on  the  head,  which  fortu- 
nately did  not  penetrate,  and  the  regiment  was  driven  back. 

Upon  the  failure  of  the  Twenty-third  to  carry  the  block- 
house. General  Johnston  ordered  Colonel  Davis,  of  the 
Twelfth,  to  carry  it.  Colonel  Davis  says:  "General  John- 
ston was  not  in  a  good  humor  and  I  was  suffering  (sick)  so 
that  I  could  hardly  walk.  However,  I  went  forward  to  the 
ravine  (not  knowing  of  the  cause  of  the  falling  back  of  the 
Twenty-third)  and  here  halted  and  had  picked  men  as  videttes 
to  reconnoitre  and  see  all  they  could.  Finding  about  the 
line  of  battle  on  the  railroad,  I  sent  General  Johnston  a  mes- 
sage that  if  I  advanced  I  would  expose  by  men  to  an  en- 
filade fire  and  that  if  he  would  dislodge  the  line  of  battle  in 
the  railroad  cut,  I  could  take  the  house  without  loss  of  men. 
I  never  heard  from  General  Johnston.  In  the  -meantime  the 
fight  was  going  on  on  the  other  side  (of  the  river)  between 
Wallace,  of  Ben  Hur  fame,  and  Gordon.  Three  lines  of  bat- 
tle engaged  Gordon's  one,  and  now  General  Wallace  begins 
to  retreat.  His  men  on  our  side  then  had  to  pass  over  quickly 
or  be  taken.  I  moved  forward,  and  as  we  struck  the  bridge 
on  one  side  the  enemy  were  clearing  it  on  the  other."  This 
rapid  retreat  of  the  enemy  was  also  expedited  by  a  company 
that  passed  under  a  culvert  and  opening  a  flank  fire  on  the 
cut,  drove  the  enemy  out. 

Wallace  was  defeated,  with  the  loss  of  700  prisoners — our 
casualties  being  about  the  same — and  thrown  back  upon  Bal- 
timore. The  way  thus  opened  we  advanced  a  forced  Sun- 
day march  on  Washington.  Hot,  jaded  and  footsore,  we 
arrived  in  sight  of  that  city  and  only  three  miles  distant  at 
3  p.  m.  on  Monday,  11  July.     The  day  was  one  of  overpower- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  247 

ing  heat.  The  troops  were  too  completely  exhausted 
with  hard  marching  to  have  been  ejBfective  in  imme- 
diate attack.  A  reconnoissance  was  made  Tuesday,  but 
the  works  were  too  strongly  manned  for  our  10,000 
men  to  carry.  In  the  reconnoissance  Melville  Holmes, 
a  lad  belonging  to  Company  G,  of  our  regiment,  is  said  to 
have  fallen  nearer  to  the  works  of  the  Federal  Capital  than 
any  other  Confederate  soldier  of  the  war.  This  is  also  said 
to  have  been  the  only  instance  in  the  history  of  the  country 
in  which  a  President  of  the  United  States  appeared  on  a  field 
of  battle.  Mr.  Lincoln  came  out  to  the  works  on  Tuesday  to 
view  the  situation  and  a  surgeon  was  shot  very  close  to  his 
side  by  Confederate  sharpshooters. 

Our  brigade  bivouacked  in  the  grove  of  the  famous  Blair 
mansion.  Here  an  11 -inch  shell  from  fort  Massachusetts 
burst  in  the  midst  of  the  officers'  mess  at  noon  on  the  12th, 
fortunately  with  no  worse  result  than  knocking  the  food  out 
of  some  of  their  hands.  The  unauthorized  burning  of  Gen- 
eral Blair's  house,  if  done  by  Confederates  at  all,  was  the 
work  of  stragglers.  Though  there  is  a .  strong  probability 
that  it  was  ignited  by  shells  from  the  fort  that  made  our  din- 
ner party  its  target. 

Early's  division  had  now  effected  all  that  could  be  ex- 
pected in  drawing  troops  from  Grant's  hosts  around  Rich- 
mond. Federal  troops  were  now  hastening  to  close  the 
passes  of  South  Mountain  and  the  fords  of  the  Potomac  in 
his  rear.  Therefore  after  maintaining  a  threatening  attitude 
against  Washington  all  day  of  the  12th,  and  driving  in  a 
strong  reconnoitering  force  from  the  works,  he  retreated  at 
dark  without  molestation.  Passing  swiftly  through  Rock- 
ville  and  Poolsville,  we  crossed  the  Potomac  at  White  Ford, 
near  Leesburg,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  bringing  off  all 
prisoners  and  captures  in  safety. 

Resting  on  the  14th  and  15th  near  Leesburg,  on  the  16th 
we  resumed  the  march  through  Snicker's  Gap  to  the  valley, 
the  enemy  following.  Occasionally  we  had  a  skirmish  with 
their  cavalry. 


248  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

the  valley  campaign. 

By  this  time  the  Federals  were  in  strong  force  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  Moving  by  Hillsboro  in  Loudon  County,  they  struck 
our  wagon  trains  on  the  16th,  inflicting  some  damage.  We 
were  engaged  in  the  brush  that  drove  them  off.  On  the 
morning  of  the  iTth,  we  crossed  the  Shenandoah  at  Castle- 
man's  Ferry  and  took  position  at  Berryville,  our  division 
with  that  of  Kodes,  guarding  the  Harper's  Ferry  road. 
There  was  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  on  the  Shenandoah. 
On  the  night  of  the  19th  our  division,  Eamseur  now  in  com- 
mand, was  moved  back  towards  Winchester  to  protect  the 
town  from  the  now  aggressive  Federals.  On  the  20th  Ram- 
seur  moved  upon  Stephenson  depot,  near  Winchester,  to  at- 
tack Averill.  The  division  while  moving  by  the  flank,  was 
suddenly  assailed  by  a  large  force  of  Averill's  cavalry  ad- 
vancing in  line  of  battle.  Thus  surprised,  the  division  was 
thrown  into  disorder.  But  Colonel  Jackson  made  a  gallant 
charge  with  his  cavalry  and  E,amseur  rallying  his  men, 
Averill  was  driven  off. 

The  Richmond  Sentinel  printed  about  this  time  a  commu- 
nication very  disparaging  to  the  North  Carolina  troops,  and 
especially  to  Johnston's  brigade,  exalting  Pegram's  Virginia 
brigade  at  their  expense.  In  a  word  it  was  claimed  that  John- 
ston's men  ran  without  firing  a  gun  and  that  Pegram's  re- 
doubtables  alone  saved  them  from  annihilation.  Colonel  C. 
C.  Blacknall  in  a  letter  a  few  days  after  the  battle,  after  re- 
ferring to  the  false  and  deprecatory  account  of  the  affair  as 
published  in  The  Sentinel,  says:  "The  truth  of  the  mat- 
ter and  which  will  be  attested  by  every  gentleman  who  was 
present,  was  as  follows :  General  Ramseur  marched  the  divis- 
ion down  the  Winchester  road  and  from  the  reports  of  the 
officer  commanding  our  cavalry  in  front,  was  led  to  believe 
that  the  enemy  in  small  force  were  at  a  point  more  distant 
than  we  found  them  to  be  after  reaching  the  body  of  woods 
where  our  cavalry  were  in  line  of  battle.  General  Ramseur 
formed  Hoke's  Brigade  on  the  left  and  Johnston's  on  the 
right  of  the  road.  Pegram  being  in  the  rear  when  we  sud- 
denly found  the  enemy  in  a  field,  immediately  in  our  f]-ont, 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  249 

■we  advanced  and  engaged  him  without  hesitation,  our  men 
advancing  under  a  heavy  and  destructive  fire  in  splendid 
style.  The  enemy's  line  in  the  meantime  overlapping  Hoke's 
left  and  pouring  into  his  flank  a  heavy  enfilade  fire  which 
caused  his  left  regiment  to  give  way,  the  panic  being  commu- 
nicated to  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  each  one  in  turn 
falling  back  hastily  and  in  some  confusion.  While  this  was 
going  on,  Johnston's  Brigade  was  steadily  advancing,  having 
broken  the  enemy's  line  in  our  front  and  caused  him  to  fall 
back  before  our  advancing  column.  The  left  of  our  brigade, 
the  Twelfth  and  Twenty-third  Regiments,  had  advanced  to 
within  sixty  yards  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and  every 
toan  was  standing  up  manfully  when  our  left  was  suddenly 
uncovered  by  the  falling  back  of  Hoke's  brigade,  the  enemy 
pouring  in  a  large  force  immediately  on  our  flank.  Our  lit- 
tle brigade  being  alone  and  unsupported  were,  from  the  na- 
tiire  of  the  case,  compelled  to  retreat  or  be  captured,  as  we 
could  not  resist  the  immense  odds  which  were  hurled 
against  us. 

"Pegram's  Brigade  being  in  the  rear  of  Hoke's,  joined  in 
the  race  and  made  its  escape  from  the  place  of  danger  as  fast 
as  heels  could  carry  them  without  even  attempting  to  make 
a  stand.  After  falling  back  to  the  railroad,  some  distance,  it 
was  thought  necessary  to  make  a  stand  to  cover  the  retreat 
when  the  Twelfth  and  Twenty-third  ;N"orth  Carolina  Regi- 
ments, commanded  respectively  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis 
and  'myself  were  the  only  troops  that  could  be  rallied;  all 
the  rest  of  the  division  retreating  in  much  disorder  to  the 
fortifications.  When  we  marched  back  to  the  line  where  the 
troops  had  been  halted,  we  found  Pegram's  Brigade  had 
gotten  there  some  time  before  us,  although  the  world  has 
been  informed  through  the  papers  that  they  covered  our  re- 
treat. General  Ramseur  stated  to  General  Early  tliat  'John- 
ston's Brigade  whipped  everything  in  its  front  and  was  last 
to  leave  the  field,'  which  is  known  to  be  true  by  every  man 
who  was  engaged  in  this  unfortunate  affair.  The  enemy  had 
many  killed  and  wounded  in  our  immediate  front,  which  in- 
dicated very  conclusively  that  we  were  not  stampeded  without 


250  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

firing  a  gun  as  these  veracious  correspondents  would  make 
the  readers  believe." 

In  Early's  victory  over  Crook  at  Kernstown,  24  July, 
our  division  was  sent  to  the  left  to  get  around  Crook's  right 
flank  at  Bartonsville.  Crook  here  occupied  exactly  the  same 
position  that  Shields  did  when  Jackson  fought  him  23  March, 
1862.  The  result  of  the  battle  was  that  Crook  was  defeated 
and  driven  back  in  great  rout. 

Then  followed  much  arduous  marching  and  counter-march- 
ing to  meet  and  check  the  strong  and  active  force  which  was 
placed  under  Sheridan's  command  early  in  August.  The 
open  valley  country  with  its  excellent  roads  gave  great  facil- 
ity for  the  advantageous  use  of  cavalry,  in  which  Sheridan 
was  overwhelmingly  strong.  Our  boys  also  did  much  hard 
work  in  reaping,  threshing  and  grinding  grain  for  food.  This 
labor  could  often  be  done  only  under  the  protection  of  our 
guns.  The  Kichmond  Examiner  grew  facetious  over  the 
merry  harvesting  time  Early's  men  were  having  in  the  valley. 
Colonel  Blacknall,  writing  under  date  of  28  August,  1864, 
says :  "You  have  seen,  perhaps,  some  facetious  descriptions 
of  our  doings  and  not  doing  in  the  Richmond  Examiner.  The 
descriptions  are  drawn  in  the  Examiner's  inimitable  style  and 
quite  laughable  withal  to  one  at  a  distance.  Still  the  'frugal 
swains'  and  the  'gentle  shepherds'  have  not  had  quite  so  gay 
and  festive  a  time  as  one  might  imagine ;  we  have,  it  is  true, 
been  engaged  in  reaping  and  thrashing  and  gathering  supplies 
from  the  teeming  abundance  in  the  country;  but  the  piping 
and  fiddling  and  feasting  and  frolicldng,  exist  in  the  editor's 
fertile  imagination.  The  lowing  and  bleating  herd  are  the 
beef  cattle  which  affords  some  very  tough  steak  and  the  mean- 
dering, bubbling  streams  and  gentle  flowing' rivulets  are  often 
very  muddy  pools  from  which  man  and  mules  all  drink  indis- 
criminately, neither  thinking  themselves  better  than  the 
other.  If,  however,  any  gentleman  is  disposed  to  believe 
that  this  is  a  gay  thing,  all  I  can  say  to  him  is,  that  we  have 
a  good  opening  for  any  such  to  come  and  try  it." 

THE   BATTLE   OF   WIWGIIESTEE. 

The  battle  of  Winchester  found  our  little  army  in  the  val- 


Twenty-Thikd  Regiment.  251 

ley  divided.  General  Early  has  been  much  criticised  for  al- 
lowing his  force  to  be  attacked  in  detail — for  "fighting  by 
divisions,"  as  General  Lee  termed  it.  But  the  broad  open 
valley  country  vrith  its  many  roads  along  which  the  strong  and 
active  Federal  cavalry  could  operate  on  his  communications, 
prevented  that  concentration  which  would  have  made  the 
Confederate  force  a  unit.  For  Early,  with  8,000  muskets, 
2,500  cavalry  and  1,000  artillery  had,  as  best  he  could,  to 
hold  the  valley  against  Sheridan's  35,000  infantry,  nearly 
10,000  cavalry  and  an  artillery  force  nearly  or  quite  as  large 
in  proportion  to  his  army  as  Early's  was.  Round  numbers 
are  given,  as  the  exact  numbers  are  not  known,  but  they  are 
very  close.  Sheridan's  numbers  as  given  by  Judge  Mont- 
gomery, are  considerably  below  those  usually  accepted. 

Sunday  night,  18  September,  1864,  found  Ramseur's  divis- 
ion out  on  the  Berryville  Pike  east  of  Winchester.  John- 
ston's Brigade  was  in  advance  with  the  Twenty-third  Regi- 
ment, thrown  out  on  picket  near  the  edge  of  the  woods  that 
skirt  the  Opequon.  Their  position  was  a  little  north  of  the 
pike,  but  very  near  to  it  and  a  mile  or  more  from  the  stream. 
As  the  enemy  was  known  to  be  in  force  just  over  the  creek, 
the  men  were  told  that  they  now  occupied  the  exact  position 
in  which  a  Georgia  Regiment  had  been  captured  and  were 
ordered  to  be  on  the  alert. 

The  mounted  videttes  at  the  ford  of  the  Opequon  must 
have  been  captured  or  eluded,  for  at  earliest  da^vn  Sheridan's 
troopers  swarmed  up  out  of  the  ravine  around  the  advance 
pickets  of  the  Twenty-third,  so  quickly  that  the  pickets  barely 
had  time  to  fire  before  the  horsemen  were  in  their  midst.  A. 
few  minutes  later  an  overwhelming  force  of  cavalry,  closely 
followed  by  infantry,  charged  our  weak  regiment.  Disput- 
ing every  inch  of  ground,  making  stand  after  stand,  we  were 
driven  back  upon  the  brigade  and  that  back  upon  the  division. 
In  one  of  these  stops  Colonel  Blacknall  received  his  mortal 
wound  and  was  borne  back  into  Winchester. 

General  Bradley  T.  Johnston  gives  the  following  vivid 
picture  of  that  gallant  twilight  combat:  "By  daylight,  the 
19th  of  September,  a  scared  cavalryman  of  my  own  command 
nearly  rode  over  me  as  I  lay  sleeping  on  the  grass  and  reported 


252  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

that  the  Yankees  were  advancing  with  a  heavy  force  of  in- 
fantry, artillery  and  cavalry,  up  the  Berryville  road.  John- 
ston and  I  were  responsible  for  keeping  Sheridan  out  of 
Winchester  and  protecting  the  Confederate  line  of  retreat  and 
communication  up  the  valley.  In  two  minutes  the  command 
was  mounted  and  moving  at  a  trot  across  the  open  fields  to 
the  Berryville  road  and  to  Johnston's  assistance.  There  was 
not  a  fence,  nor  a  tree,  nor  a  bush  to  obscure  view.  We  could 
see  the  crest  of  a  hill,  covered  with  a  cloud  of  cavalry  and  in 
front  of  them — 500  yards  in  front — ^was  a  thin  grey  line 
moving  off  in  retreat,  solidly  and  in  perfect  coolness  and  self- 
possession.  *  *  A  regiment  of  cavalry  would  deploy  into 
line  and  their  bugle  would  sound  the  "charge"  and  they'd 
swoop  down  on  the  "thin  grey  line  of  North  Carolina."  The 
instant  the  Yankee  bugles  sounded,  North  Carolina  (John- 
ston's Brigade)  would  halt,  face  by  the  rear  rank,  wait  until 
the  horses  got  within  100  yards  and  then  fire  as  deliberately 
and  coolly  as  if  firing  volleys  on  brigade  drill.  The  cavalry 
would  breali  and  scamper  back  and  North  Carolina  would 
"about  face"  and  continue  her  march  in  retreat  as  solemnly 
and  with  as  much  dignity  as  if  marching  in  review.  But  we 
got  there  just  in  time — that  is  to  engage  cavalry  with  cavalry, 
and  held  Sheridan  in  check  until  Johnston  had  got  back  to  the 
rest  of  the  infantry  and  formed  in  line  at  right  angles  to  the 
Pike  east  of  Winchester." 

Johnston  reached  his  supports,  though  with  loss,  and  from 
then  till  10  o'clock  Eamseur's  weak  division  of  1,700  men, 
unaided  except  by  Lomax's  and  Jackson's  cavalry,  held  the 
foe  at  bay.  Bend  this  line  perforce  must,  under  the  onset 
of  Sheridan's  immense  force,  but  breaJc  it  did  not.  At  10 
Kodes'  division  came  up  and  a  little  later  Gordon's.  And 
all  through  that  splendid  autumnal  day  the  battle  held.  His- 
tory calls  it  the  battle  of  Winchester.  Locally  it  is  known  as 
the  battle  of  Hackwood  from  the  Hackwood  farm  on  which  it 
was  fought. 

Before  noon  the  Federals  were,  by  a  bold  assault,  driven 
back  in  disorder.  But  it  had  been  at  fearftil  cost.  Bodes 
and  many  other  gallant  ofiicers  had  fallen,  and  the  Confeder- 
ate forces  were  too  worn  out  by  marching  and  fighting  and  too 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  253 

weakened  by  losses  to  take  full  advantage  of  Sheridan's  dis- 
comfiture. And  a  little  later  a  fresh  corps  were  hurled 
against  our  necessarily  long  and  attenuated  line.  Thus,  as 
morning  wore  to  evening,  continued  the  strife.  By  strenuous 
and  desperate  fighting  Sheridan's  hosts  were  held  at  bay  in 
front. 

But  troops  thus  beset  could  not  be  expected  to  bear  un- 
moved an  attack  in  the  rear.  When  late  in  the  day  two  divis- 
ions of  Federal  cavalry  drove  in  the  weak  force  guarding  the 
Martinsburg  road  and  pressed  forward  to  the  outskirts  of 
Winchester  in  the  rear  of  our  left,  Early's  line  wavered, 
broke,  and  the  army  were  driven  back.  General  Early  dis- 
tinctly says  that  our  division,  Ramseur's,  fell  back  on  the 
right  in  good  order,  taking  position  to  keep  in  line  with  the 
other  troops.  Indeed  those  movements  must  have  been  ef- 
fected with  great  steadiness  for  the  division  was  taken  for 
the  left  wing  of  the  eneany  advancing  to  envelope  the  Confed- 
erate right  on  which  lay  the  line  of  retreat  and  the  report 
came  near  causing  a  panic  at  another  part  of  the  line. 

Night  approached  and  the  Confederate  line  crumbled  un- 
der repeated  assaults  in  front  and  flank.  General  Early  in 
his  memoirs,  says :  "ISTothing  was  now  left  for  us  but  to  re- 
tire through  Winchester,  and  Kamseur's  division,  which 
maintained  its  organization,  was  moved  from  the  east  of  the 
town  to  the  south  side  of  it,  and  put  in  position,  forming  the 
basis  for  a  new  line,  while  the  other  troops  moved  back 
through  the  town.  *  *  When  the  new  line  was  formed 
the  enemy's  advance  was  checked  until  nightfall  and  we  re- 
tired to  Newton  without  serious  molestation. 

The  exact  doings  of  the  Twenty-third  on  that  hard 
foughten  field  have  not  been  recorded.  All  that  is  known  is 
that  it  stood  firmly,  fighting  manfully  among  Ramseur's 
1,700  heroes. 

Lomax  had  held  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  the  Front  Royal 
road  in  check  and  a  feeble  attempt  at  pursuit  was  repulsed  by 
Ramseur  near  Kernstown.  The  army  retreated  that  night  to 
Newton.  At  daylight  we  moved  to  Fisher's  Hill  without  mo- 
lestation. 

Colonel  Blacknall  being  too  painfully  wounded  for  hasty 


254  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

removal,  was  left  in  Winchester,  where  his  wounds  terminated 
fatally. 

COLONEL    C.    G.    BLACKBALL. 

Charles  Christopher  Blacknall  was  born  in  Granville 
County,  N.  C,  December  4,  1830. 

His  grandfather,  Thomas  Blacknall,  of  Virginia,  was,  at 
16,  a  soldier  under  Washington.  His  grandfather's  grand- 
father, the  "Eeverend  John  Blacknall,  Gent'n,"  though  later 
of  Virginia,  was  one  of  the  first  Episcopal  clergymen  to  of- 
ficiate in  JSTorth  Carolina.  Thence  through  English  country 
gentlemen  of  record,  his  lineage  runs  back  to  the  Blacknalls 
of  Wing,  Buckinghamshire,  whose  armorial  bearings  were 
two  centuries  old  when  Columbus  sailed  to  discover  the  new- 
world. 

Charles  Blacknall  was  educated  for  the  law,  but  never  prac- 
ticed. When  the  war  came  he  promptly  raised  and 
was  elected  Captain  of  the  Granville  Eifles,  which  became 
Company  G,  of  the  Thirteenth,  later  the  Twenty-third  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  15  June,  1862,  he  was  commissioned 
Major  and  15  August,  1863,  Colonel  of  the  regiment. 

His  gallantry  at  Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  Seven  Pines, 
Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  and  his  severe  wounds  at 
Seven  Pines  and  Gettysburg  and  his  capture,  escape,  and  re- 
capture after  the  latter  battle,  have  already  been  told  in  the 
body  of  the  sketch.  Severe  illness  contracted  while  on  duty 
in  the  Chickahominy  swamps  prostrated  him  and  kept  him 
out  of  the  Sharpsburg  campaign.  Only  disabling  wounds  or 
prison  bars  kept  him  from  participating  in  all  battles  in 
which  his  command  engaged  up  to  his  death. 

Few,  if  any,  JSTorth  Carolinians  had  a  more  romantic  or 
eventful  military  career  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Soon 
after  his  recapture  on  the  retreat  from  p-ettysburg  and  while 
imprisoned  atFort  McHenry,  near  Baltimore,  lotswere  drawn 
to  select  a  Confederate  ofiicer  to  be  hung  in  retaliation  for  a 
Federal  officer  about  to  be  executed  in  Richmond  as  a  spy. 
Colonel  Blacknall  drew  the  black  bean.  Though  finally 
spared,  it  was  only  after  a  long  suspense. 

Then  followed  a  rigorous  imprisonment    at    Johnston's 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  255 

Island,  Lake  Erie,  during  the  severe  winter  of  1863-'64. 
Driven  to  desperation  by  cold  and  hunger  the  eighteen  hmi- 
dred  Confederate  officers  there  imprisoned,  planned  an  escape 
to  Canada.  Colonel  Blacknall,  well  known  to  be  ever  for- 
ward in  the  charge,  was  elected  one  of  the  officers  to  lead  the 
forlorn  hope  in  the  assault  with  brick-bats  against  the  guards 
on  the  wall  that  encircled  the  prison.  But  there  was  in  their 
midst  a  Federal  spy,  disguised  as  a  Confederate  officer. 
Their  plans  were  betrayed  and  the  guards  so  heavily  rein- 
forced, that  men  even  as  desperate  as  they  were,  could  see 
no  hope  of  success. 

His  name  standing  alphabetically  near  the  head  of  the  list, 
he  was  paroled  in  March,  1864,  before  the  cartel  was 
stopped.  Exchanged  early  in  May,  he  started  for  his  com- 
mand the  day  that  the  Federals  cut  the  Weldon  road  at  Stony 
Creek. 

Apprised  of  this  on  reaching  Weldon,  he  returned  to  Kit- 
trell,  his  home,  and  without  arousing  his  family,  took  horse 
at  midnight  and  hastened  to  Petersburg.  Arriving  there,  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade,  but  ordered  back  to  his 
regiment  before  it  went  with  Early's  force  to  the  Valley. 

In  all  the  arduous  marching  and  counter  marching,  and  in 
the  battles  and  countless  skirmishes  of  this  strenuous  cam- 
paign. Colonel  Blacknall  took  an  active  part  till  mortally 
wounded  early  on  September  19,  1864.  On  the  evening  of 
the  18th,  his  regiment  was  placed  on  outpost  duty  on  the  Ber- 
ryville  pike,  two  or  three  miles  east  of  Winchester.  The 
writer  of  this  (V.  E.  Turner)  spent  that  night  with  him 
under  a  simple  fly  tent.  At  dawn  on  the  19th,  sharp  firing 
on  his  advanced  picket  line  told  that  the  expected  attack  had 
begun.  At  this  Colonel  Blacknall  rode  hastily  to  the  front 
to  direct  his  regiment  in  the  encounter.  He  remained  mounts 
ed  and  held  his  small  force  pluckily  against  the  heavy  ad- 
vancing columns  of  the  enemy.  In  the  midst  of  this  and 
while  being  borne  back  by  overwhelming  superiority  of  num- 
bers, but  contesting  every  inch.  Colonel  Blacknall  received  a 
severe  and  acutely  painful  wound  in  the  ankle,  and  was  car- 
ried back  to  Winchester.  The  surgeons  disagreed  as  to  the 
necessity  of  amputating  the  foot  to  save  his  life,  and  his  wish 


266  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

to  save  it  was  yielded  to.  It  being  deemed  risky  to  carry  him 
in  the  retreat,  he  was  left  in  Winchester  when  the  army  fell 
back  at  the  close  of  the  day.  So  much  interest  was  felt  in  his 
behalf  that  the  hospital  steward  was  ordered  to  remain  and 
take  care  of  him. 

That  was  the  last  seen  of  the  gallant  Colonel  by  his  friends 
of  the  regiment.  The  foot  was  amputated  by  Federal  sur- 
geons, but  too  late  to  save  his  life.  Tenderly  nursed  by  the 
devoted  women  of  Winchester,  he  lingered  for  six  weeks  and 
sij^  days,  dying  JSTovember  6,  1864.  By  a  singular  coinci- 
dence death  came  to  him  in  the  house  of  a  Washington  (Mrs, 
Byrd  Washington)  and  on  the  site  of  Washington's  old  fort 
(Fort  Loudon)  built  in  the  French  Indian  War. 

Colonel  Blacknall  was  buried  by  the  side  of  Colonel 
Christie,  his  predecessor  in  command  of  the  regiment — par 
nohile  fratrum. 

Colonel  Blacknall  was  a  man  of  varied  gifts.  He  loved  let- 
ters and  his  reading  had  been  considerable  and  of  the  best. 
He  was  a  strong  and  graceful  writer  and  a  ready  and  eloquent 
speaker.  To  few  of  the  children  of  men  has  been  given  as 
much  personal  magnetism.  During  his  three  and  a  half 
years'  service  as  a  soldier  no  one  in  the  regiment  was  more  be- 
loved ;  no  one  behaved  more  gallantly ;  no  one  endured  the 
deprivation  and  hardships  of  army  life  more  cheerfully. 

Courage  was  the  common  staple  of  Confederate  soldier- 
hood.  But  Charles  Blacknall  had  a  command  of  faculty  and 
an  ability  to  think  and  act  in  an  emergency  possessed  by  few. 
One  who  knew  him  well  spoke  of  him  as  one  of  the  few  thor- 
oughly chivalrotis  men  that  he  ever  knew;  another  as  the 
ideal  Confederate  officer.  A  chapter  of  Daughters  of  the 
Confederacy  at  Kittrell,  Vance  County  (formerly  a  part  of 
G-ranville  County)  Colonel  Blacknall's  home,  has  been  named 
for  him. 

General  Pegram  was  now  placed  in  command  of  our  divis- 
ion, Ramseur  being  placed  in  command  of  Rodes'  division 
after  the  death  of  that  officer.  Captain  Frank  Bennett,  Com- 
pany A,  by  seniority  of  rank,  assumed  command  of  the 
Twenty-third  on  the  fall  of  Colonel  Blacknall. 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  257 


THE   FISHEE  S   HILL  DISASTER. 

22  September  Sheridan,  who  had  followed  us  and  occu- 
pied our  front  in  force,  threw  Crook's  corps  on  the  left  flank 
of  our  line  which,  even  when  stretched  to  the  utmost,  was  too 
short  to  occupy  the  position  held.  Driving  back  Lomax's 
weak  line  of  dismounted  cavalry.  Crook  advanced  against 
Eamseur's  left  flank.  Desperate  efforts  were  made  to  throw 
Ramseur's  brigades  and  then  our  division  (Pegram's)  into 
line  to  the  left.  But  this  movement  in  the  face  of  a  vastly 
superior  enemy,  could  not  be  effected  without  disorder.  Crook 
taking  advantage  of  this,  advanced,  and  after  a  brief  contact 
forced  the  whole  army  back  in  confusion,  capturing  eleven 
of  Early's  guns. 

The  Confederate  foot  soldier  was  not  noted  for  his  admira- 
tion or  his  respect  for  his  compatriot  who  bestrode  a  horse. 
Early's  foot  soldiers'  love  for  a  cavalryman  was  even  below 
the  Confederate  average.  Sheridan's  horse  was  so  much 
stronger  in  numbers  and  equipments  than  ours,  and  the  na- 
ture of  the  country  gave  this  superiority  such  opportunity, 
that  our  cavalry,  gallant  fellows  as  they  were,  had  no  showing 
and  cut  a  poor  figure.  But  the  man  who  trudged  and  toted  a 
musket,  made  none  of  these  allowances  for  his  mounted  broth- 
ers, who  dashed  hither  and  thither  with  no  object  apparent  to 
prejudiced  eyes,  except  that  of  keeping  as  much  space  as 
possible  between  themselves  and  the  foe. 

For  some  cause  known  only  to  their  whimsical  philosophy, 
Imboden's  cavalry  was  an  especial  object  of  their  disesteem. 
By  way  of  derision  they  called  it  "Jimboden's"  cavalry.  The 
confidence  in  General  Early  had  met  with  that  impairment 
which  is  almost  sure  to  be  the  lot  of  the  unsuccessful  leader, 
no  matter  from  what  cause.  This  spirit  in  the  troops  mani- 
fested itself  at  Fisher's  Hill  in  the  most  droUy  humorous  in- 
cident of  the  writer's  whole  war  exprience.  Close  beside  the 
road  along  which  the  troops  poured  in  confusion,  a  ragged,  de- 
jected, unkempt  "Confed"  crouched  over  a  little  fire,  regard- 
ing naught,  absorbed  alone  in  warming  numbed  fingers  and 
toes,  for  the  day  was  chilly.  As  he  crouched  and  shivered  he 
17 


258  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

droned  a  song  in  whose  tone  disgust,  despair  and  disdain  all 
strove  for  the  mastery.  The  song,  which  must  have  been 
rich,  was  lost  except  the  following  stanzas  caught  as  a  group 
of  officers  rode  by : 

"Old  Jimboden's  gone  up  the  spout. 
And  Old  Jube  Early's  about  played  out." 

"Gone  lip  the  spout"  was  war  lingo  for  passed  into  noth- 
ingness, even  as  water  in  a  kettle  does  when  it  evaporates 
and  goes  up  the  spout.  The  singer  seems  to  have  believed 
that  Imboden's  instead  of  Lorn  ax's  cavalry  was  the  force  that 
proved  unable  to  cope  with  the  enemy  on  our  left  flank  that 
morning. 

Halting  at  Mount  Jackson  on  the  23d  to  enable  the -sick, 
wounded,  and  hospital  stores  to  be  carried  off,  the  retreat  was 
resumed  to  Rude's  Hill.  Hither  the  close  pursuit  and  flank- 
ing movements  of  the  enemy  forced  Early  to  retire  in  line  of 
battle,  a  most  difficult  operation  when  done  under  fire  and 
exposed  to  repeated  assaults  which  had  to  be  beaten  off.  Nine 
miles  of  the  retreat  was  thus  covered,  the  troops  passing 
through  the  ordeal  of  repeated  attacks  with  great  coolness. 
While  thus  fighting  and  falling  back  with  the  steadiness  of 
Cffisar's  cohorts,  by  a  strange  coincidence  we  came  to  a  place 
called  "The  Tenth  Legion."  Here  at  sunset  we  made  a  stand 
and  checked  the  pursuit  for  the  night. 

Retreating  up  the  valley,  constantly  skirmishing  with  the 
hostile  cavalry,  we  took  position  at  Port  Republic,  nearly 
one  hundred  miles  south  of  Winchester,  27  September. 
On  the  28th,  Early  moved  twenty  miles  further  south  to  drive 
off  two  divisions  of  Torbet's  cavalry  who  had  got  in  our  rear 
and  were  now  destroying  the  railroad  bridge  at  Waynesboro 
and  the  tunnel  through  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Rockfish  Gap. 
Driving  a  force  of  cavalry  before  us,  our  division  (Pegram's) 
arrived  just  at  night  and  advancing  upon  the  enemy,  drove 
him  off  in  great  haste.  On  October  1st  we  marched  back 
down  the  valley  to  Mt.  Sidney,  the  main  force  of  the  enemy 
being  then  at  Harrisonburg. 

Early  having  been  reinforced  by  Rosser's  cavalry  brigade 
and   Kershaw's   infantry   division   from   Lee's   army,    pre- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  259 

pared  to  attack  the  enemy  at  Harrisonburg.  But  in  the  night 
of  the  5th  Sheridan  retreated  down  the  valley.  Early  fol- 
lowed and  took  position  at  New  Market  with  his  infantry. 
Rosser's  and  Lomax's  cavalry  pressing  forward  near  Fish- 
er's Hill,  were  encountered  by  a  superior  force  and  driven 
back  in  confusion,  losing  eleven  pieces  of  artillery.  In  fact 
some  wag  suggested  that  the  guns  that  Lee  was  sending  Early 
about  this  time  be  labeled  "General  Phil.  Sheridan,  in  care  of 
General  Jube  Early." 

THE  BATTLE  OF  CEDAE  CEEEK. 

The  object  of  the  valley  campaign  was  to  keep  the  largest 
possible  Federal  force  detached  from  Grant  to  protect  the  ap- 
proaches to  Washington,  the  acumen  of  Lee  telling  him  that 
the  nervous  Washington  officials  would  see  that  the  protect- 
ing force  was  a  liberal  one.  Early  learning  that  Sheridan 
was  about  to  send  troops  back  to  Grant,  moved  farther  down 
the  valley  on  October  12th.  On  the  13th  we  reached  Fisher's 
Hill,  part  of  the  forces  advancing  as  far  as  LIupp's  Hill. 

Finding  Sheridan's  position  across  Cedar  Creek  too  strong 
for  a  front  attack.  Early  after  having  it  closely  scrutinized 
from  the  signal  station  at  Massanutten  Mountain,  determined 
to  surprise  and  turn  the  Federal  left  flank.  We  moved  out  at 
9  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  18th  in  great  secrecy.  Canteens 
were  closely  strapped  to  sides  to  prevent  rattling  and  only 
whispering  allowed.  Crossing  the  turnpike  we  went  around 
the  mountain's  base  by  a  trail  that  wotmd  around  over  the 
swift  dashing  stream.  The  moon  was  full  and  our  long  line 
of  bayonets  glittered  in  its  beams.  Just  at  daybreak  we 
waded  the  stream.  The  shot  of  a  Federal  picket  rang  out. 
We  rushed  forward  with  loud  yells  right  into  the  sleeping 
camp.  A  little  later  in  the  morning  our  division  had  a  hand- 
to-hand  engagement  with  and  drove  back  a  larger  part  of  the 
Sixth  corps  and  aided  by  Battle's  Alabamians,  captured  six 
pieces  of  artillery,  which  were  most  bravely  defended,  the  ar- 
tillerymen dying  at  their  guns  rather  than  surrender.  Our 
division  was  then  moved  to  the  north  of  Middleton  and  took 
position  across  the  pike.  Here  it  remained  during  the  day 
skirmishing  with  the  cavalry  force  in  its  front. 


260  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Meanwhile  the  tide  of  battle,  so  strong  in  our  favor  in  the 
morning,  finally  turned.  The  Confederate  commands  had 
been  greatly  weakened  by  men  who  left  the  ranks  to  loot  the 
captured  camps,  so  tempting  to  ill-fed,  ill-equipped  soldiers. 
The  routed  Federals  were  halted  and  reformed.  Sheridan, 
absent  in  the  morning,  came  up,  made  new  disposition  and 
assailed  Early  in  flank.  Then  came  disaster  quick  on  the 
heels  of  disaster. 

Our  command  was  in  position  where  we  could  see  the  line 
as  it  broke,  first  at  the  point  held  by  Gordon  and  then  at  that 
held  by  Ramseur.  These  divisions  retired  from  the  field  in 
great  disorder.  Johnston's  brigade  was  the  only  organized 
body  that  retreated  from  the  face  of  the  enemy  with  its  line 
unbroken,  halting  and  firing  repeatedly  as  they  were  pressed 
upon.  In  fact  they  were  then  the  only  organized  force  in 
Early's  whole  army.  After  falling  back  near  Cedar  Creek, 
General  Pegram  sent  an  order  to  General  Johnston  "to  cross 
the  bridge"  and  follow  the  road  towards  Strasburg.  General 
Johnston  sent  a  message  saying  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
cross  the  bridge,  as  the  breastworks  built  by  the  enemy  com- 
manded the  bridge  completely,  and  the  enemy  would  occupy 
them  before  he  (Johnston)  could  cross;  but  that  he  could 
cross  below  and  preserve  his  brigade  intact.  A  second  staff 
officer  from  General  Pegram  ordered  Johnston  to  bring  his 
brigade  across  the  bridge  just  under  the  command  of  these 
works  which  in  the  meantime,  had  been  occupied  by  the  en- 
emy. While  the  brigade  was  attempting  to  obey  the  order 
and  cross  the  bridge,  a  hot  fire  was  poured  into  it  from  these 
works.  Being  totally  unprotected  and  at  the  mercy  of  the 
enemy  and  their  formation  broken  by  the  rush  of  fugitives, 
the  brigade  fell  into  confusion  and  retreated  under  cover  of 
the  saving  darkness. 

General  Early  says  that  could  500  men  have  been  rallied 
after  the  creek  was  passed  the  pursuit  which  was  feeble,  could 
have  been  checked  sufficiently  to  have  saved  not  only  his  own 
artillery  and  trains,  but  also  to  have  brought  off  the  captured 
guns,  all  of  which  got  safely  over  Cedar  Creek,  but  were  cap- 
tured afterwards.  Now  in  Johnston's  brigade  he  would  have 
had  a  large  part  of  the  necessary  500.     In  view  of  this  Gen- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  261 

eral  Pegram's  peremptory  order  to  Johnston  to  cross  at  the 
bridge  was  exceedingly  unfortunate.  For  Early  lost,  not 
only  all  the  captured  guns,  but  likewise  every  piece  of  his 
own  artillery.  A  bridge  broke  on  a  very  narrow  part  of  the 
road  between  Fisher's  Hill  and  Strasburg,  the  artillery  and 
trains  could  not  cross  and  being  undefended,  were  taken  by  a 
small  force  of  Federal  cavalry. 

Halting  at  Fisher's  Hill  till  3  o'clock  the  next  morning 
the  retreat  was  continued  without  halt  to  New  Market,  nearly 
thirty  miles  distant.  On  this  retreat  and  while  near  Mt. 
Jackson,  General  Johnston  was  ordered  to  face  about  and 
hold  the  enemy  in  check.  He  formed  line  of  battle,  threw 
out  skirmishers,  and  had  one  of  the  hottest  fights  in  which  the 
brigade  was  engaged  on  the  skirmish  line  during  the  war. 
The  enemy  was  defeated  and  driven  back. 

At  New  Market  we  rested  undisturbed  during  the  remain- 
der of  October  Recruits  and  stragglers  came  in.  Dejected 
spirits  revived.  The  Confederate  soldier  was  himself  again, 
dogged;^  indomitable.  The  order  to  advance  once  more  down 
the  valley  was  received  with  joy.  Starting  10  November 
on  the  11th  we  approached  Cedar  Creek,  our  last  un- 
fortunate battle  ground.  Sheridan's  main  force  fell  back  to 
Winchester.  Driving  the  cavalry  before  us  we  reached  New- 
ton, within  a  few  miles  of  Winchester.  Making  as  great  a 
show  of  force  so  as  to  hold  as  many  of  the  enemy  here  and 
away  from  Lee  as  possible,  we  remained  here  the  11th  and 
12th,  constant  skirmishing  going  on  between  the  opposing 
cavalry  forces.  Being  too  weak  to  attack  Sheridan  and  he 
refusing  to  leave  his  intrenchments  to  attack  us,  we  retreated 
on  the  night  of  the  12th,  returning  to  New  Market. 

Our  brigade  formed  part  of  the  forces  returned  to  Lee's 
army  about  the  last  of  November.  Camping  near  Waynes- 
boro, on  the  following  night,  we  took  cars  for  Richmond.  We 
arrived  in  the  Confederate  Capital  amid  a  hard  snow  storm. 
The  haste  in  which  we  were  detrained,  double  quicked 
through  the  streets  and  entrained  for  Petersburg  told  us  that 
Grant  was  still  hammering  at  the  defences  and  that  we  were 
sorely  needed.  This  time  he  was  making  another  effort  to  get 
possession  of  the  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Railroad.     We 


262  North  Carolina  Troops,   186l-'65. 

were  hurried  to  a  point  a  few  miles  south  of  Petersburg  to 
frustrate  his  attack. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  HATCHEE^S  EUN. 

Then  followed  much  arduous  picketing  on  Hatcher's  Rim, 
the  winter  being  a  severe  one.  The  Twenty-third  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Eun,  fought  in  Feb- 
ruary.  It  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight  near  the  Crow 
house.  At  one  time  when  the  opposing  lines  of  battle  were 
less  than  one  hundred  yards  apart,  the  flag  of  the  Twenty- 
third  was  advanced  three  times,  each  time  falling  as  its  gal- 
lant bearer  was  shot  down.  Captain  A.  D.  Peace,  in  com- 
mand of  the  regiment,  now  took  up  the  flag  and  rushed  for- 
ward, followed  by  the  men.  But  just  then  came  the  tidings 
that  Pegram  had  fallen  and  that  we  were  flanked,  and  the 
lines  broke  and  were  falling  back  in  confusion  till  Grordon 
dashed  to  the  front,  restored  the  fight  and  the  enemy  were 
driven  back. 

Our  regiment  lost  heavily  in  the  fight,  in  proportion  to 
numbers.  Captain  Frank  Bennett,  in  command  of  the  skir- 
mishers that  day,  lost  an  arm.  Every  year  of  the  war  had  in 
store  a  wovtnd  for  this  gallant  officer.  The  day  before  Seven 
Pines,  in  1862 ;  Chancellorsville,  in  1863 ;  Spottsylvania,  in 
1864;  Hatcher's  Run,  in  1865,  are  the  dates  of  his  wound- 
ings. 

General  Pegram,  our  division  commander,  was  killed  at 
Hatcher's  Jiun  and  General  James  Walker  assumed  command 
of  the  division.  Soon  after  the  battle  otir  brigade  was  sent 
back  to  Worth  Carolina,  going  into  camp  at  Garysburg,  our 
first  point  of  rendezvous  in  the  hopeful  days  of  1861.  Pour 
years  of  war  had  dealt  hard  with  the  old  Twenty-third.  Hard- 
ship, disease  and  Yankee  lead  had  left  but  a  battered  rem- 
nant of  the  buoyant  band  of  yore. 

Remaining  here  a  few  days,  we  were  then  put  on 
round  duty.  There  were  so  many  men,  mostly  conscripts, 
deserting  from  Lee's  army  and  passing  southward  through 
North  Carolina,  that  the  Confederate  authorities  sought  to 
check  it  by  drawing  a  cordon  of  troops  across  their  route. 
Johnston's  brigade  was  the  one  selected  for  this  duty.     Some 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  263 

of  the  companies  were  sent  back  to  their  neighborhoods  to 
catch  deserters.  Company  A  went  back  to  Richmond  County. 
The  battalion  of  sharpshooters  went  to  cope  with  the  recalci- 
trant .mountaineers  and  possibly  other  companies  elsewhere. 
But  the  most  of  the  brigade  formed  the  cordon  on  Roanoke 
river,  from  Gaston  to  Clarksville,  guarding  every  road  and 
ferry.  Our  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  lower  end  of  the 
line  near  Gaston  with  headquarters  at  Warren  Plains.  Here 
we  remained  for  about  a  month  catching  probably  as  many 
deserters  as  we  had  men — which  was  not  many. 

March  23rd  Gordon  telegraphed  Johnston  to  bring  his  bri- 
gade to  Petersburg  at  once.  The  return  was  so  sudden  that 
the  troops  far  up  the  river  near  Clarksville,  did  not  reach  the 
railroad  in  time  and  with  the  detached  companies,  in  other 
parts  of  the  State,  joined  us  at  Petersburg  some  days  later. 

It  was  known  to  the  troops  on  that  night  that  the  next  day 
we  were  going  back  to  Lee's  stem  battle  grotmd  around  Pe- 
tersburg. Some  of  the  men,  loosing  that  night  the  captured 
deserters,  fled  with  them  under  cover  of  darkness.  But  not 
many  and  those  few  were  conscripts,  men  forced  into  the 
ranks. 

Bivouacing  at  Stony  Creek  the  first  night  and  marching 
around  the  gap  in  the  railroad  made  by  the  enemy  we  pressed 
on  to  the  front.  The  night  of  the  24th  we  slept  on  the  hard 
pavements  of  Petersburg,  the  last  sleep  but  one  of  many  a  gal- 
lant fellow  that  neither  hardships,  nor  wounds,  nor  even  de- 
spair, could  part  from  the  Southern  standard — nothing  but 
death. 

While  it  was  yet  dark  on  Friday  morning,  25  March,  the 
men  were  roused,  thrown  into  column  and  marched  silently 
and  rapidly  to  the  east. 

We  had  been  chosen  part  of  the  forlorn  hope  of  the  des- 
perately straitened  Confederacy — honor  high,  but  danger- 
ous. Lee's  last  hope  was  by  a  sudden  and  desperate  assault 
on  Grant's  left  at  Fort  Steadman  to  roll  back  the  hostile  line 
and  loosen  the  strangling  folds  drawn  around  the  Confederate 
Capital  and  its  sister  city  on  the  Appomattox. 

The  opaque  east  grew  vaguely  translucent.  The  Federal 
works  on  Hare's  Hill  rose  in  sharp  outline  against  the  bright- 


264  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

ening  back  ground.  Then  Grordon's  assaulting  force,  con- 
sisting of  our  division  (Walker's)  and  Grimes'  division, 
sprung  over  the  Confederate  works  and  rushed  forward. 
Hacking,  tearing  our  way  through  the  hostile  abatis,  we 
pressed  onward  under  fire  too  hurried  to  be  other  than  wild. 
In  a  few  minutes  Fort  Stedman  and  a  large  section  of  the  left 
of  Grant's  works  was  in  our  hands  and  our  part  of  the  line,  at 
least,  had  penetrated  several  hundred  yards  further.  But  the 
troops  expected  to  support  us  failed  to  appear.  For  an  hour 
or  more  we  held  on.  Broad  daylight  came.  Gun  after  gun, 
battery  after  battery,  from  the  right,  the  left,  the  rear  of  the 
Federal  line  was  brought  to  bear,  till  it  is  said  that  200  guns 
were  concentrated  on  us.  No  command  to  retreat  reached 
us,  but  we  could  see  the  oth,er  troops  being  driven  back.  To 
reimain  where  we  were  or  to  attempt  to  retreat  meant,  it 
seemed,  annihilation.  About  two  thousand  of  the  assaulting 
force  surrendered.  Our  brigade  was  among  the  troops  that 
came  back.  Every  foot  of  the  retreat  was  swept  by  a  tre- 
mendous tempest  of  shot,  shell,  grape,  canister — every  missile 
that  the  engines  of  war  cast  from  their  iron  lips.  The  artil- 
lery ploughed  and  tore  up  the  ground  so  ceaselessly  that  in 
all  but  color  the  flying  earth  looked  like  a  wind  driven  snow 
storm. 

The  Twenty-third  had  not  many  men  to  lose,  but  of  these 
few  a  large  proportion  fell ;  how  many  there  are  no  records  to 
tell.  General  R.  D.  Johnston,  comnianding  the  brigade,  sus- 
tained a  severe  sprain  of  the  ankle  as  he  climbed  the  Federal 
works,  while  unf elt  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  excitement  of 
the  battle,  it  soon  rendered  him  unable  to  walk  for  the  rest  of 
the  war.  Colonel  Lea,  of  the  Fifth  Eegiment,  commanded 
the  brigade  for  the  remaining  weeks  of  the  war. 

Soon  after  the  bloody  and  unavailing  assault  on  Fort  Stead- 
man,  our  brigade  was  moved  out  and  placed  on  picket  be- 
tween Swift  Creek  and  Appomattox  river.  Here  for  a  little 
while  we  had  rest.  Early  on  Sunday  morning,  2  April, 
the  brigade  leaving  its  position  on  picket,  was  hurried  on  the 
double  quick  through  the  streets  of  Petersburg.  The  enemy 
had  broken  over  and  captured  part  of  the  works  held  by 
Grimes'  division  and  we  were  the  only  available  troops  to  re- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  265 

take  it.  This  break  in  the  line  was  about  a  mile  south  of 
that  part  of  the  line  we  passed  over  to  carry  Fort  Steadman. 

Captain  B.  M.  Collins,  of  the  Twelfth  Eegiment,  then  Ad- 
jutant-General of  the  brigade,  gives  me  the  following  graphic 
account  of  this,  the  last  day's  fighting  around  the  doomed 
city :  "We  moved  out  through  the  covered  way,  nearly  knee 
deep  in  mud.  We  could  see  our  captured  works  swarming 
with  blue-coats.  The  fire  was  so  hot  that  to  expose  an  inch  of 
the  person  above  the  protection  meant  death  or  wounding. 
Colonel  Lea  sent  me  back  to  report  to  General  Walker,  our 
division  commander,  that  to  assault  such  a  force  with  his 
weak  brigade  of  about  250  men  was  a  desperate  undertaking. 

General  Walker  repeated  the  order  to  assault,  adding  that 
Captain  Hobson  (father  of  Lieutenant  Hobson,  the  hero  of 
Santiago)  commanding  a  force  of  sharpshooters,  would  make 
a  diversion  in  our  favor.  The  diversion  amounted  to  noth- 
ing. We  crept  up  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy, 
sprang  from  the  ditch  and  charged.  A  small  part  of  the 
works  were  taken  in  this  rush.  This  position  we  set  to  work 
to  widen,  shooting  to  right  and  left  along  the 'line.  There 
were  traverses  along  the  works  at  frequent  intervals  made  of 
timber  and  earth.  The  ends  of  the  traverses  next  to  the  works 
were  roughly  fitted,  leaving  many  holes  and  openings. 
Through  these  holes  some  of  the  men  fired  away  at  light-blue 
legs  while  the  bulk  of  the  command  fired  over  the  traverses  at 
dark-blue  heads. 

The  Federals  fought  us,  but  not  with  the  spirit  which 
their  immense  superiority  in  numbers  would  have  justified. 
An  attack  half  as  vigorous  as  ours  must  have  swept  over 
us  and  captured  Petersburg  in  an  hour.  For  a  while  no 
attack  at  all  came  from  our  front.  A  part  of  our  command 
was  thrown  forward  recapturing  Fort  Mahone  in  advance  of 
the  line  of  works.  This  opened  the  hornets  nest  on  us.  An 
overwhelming  force  of  red  pantalooned  Yankees,  sweeping 
contemptuously  across  our  weak  front,  recaptured  the  fort, 
our  troops  escaping,  bringing  the  garrison  as  prisoners.  But 
the  charging  force  paid  dear  for  their  temerity.  Our  deadly 
enfilading  fire  piled  the  ground  with  red  breeches  as  their 
flank  came  by  us. 


266  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

"About  midnight  came  the  order  to  withdraw^  telling  us 
that  all  was  up.  Passing  through  Petersburg  we  were  re- 
joined by  the  skirmish  line  left  behind  that  morning  in  the 
sudden  movement  to  recapture  the  works.  We  then  crossed 
the  canal  and  retreated  up  the  south  bank  of  the  Appomattox 
river,  shells  falling  around  us  as  we  went. 

"Our  depleted  corps  formed  the  rear  and  wagon  guards  on 
the  retreat,  fighting  constantly.  The  enemy  brought  up  fresh 
troops  when  one  command  was  worn  out.  We  were  under- 
ceaseless  strain.  I  was  afraid  to  sleep  lest  I  be  left  behind, 
taking  only  short,  restless  naps  when  completely  exhausted." 

The  handful  left  of  the  23rd  fought  at  Amelia  Court 
House  and  at  Sailor's  Creek.  Here  the  whole  corps  was 
broke,  but  got  in  fair  shape  by  the  next  day. 

General  E.  D.  Johnston  suffering  too  acutely  from  his 
swollen  ankle  to  mount  a  horse,  accompanied  the  retreat  in  an 
ambulance.  On  one  occasion  finding  that  the  Federal  cavalry 
was  about  to  capture  the  whole  line  of  wagons  and  ambu- 
lances, he  collected  a  few  stragglers,  stopped  an  ammunition 
M^agon,  made  every  man  get  down  and  take  a  gun  and  Avith 
this  motley  force  prevented  the  capture  of  the  train. 

Further  on  in  the  great  retreat  the  hostile  cavalry  broke 
into  the  line  and  captured  General  Johnston's  ambulance 
and  the  rest,  incltiding  a  portion  of  the  wagon  trains.  Gen- 
eral Johnston  cut  the  insignia  of  rank  from  his  coat,  mounted 
a  mule,  the  rider  having  fled,  rode  back,  organized  a  force  of 
stragglers  and  recaptured  the  whole  line. 

At  midnight  of  8  April,  we  had  a  bloody  skirmish.  Be- 
fore sun  up  of  the  fateful  9  th  the  brigade  passed  smftly 
through  the  little  town  of  Appomattox.  Forming  a  line  to  the 
left  of  the  Lynchbxirg  road  we  made  our  last  charge  against 
dismounted  cavalry  in  a  body  of  woods.  The  hostile  force 
was  swept  back  in  precipitation. 

Then  for  the  last  time  rang  out  from  ouv  thin  line,  the 
"Rebel  Yell,"  which  had  so  long  heralded  the.resistless  charge 
of  the  men  in  gray. 

But  then  comes  an  order  to  halt  and  to  right-about  face. 
We  are  marched  back  towards  the  village,  near  which  the 
remnant  of  the  Army  of  ISTorthem  Virginia  seems  to  be  con- 


Twenty-Third  Regiment.  267 

centrating.  Strange  apparitions  greet  our  eyes.  Officers  in 
Federal  uniform  ride  unchallenged  among  our  troops.  We 
rub  our  eyes  as  if  they  did  not  serve  us  true.  But  the  officers 
in  blue  still  come  and  go. 

Slowly,  heavily,  crushingly  the  agonizing  fact  bears  down 
upon  our  hearts.  The  thing  that  could  not  happen  had  hap- 
pened. The  end  of  all  things  was-  at  hand.  Lee  had  surren- 
dered. 

It  is  said  that  the  last  man  to  fall  was  a  member  of  the 
First  Battalion  of  North  Carolina  Sharpshooters,  attached  to 
our  brigade,  and  that  Captain  B.  M.  Collins,  of  the  Twelfth 
North  Carolina,  fired  the  last  musket  fired  by  Lee's  army. 

The  greatest  of  Greek  painters  in  depicting  the  mental 
agony  of  a  hero  shows  him  with  his  face  covered,  leaving  to 
the  imagination  the  supreme  expression  of  sorrow.  We 
shall  so  deal  with  the  emotions  that  filled  our  breast.  Words 
are  futile  things  when  we  would  describe  feelings  like  those 
that  weighted  the  Confederate  breast.  Better  leave  to  the 
sympathetic  imagination  which  has  followed  these  men  from 
the  beginning — which  has  seen  with  what  valor,  what  forti- 
tude, what  matchless  self-devotion  they  .upheld  the  cause  of 
Southern  Independence,  to  measure  the  otherwise  fathomless 
abyss  of  their  sorrow  and  despair  at  seeing  it  stricken  down 
forever. 

Dr.  E.  I.  Hicks,  now  of  Warrenton,  Va.,  the  faithful  and 
efficient  surgeon  of  the  Twenty-third  throughout  the  war,  says 
of  the  regiment:  "It  did  as  much  hard  service,  fought  as 
many  battles,  was  as  constant  in  the  performance  of  duty  as 
any  other  regiment  in  the  army.  And  at  Appomattox  it  sur- 
rendered about  as  many  men  as  any  other  regiment  in  the 
army."  According  to  the  parole  list,  Johnston's  Brigade 
then  numbered  463  men,  rank  and  file. 

The  authors  are  well  aware  that  the  foregoing  sketch  is  but 
a  meagre  and  unworthy  history  of  the  command  whose  deeds 
and  sufferings  they  would  fain  chronicle.  More  than  the 
third  of  a  century  has  passed  since  the  Twenty-third  stacked 
arms  for  the  last  time  at  Appomattox.  On  many  comrades, 
depositories  of  priceless  reminiscences,  death  has  set  all  too 
soon  the  seal  of  silence.     Even  with  the  living  time  is  fast 


268  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

blurring  the  scenes  that  were  long  so  clear  and  sharply  cut 
that  it  seemed  they  must  abide  with  us  forever.  But  the 
writers  have  garnered  what  little  could  be  saved  before  it  was 
too  late,  grieving  that  the  harvest  should  be  so  poor. 

Many  a  gallant  deed  has  passed  into  oblivion  with  him  who 
performed  it  and  the  few  who  witnessed  it.  Of  some  individ- 
uals a  good  deal  is  recorded,  of  many,  nothing.  This  must 
not  be  taken  to  mean  that  the  men  whose  gallant  deeds  are 
given  are  the  only  worthy  or  even  the  most  worthy.  Largely 
owing  to  chance,  the  m.emory  of  some  brave  acts  and  of  the 
men  who  performed  them  survives;  while  others,  perhaps 
even  more  gallant,  have  been  lost.  Such  authentic  ones  as 
could  be  collected  the  writers  have  given,  deploring  none  the 
less  that  time  should  have  been  so  partial  in -his  treatment  of 
these  comirades  in  arms,  preserving  the  deeds  of  some,  casting 
to  oblivion  the  deeds  of  others. 

Vestes-  E.  Turner^ 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 

H.  Clay  Wall, 

Rockingham,  N.  C. 

Note. — In  rewriting  Sergeant  Wall's  sketch  of  the  regi- 
ment, it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  valuable 
assistance  of  Mr.  O.  W.  Blacknall  (son  of  the  late  Colonel 
Chas.  C.  Blacknall),  who  has  visited  the  important  battle- 
fields of  the  Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  and  has  given  much 
study  to  Lee's  campaigns. 

He  also  has  had  access  to  the  private  letters  and  papers  of 
his  gallant  father  which  have  enabled  him  to  rescue  from 
oblivion  many  interesting  and  important  facts  relating  to  the 
history  of  the  regiment. 

V.  E.  Turner. 

Raleigh,  N.  C.  , 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  REGIMENT. 

1.    John  L.  Harris,  Lieut. -Colonel.  3.    Junius  P.  Moore,  Chaplain 

a.    Thaddeus  D.  Love,  Major.  4.    William  G.  Balrd,  Captain.  Co.  H 

5.    Barna  Lane,  Captain,  Co.  E. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  REGlrtE/^T. 


By  corporal  W.    N.    ROSE,  Company  E. 


This  regiment  was  the  Fourteenth  Eegiment  of  Volunteers, 
and  served  as  such  the  first  year  of  the  war. 

It  was  organized  at  Weldon,  IST.  C.,  about  the  first  of 
July,  1861,  with  the  following  Field  and  Staff  officers : 

William  J.  Clarke^  Colonel,  of  Craven  County. 

Thos.  B.  Venable,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Granville 
County. 

Jonathan  Evans,  Major,  of  Cumberland  County. 

John  Feeeel,  Assistant  Quartermaster,  of  Halifax 
County. 

John  A.  Williams,  Assistant  Commissary,  of  Granville 
County. 

De.  Bedfoed  Beown,  Surgeon,  of  Person  County. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Wilson,  Assistant  Surgeon,  of  Granville 
County. 

William  W.  Baied,  Sergeant-Major,  of  Person  County. 

Company  A — Captain,  John  G.  Dillehay,  Person  County. 

Chaeles  D.  Claek,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  of  Wake 
County. 

Laweence  E.  Duffy,  Orderly  Sergeant,  of  Onslow 
County. 

The  following  companies  constituted  the  regiment : 

Company  B — Captain,  George  T.  Duffy,  Onslow  County. 

Company  C — Captain,  George  W.  Crockett,  Johnston 
County. 

Company  D — Captain,  David  C.  Clark,  Halifax  County. 

Company  E — Captain,  Barney  Lane,  Johnston  County. 

Company  F — Captain,  Charles  H.  Blocker,  Cumberland 
County. 

Company  G — Captain,  Thaddeus  D.  Love,  Eobeson 
County. 


270  North  Carolina  Troops;   1861-65. 

CoMPAM-Y  ^ — Captain,  John  L.  Harris,  Person  County. 
Company  I^Captain,  Ira  T.  Woodall,  Johnston  County. 
Company   K — Captain,     David    W.     Spivey,     Franklin 
County. 

The  regiment,  after  its  organization,  remained  at  Weldon 
for  a  few  days,  practicing  in  regimental  drill.  From  Wel- 
don, the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Richmond,  Va.,  where  it 
went  into  camp  in  the  western  suburbs  of  the  city  for  one  day 
and  night.  From  here  it  was  ordered  to  join  General  John 
B.  Floyd,  then  operating  in  the  region  of  the  Gauley  river, 
West  Virginia. 

Boarding  the  cars,  we  set  out  on  a  two  days'  trip,  it  being 
often  the  case  that  the  three  engines  attached,  could  hardly  as- 
cend the  gi-ades  on  this  mountain  road,  then  completed  only 
to  Jackson  River  depot. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Jackson  River  about  one  week, 
it  raining  most  of  the  time. 

From  here  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  to  join  General 
Floyd,  then  in  the  Kanawha  Valley.  This  was  a  long  and 
tedious  march,  of  nearly  or  quite  one  hundred  miles,  over 
the  mountain  roads.  The  weather  being  very  warm  the  boys 
began  to  see  some  of  the  realities  of  war  and  the  life  of  a  sol- 
dier. On  this  march  we  encamped  for  a  short  while  at  the 
celebrated  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Meadow  Bluff  and  Blue 
Sulphur  Springs.  We  joined  General  Floyd  in  the  latter  part 
of  October,  on  his  return  from  the  Kanawha,  where  he  and 
General  Wise  had  a  fight  with  General  Rosecrans,  then  in 
command  of  the  Federal  forces  in  West  Virginia. 

General  Floyd,  retreating  into  the  mountains,  being  pur- 
sued by  the  Federals,  took  a  position  on  Big  Sewell  Mountain 
with  the  enemy  in  front.  Here  he  built  a  very  substantial 
breastwork  of  chestnut  logs,  and  in  this  position  the  two 
armies  remained  during  the  fall  and  early  part  of  the  winter 
of  1861. 

Heretofore  the  boys  had  not  been  used  to  hard  marching, 
and  the  severities  of  camp  life.  The  measles  having  broken 
out  among  them,  many  died  from  disease.  We  remained, 
however,  in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia  until  the  winter 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  271 

was  well  advanced.  It  was  in  this  campaign  that  the  Twen- 
ty-fourth Regiment  served  under  the  immortal  soldier,  Robert 
E.  Lee,  then  a  Brigadier-General.  From  here  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Richmond  and  on  to  Petersburg,  where  we 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  the  Model  Farm. 

Here  the  boys  had  fun  and  a  good  time  generally. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Eastern  ISTorth  Carolina.  We  remained  at  and  near  Mur- 
freesboro,  IST.  C,  for  quite  a  while  watching  the  enemy.  It 
was  near  this  place  in  May,  1862,  that  the  regiment  was  re- 
organized and  became  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  State 
Troops.  As  stated  in  the  outset,  the  regiment  up  to  this  time 
was  twelve  months  Volunteers  and  the  Fourteenth  Regiment. 
In  the  reorganization  there  was  some  dissatisfaction  among 
the  volunteers  at  having  to  move  up  to  higher  numbers.  The 
Fourteenth  Volunteers,  however,  became  the  Twenty-fourth 
State  Troops  and  reorganized  as  follows : 

William  J.  Claeke,  Colonel,  of  Craven  County. 

J  OHN  L.  Haeeis,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Person  County. 

Thaddeus  D.  Love,  Major,  of  Robeson  County. 

Oliver  D.  Cooke^  Adjutant,  of  Craven  County. 

John  Feerel^  Assistant  Quartermaster,  of  Halifax 
County. 

John  A.  Williams,  Assistant  Commissary,  of  Granville 
County. 

Dr.  Wm.  R.  Wilson,  Surgeon,  of  Granville  County. 

De.  Charles  Dufft,  Assistant  Surgeon,  of  Onslow 
County. 

EvANDEE  McNair,  Chaplain,  of  Robeson  County. 

Other  Staff  Officers  about  the  same  as  first  year  of  the 
war. 

Company  A — Captain,  James  Holeman,  Person  County. 
Company  B — Captain,  Geo.  T.  Duffy,  Onslow  County. 
Company  C — Captain,  John  D.  Gulley,  Johnston  County. 
Company  D — Captain,  David  C.  Clark,  Halifax  County. 
Company  E — Captain,  Barney  Lane,  Johnston  County. 
Company  F — Captain,  Jas.  S.  Evans,  Cumberland 
County. 


272  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Company  G — Captain,  A.  A.  Mclver,  Robeson  County. 
Company  H — Captain,  Jas.  C.  Bailey,  Person  County. 
Company  I — Captain,  Ira  T.  Woodall,  Johnston  County, 
Company    K — Captain,    David    W.     Spivey,     Franklin 
County. 

Having  thus  organized,  we  were  now  "in  for  the  war." 
The  regiment  left  North  Carolina  for  Virginia  just  before 
and  in  time  for  the  seven  days'  fight  below  Richmond.  We 
had  passed  the  first  year  of  the  war  in  marching  and  watch- 
ing the  enemy,  and  many  of  the  boys  were  fearful  that  the 
war  would  close  without  giving  them  a  chance  at  the  Yankees, 
but  the  time  had  now  come  when  such  fears  were  no  longer  to 
be  entertained,  for  it  was  on  25  June,  1862,  that  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  was  led  into  its  first  engagement  at  White 
Oak  Swamp,  below  Richmond. 

In  this  fight  Compa,ny  E,  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  was 
thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  and  while  deploying  William 
Scott,  of  this  company,  was  killed.  This  was  the  first  man 
killed  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  by  a  Yankee  bullet.  In 
this  fight  we  began  to  see  war  as  a  reality.  We  held  the  line 
that  had  been  occupied  by  the  Tenth  Louisiana  Regiment  in 
the  morning  part  of  the  day,  they  having  been  badly  cut  to 
pieces.  At  sunset  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  to  take  a 
Yankee  battery  that  had  been  shelling  us  during  that  after- 
noon, not  more  than  150  yards  in  front,  but  while  we  were 
forming  in  the  hedgerow,  the  Yankees  began  falling  back. 

Soon  after  dark,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  relieved 
by  Colonel  Zeb  Vance's  Regiment,  the  Twenty-sixth  JSTorih 
Carolina,  and  sent  back  immediately  in  the  rear  to  rest  for 
the  night.  However,  we  were  not  out  of  danger,  for  during 
the  night  Vance's  men  got  up  a  fuss  with  the  enemy,  and 
Yankee  bullets  came  thick  and  fast  among  us. 

Next  morning,  26  June,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment 
was  ordered  to  re-occupy  the  same  position  of  the  even- 
ing before.  On  reaching  this  post.  Colonel  Vance  came  up 
to  Colonel  Clarke  and  asked  him  if  he  was  ready.  Clarke  an- 
swered him  yes.  Whereupon  Vance  said :  "Very  well  then, 
Colonel.     I  will  open  the  ball,  and  the  baby  shall  be  born." 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  273 

In  a  few  minutes  he  turned  and  walked  ofE  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  command,  whistling  as  jovial  as  a  boy  going  to 
mill. 

Reaching  his  command  he  gave  the  order  to  charge,  but  the 
Yankees  did  as  the  evening  before — they  limbered  up  and 
got  further.  This  was  the  first  time  the  writer  ever  saw 
Colonel  Vance,  and  this  little  incident  made  an  impression 
that  Vance  would  do  to  tie  to,  no  matter  where  you  placed  him, 
and  we  never  had  cause  to  change  that  opinion.  Later  in  the 
day,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  ordered  to  the  right 
of  the  Confederate  lines,  and  later  to  the  extreme  right. 
About  dark  an  order  passed  down  the  line  to  fall  back  in  good 
order.  This  order  proved  to  be  a  false  order,  but  was  not  so 
understood  by  Captain  Lane,  who  was  on  the  extreme  right 
of  the  regiment,  tmtil  he  was  lost  in  a  thick  marsh  or  swamp, 
where  we  had  to  remain  during  the  night  in  water  almost  knee 
deep.  We  could  hear  the  enemy  as  they  were  moving  near 
us  on  our  right.  We  could  hear  the  clanking  of  their  armor, 
and  did  not  know  what  moment  they  might  discover  our  iso- 
lated condition.  Company  E  being  cut  off  from  the  regiment. 

To  the  writer,  this  was  perhaps  the  most  miserable  night 
of  the  war.  Captain  Lane,  however,  at  dawn  of  day,  found 
his  way  back  to  the  regiment,  and  Company  E  resumed  her 
place  in  line.  The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  an  oak  thicket  in  front,  which  was  done  in  ad- 
mirable style. 

We  quietly  remained  on  this  line  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

The  28th  was  passed  quietly  by  us  on  this  line.  The  29th 
was  quiet  also. 

The  30th,  moved  to  the  left  and  did  some  skirmishing. 

1  July,  McClellan's  retreat  from  Richmond  was  dis- 
covered. Lee's  pursuit  commenced.  The  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  had  previously  been  assigned  to  General  Robert 
Ransom's  Brigade,  and  Ransom's  brigade  was  among  the  ad- 
vance troops,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  at  the  head  of  the 
column.  Reaching  the  fork  of  the  road  near  Frazier's  farm, 
we  found  General  Lee  and  Staff  on  horseback.  General  Lee 
remarked  to  Colonel  Clarke  that  we  were  an  hour  too  late,  that 

18 


274  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

McClellan  liad  just  passed.  We  followed  on,  however,  reach- 
ing Malvern  Hill  about  3  p.  m.  Wright's  Georgia 
Brigade  on  Ransom's  right  led  the  attack.  The  Twen- 
ty-fourth Eegiment  was  posted  on  the  hill  behind  an 
old  fence.  While  in  this  position,  Eansom  rode  in  front  of 
the  line,  and  gave  the  order  to  wait  until  we  could  "see  the 
whites  of  their  eyes,  and  d — n  it,  give  it  to  them."  We  were 
soon,  however,  moved  to  the  support  of  Wright,  who  by  this 
time  was  getting  things  hot.  Soon  after  the  whole  of  Lee's 
army  became  engaged,  and  from  then  until  9  o'clock  at  night, 
the  contest  was  unabated.  It  was  here  that  Captain  Bill  Gul- 
ley,  of  Company  C,  from  Johnston  County,  was  found  dead 
in  advance  of  any  other  Southern  soldier  that  fell  on  this 
blood-red  field.  We  slept  at  night  on  the  battle  field,  expect- 
ing a  renewal  of  the  strife  the  next  morning.  Morning  came 
and  with  it  the  rain  in  torrents,  which  prevented  a  renewal  of 
the  strife. 

McClellan  retreated  to  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  James. 
Lee  followed.  McClellan  evacuated  Harrison's  Landing  and 
swung  his  army  around  to  the  north  of  Richmond.  Lee 
moved  to  the  Rapidan.  The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  camped 
for  a  few  days  near  the  old  Seven  Pines  battle  field,  and  then 
crossed  the  James,  camped  near  Drewry's  Bluff.  From  here 
we  marched  through  Petersburg,  and  went  into  camp  near 
City  Point.  It  was  here  that  we  heard  the  farewell  address 
of  our  beloved  Vance,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  governor- 
ship of  ISTorth  Carolina.  From  here  the  regiment  moved  to 
the  north  of  Petersburg  and  camped  on  Dunlap's  farm.  About 
the  first  of  September  we  reached  Richmond,  boarded  the 
train  to  Gordonsville,  the  railroad  having  been  torn  up  be- 
yond there  to  Manassas.  From  Gordonsville  we  took  up  the 
line  of  march  to  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  fording  the  Po- 
tomac north  of  Leesburg.  The  first  night  in  Maryland,  a 
detachment  was  sent  out  to  attack  the  Yankee  picket  at  Mon- 
ocacy  bridge,  under  Captain  Duffy,  of  Company  B.  Cross- 
ing the  canal,  an  attack  was  made,  in  which  Captain  Duffy 
was  severely  wounded  and  he  and  his  men  taken  prisoners. 
The  following  day  we  recrossed  the  Potomac  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  south  of  Harper's  Ferry.     The  next  day  we  marched 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  275 

thirty-eight  miles  to  reinforce  troops  near  the  Ferry,  whose 
garrison  was  captured  the  next  day. 

From  here  we  forded  the  Shenandoah  and  16  Septem- 
ber we  crossed  the  Potomac  near  Shepherdstown.  At 
night  Lee's  army  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  front  of 
Sharpsburg.  On  the  following  morning  Ransom's  Brigade 
was  placed  on  the  extreme  right.  The  battle  opened  from 
center  to  left  of  Lee's  line,  soon  Ransom's  Brigade  was  trans- 
ferred in  double  quick  to  the  left.  Here  we  were  ordered  to 
lay  off  our  knapsacks,  which  we  never  saw  again.  The  Twen- 
ty-fourth Regiment  was  ordered  to  dislodge  some  Yankees 
from  behind  a  stone  fence,  and  of  course  we  did  so  in  good 
style.  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  with  General  Ransom, 
watching  this  charge  from  a  distance.  General  Stuart  re- 
marked to  General  Ransom  that  every  soldier  in  that  com- 
mand was  worthy  to  be  made  a  commander.  Ransom  replied, 
"God  bless  the  gallant  boys,  I  will  never  curse  them  any 
more." 

It  was  in  commemoration  of  this  gallant  charge  that  Mrs. 
Mary  Bayard  Clarke,  wife  of  our  Colonel,  wrote  that  beau- 
tiful poem,  which  runs  something  like  this : 

"Well  may  the  noble  Old  North  State, 

Be  of  her  soldiers  proud, 
But  of  her  glorious  Twenty-Fourth 

I'll  sing  with  praises  loud. 
Eight  gallantly  they've  borne  the  flag, 

Their  State  unto  them  gave; 
Though  torn  by  many  a  shot  and  shell, 

Long  may  it  o'er  them  wave. 

"God  with  us  on  this  blood-red  field, 

Is  set  in  purest  white; 
For  by  His  arm  and  their  good  swords 

They  trust  to  win  the  fight. 
On  Sewell's  Mount  they  tentless  lay. 

For  days  in  sleet  and  snow, 
Faced  sickness,  hunger,  cold  and  toil, 

As  bravely  as  the  foe. 


276      North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

''They  foiled  the  wily  Roseerans, 

Neath  Floyd  and  General  Lee, 
And  bore  their  part  in  Richmond  fights 

With  Ransom  and  Hnger. 
That  bloody  charge,  which  cost  so  dear, 

At  Malvern  Hill  they  led, 
And  in  the  foremost  rank  they  left. 

Their  brave  and  honored  dead. 

Upon  Potomac's  famous  banks. 

Again  their  banners  flew. 
In  Sharpsburg's  fight  they  won  a  place 

And  stoutly  held  it  too. 
The  gallant  Louisiana  Tenth 

Which  fought  with  them  on  Malvern  Hill, 
Here  again  beside  them  stood. 

And  cheered  them  with  good  will. 

"And  when  their  General  saw  them  charge, 

His  eyes  with  tears  ran  o'er, 
'God  bless  the  gallant  boys,'  he  cried, 

'I'll  ne'er  curse  them  more.'  " 

On  the  following  day  we  remained  in  line,  but  that  night 
we  were  again  on  the  march,  with  orders  to  follow  our  file 
leader  and  ask  no  questions ;  daylight  the  next  morning  once 
more  finding  us  across  the  Potomac,  near  Shepherdstown. 

We  then  went  on  to  Martinsburg,  and  on  to  near  Win- 
chester, Va.,  where  we  went  into  camp  for  about  ten  days. 
From  here  we  were  ordered  to  Culpepper  and  Madison  Court 
House,  whence  in  the  latter  part  of  November  we  marched 
to  Fredericksburg  where  we  occupied  a  very  important  posi- 
tion. On  the  famous  Marye's  Heights,  13  December,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment  suffered  severely,  losing  many 
men  and  several  valuable  officers.  It  was  here  that  Lieuten- 
ant London  Browne,  of  Company  E,  was  mortally  wounded 
and  died  a  few  days  later. 

It  was  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  that  Ransom's 
Brigade  left  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  (3  January, 
1863)  and  was  sent  back  to  North  Carolina. 

General  Robert  Ransom,  in  June,  1863,  was  promoted  to 
Major-General,    and    sent    west,    and    Colonel    Matt.    W. 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  277 

Ransom,  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  promoted  to  Brigadier 
in  his  place,  thenceforth  he  was  our  Brigadier. 

Just  here,  the,  writer  woiild  say  for  General  Matt.  Ran- 
som, what  we  helieve  every  soldier  would  say  that  ever  be- 
longed to  the  old  brigade,  that  IS^orth  Carolina  never  produced 
a  more  noble  son  or  a  better  soldier.  He  was  ever  kind  to  his 
men,  and  as  indulgent  as  army  discipline  would  permit  him 
to  be,  always  urging  them  to  duty  and  at  the  same  time  warn- 
ing them  against  unnecessary  danger.  The  night  before  the 
storming  of  Plymouth,  IST.  C,  by  Ransom's  Brigade  in  rear 
of  the  town,  the  writer  was  acting  as  a  courier  for  General 
Ransom  from  the  skirmish  line  and  as  such  bore  a  dispatch 
from  Captain  Lane  to  General  Ransdm  with  regard  to  the 
bridge  at  the  creek  below  the  town..  He  asked  us  onany 
questions,  spoke  words  of  kindness  and  caution,  and  said  that 
he  would  not  have  one  life  lost  unnecessarily  for  the  glory  of 
beating  the  Yankees  in  the  morning.  Such  a  commander 
will  ever  be  held  dear  in  the  hearts  of  the  old  brigade,  and  his 
memory  can  never  perish  while  there  is  one  left  living  to  tell 
the  story. 

About  the  first  of  March,  1863,  the  regiment  reached  Wel- 
don,  ]Sr.  C. ;  went  on  to  Goldsboro  and  Wilmington,  back  to 
ISTorth  East  river,  and  on  to  Kenansville.  Ransom's  Bri- 
gade was  sent  down  here  to  guard  the  Wilmington  and  Wel- 
don  Railroad.  The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  reached  Golds- 
boro from  Kenansville  21  March.  From  Goldsboro  we 
were  ordered  to  Kinston,  where  we  did  picket  duty  below 
the  town  at  Wise's  Fork  and  Gum  Swamp.  At  the  latter 
place  we  had  some  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  and  drove 
them  as  far  in  the  direction  of  New  Bern  as  "Deep  Gully." 
20  April  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  ordered  to  Wel- 
don.  Nothing  transpired  worthy  of  note  while  at  this  place. 
31  May  ordered  to  Virginia;  10  June  down  on  Blackwa- 
ter,  Va.  While  in  this  region,  and  near  the  home  of  our  be- 
loved General,  we  had  a  fight  with  Spears'  cavalry  at  Boone's 
Mill  near  Jackson,  IST.  C.  The  Yankees  caught  some  of  the 
boys  in  the  pond  swimming,  but  of  course,  they  were  out  in 
time  and  "whipped"  the  Yanks  just  the  same.  The  next 
morning  after  this  little  fight,   General  Ransom  took  the 


278  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

Twenty-fourth  Kegiment  to  his  home  near  by  and  gave  us 
breakfast,  and  some  of  the  boys  said  here  was  the  most  fried 
bacon  they  ever  saw  at  one  time.  The  Twenty-fourth  Kegi- 
ment had  also  a  skirmish  down  on  the  Blackwater  with  some 
Yankees  that  came  up  the  river  on  a  gunboat. 

Ordered  from  here  to  Drewry's  Bluff,  reaching  that  place 
16  June.  From  this  place,  a  few  days  later,  we  were  sent 
down  below  Eichmond,  at  Bottom's  Bridge.  4  July  had  a 
fight  near  the  bridge,  in  which  we  lost  several  men,  and  drove 
back  the  enemy  with  severe  loss,  after  which  we  returned  to 
Eichmond  about  8  July,  and  went  into  camp  for  a 
few  days  below  the  city.  On  the  march  from  Bottom's 
Bridge  one  of  the  boys  became  sick,  and.  the  writer  was  de- 
tailed and  left  behind,  to  take  care  of  and  help  him  on  to 
camp.  Night  soon  came — one  of  those  dark,  dismal  nights, 
that  is  so  intensely  dark  that  we  can  almost  feel  it  with  the 
hand,  and  we  had  to  pass  over  the  old  battle  field  of  the  seven 
days'  fights  below  Eichmond  of  the  year  before.  As  we 
trudged  along  we  talked  of  the  loneliness  of  the  hour  and  of 
the  sacredness  of  the  ground  over  which  we  were  passing,  not 
knowing  what  moment  we  might  stumble  over  the  bleaching 
bones  of  an  old  comrade  that  had  fallen  on  this  blood-red  field 
the  year  before.  We  moved  on,  however,  reaching  camp  late 
at  night,  tired  and  worn  out.  The  Twenty-fourth  remained 
here  a  few  days,  after  which  it  was  ordered  to  Petersburg. 

From  Petersburg,  on  20  July,  the  Eegiment  was  or- 
dered to  Weldon,  N.  C.  Beaching  that  place  we  went  into 
camp  on  the  east  side  of  the  town.  It  was  expected,  when  the 
Eegiment  left  Eichmond,  that  we  would  go  on  to  Eocky 
Mount,  ]Sr.  C,  as  the  Yankees  had  the  day  before  invested 
that  town  and  burned  part  or  all  of  the  pviblic  buildings ;  but 
on  reaching  North  Carolina  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  had 
fallen  back  nearer  the  coast.  The  regiment  remained  near 
Weldon  for  quite  a  while  awaiting  orders.  On  the  28th  of 
October  we  left  Weldon  for  Tarboro,  N.  C,  reaching  there 
on  the  30th.  On  the  first  of  November  we  set  out  for  Ham- 
ilton, N.  C,  arriving  there  on  the  6th.  Here  the  regiment  re- 
mained for  some  time,  doing  picket  duty  at  Eawl's  Mill  and 
below  there.     Scouting  parties  were  often  sent  out  from  the 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  279 

regiment  to  go  down  in  the  enemy's  lines  in  the  vicinity  of 
Washington,  E".  0.,  to  watch  their  movements.  The  writer 
had  some  experience  along  this  line,  but  time  and  space  forbid 
any  account  of  the  same  here.  22  E"ovember,  ordered  to 
Williamston,  IST.  0.  Here  the  regiment  did  picket  duty  on 
the  river  below  the  town  for  some  time. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December  Major  Love  took  a  detach- 
ment of  three  companies  from  the  regiment,  to-wit :  Compa- 
nies E,  I,  and  F,  and  went  down  near  to  Plymouth  to  ambus- 
cade a  regiment  of  Yankee  cavalry  that  was  in  the  habit  of 
going  in  the  country  to  forage.  After  a  hard  march  all  night 
over  hedges  and  byways,  we  reached  a  place  of  concealment 
to  await  their  coming ;  but  soon  after  the  rain  began  pouring 
down  in  torrents,  and  so  thoroughly  wet  our  guns  and  aimmu- 
nition  that  the  Major  gave  up  the  idea  as  a  bad  job,  and  we 
set  out  to  retrace  our  footsteps,  marching  on  until  late  in  the 
afternoon.  We  reached  a  mill,  where  we  found  Colonel 
Clarke  with  the  remaining  companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 
Here  we  camped  for  the  night,  completely  tired  and  worn 
out.  On  the  following  day  the  regiment  set  out  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Weldon,  reaching  there  a  day  or  two  later,  where  we 
remained  for  a  few  days. 

13  January,  1864,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  reached 
Tarboro,  JST.  C,  and  remained  here  for  a  short  while,  doing 
picket  duty  below  the  town.  In  the  latter  part  of  January 
the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  to  Goldsboro,  and  from  this 
place  to  Kinston,  ISTew  Bern  and  back  to  Goldsboro  and  on  to 
Weldon.  It  was  a  continuous  move,  with  no  fighting,  except 
at  ISTew  Bern,  where  we  had  what  we  called  a  litte  "round" 
with  the  Yanks.  From  Weldon,  19  February,  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  was  ordered  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  and 
went  into  camp  on  Dunn's  Hill,  near  the  city.  17  Febru- 
ary returned  to  Weldon,  IST.  C.  24  February  the  regiment 
was  called  on  to  re-enlist  for  the  duration  of  the  war.  It 
was  understood  by  the  boys,  however,  that  they  were  in  for 
the  war,  and  the  consequence  was,  but  few  re-enlisted. 

On  25  February  Major  Love  took  Company  E,  with 
three  other  companies  of  the  regiment,  and  went  down 
in' Eastern  Carolina  on  a  series  of  hard  marches.     The  de- 


280  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tachment  reached  G-atesville  about  the  first  of  March.  Erom 
Gatesville  on  to  South  Mills,  which  place  had  previously  been 
burned  by  the  enemy.  At  this  place  the  Yankee  cavalry  was 
stationed,  and  on  our  approach  a  running  fight  ensued  up  the 
Dismal  Swamp  Canal.  We  followed  up  the  canal  for  several 
miles,  driving  the  enemy  before  us,  until  we  reached  the  only 
house  we  had  seen  since  we  had  left  the  burnt  town.  Here 
we  halted,  and  at  night  Major  Love  placed  the  detachment 
in  ambush,  and  awaited  results.  Soon  after,  the  enemy  was 
heard  moving  in  our  direction  down  the  canal ;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  impatience  of  the  detachment  highest  up  the 
canal,  who  fired  too  soon,  we  must  have  had  a  nice  time  of  it. 
This,  of  course,  spoiled  the  whole  trick,  and  the  Yankees 
whirled  about  and  made  a  hasty  retreat  up  the  canal — ^not 
however,  without  leaving  several  dead  and  wounded. 

It  was  now  snowing,  'and  the  night  was  intensely  cold,  and 
we  without  fire  or  blankets.  Major  Love  called  to  order  and 
returned  down  the  canal,  breaking  the  dikes  behind  him — 
reaching  South  Mills  in  the  early  morning,  where  we  re- 
mained that  day.  The  following  night  we  set  out  on  a  march 
of  about  thirty  miles  and  went  into  camp  ;  remaining  here  for 
a  day  or  two,  or  until  the  regiment  joined  us.  From  this 
place,  the  Twenty-fourth  set  out  for  Suffolk,  Va.,  which  place 
was  in  possession  of  a  regiment  of  negro  cavalry.  Moving  on 
during  the  day,  we  camped  within  seven  miles  of  the  place.  At 
3  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  resumed  the  m.arch,  General  Ran- 
som with  the  brigade  having  joined  vis  the  night  before. 
Moving  on  in  the  darkness,  we  came  in  contact  with  what  we 
supposed  the  enemy  drawn  iip  in  line  of  battle  at  the  fork  of 
the  road.  Ransom  ordered  Colonel  Clarke  to  form  the  Twen- 
ty-fourth in  line  and  advance  as  near  as  possible  without  forc- 
ing a  fight  to  observe,  if  possible,  if  it  was  the  enemy  or  Col- 
onel Tom  Kennedy's  cavalry  that  was  supposed  to  have  been 
captured  a  day  or  two  before.  It  proved  to  be  Kennedy, 
which  was  found  out  when  it  was  light  enough  so  that  we 
could  see  their  gray  uniforms.  Each  party  sprung  their  guns 
many  times  that  morning,  and  had  one  gun  been  discharged, 
there  wotild  have  been  a  dreadful  slaughter  among  friends. 
After  the  parties  were  known  to  each  other,  Kennedy  took  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH  EEGIMENT. 


1.  James  A.  Holeman,  Captain.  Co.  A.         3. 

2.  John  A.  Williams,   Captain,  Commis-    4. 

sary.  5. 


C.  S.  Powell.  2d  Lieut..  Co.  E. 

J  A.  Long.  Orderly  Sergeant,  Co.  H. 

Edwin  G.  Moore,  Private,  Co.  A. 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  281 

left  hand  road  and  Ransom  the  right.  We  ran  in  with  the 
Yankee  pickets  about  three  miles  from  town  and  drove  them 
in.  In  the  afternoon  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  sent 
around  to  the  west  of  the  town  at  a  church.  Soon  after  we 
saw  in  the  distance  a  squad  of  Yankee  cavalry.  At  this  mo- 
ment Captain  Durham,  of  Ransom's  StafE,  took  charge  of 
the  Texas  Zouaves,  about  fifteen  in  niimber,  and  mounted  on 
very  poor  horses,  dashed  forward  to  meet  them.  A  running 
fight  ensued,  the  Twenty-fourth  being  ordered  to  follow  in 
double-quick.  Durham  pursued  at  close  quarters  until  reach- 
ing the  lower  part  of  town,  when  the  enemy  received  rein- 
forcements and  a  hand  to  hand  conflict  was  had.  The  Twen- 
ty-fourth Riegiment  had  now  reached  the  scene  in  disorder, 
having  double-quicked  about  two  miles.  The  ladies  were  on 
the  streets  with  their  inspiring  words  and  telling  us  that  it 
was  but  a  regiment  of  negroes,  to  go  forward.  At  this  mo- 
ment General  Ransom  came  up  and  commenced  forming  the 
men  in  ranks.  In  the  meantime  the  negroes  were  forming 
for  a  charge,  splendidly  mounted  on  fine  chargers,  and  at  the 
command  dashed  forward  as  if  they  would  ride  over  us ;  but 
every  man  of  the  Twenty-fourth  that  had  arrived  needed  no 
words  of  command  to  make  him  do  his  duty,  except  to  hold 
his  fire  until  the  proper  time.  On  they  came  to  within  forty 
paces,  when  the  order  was  given  to  fire,  which  was  done  with 
telling  effect.  It  was  enotigh.  The  negroes  wheeled  their 
horses  and  fled  in  the  direction  from  which  they  came;  and 
the  writer  has  often  thought  this  the  most  splendid  exhibi- 
tion of  horsemanship  we  have  ever  witnessed.  The  negroes 
did  not  return.  Those  that  fell  into  our  hands  were  in  some 
houses  in  town  and  refused  to  surrender,  and  continued  to  flre 
out  of  the  windows  until  the}'  were  burned  up  in  the  houses. 
Late  in  the  evening  General  Ransom  permitted  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  to  plunder  the  camps  of  the  enemy,  which 
were  rich  in  many  good  rations,  which  were  very  much  needed 
by  our  boys.  We  remained  in  Siiffolk  two  days,  and  our  part- 
ing with  the  citizens  and  ladies  were  as  sad  as  our  meeting 
upon  entering  the  town  was  joyous.  On  12  March,  1864, 
we  again  reached  Weldon,  worn  ovit  and  tired,  and  went  into 
camp,  soon  after  which  orders  came  to  clean  guns  and  get 


282  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

ready  for  regimental  inspection.  We  remained  at  this  camp 
for  several  days. 

We  left  Weldon  in  the  early  part  of  April  and  reached 
Plymouth,  IST.  C,  about  the  15th,  and  began  the  siege  of  that 
place.  There  were  about  3,500  Yankees  here,  under  the 
command  of  General  Wessell,  strongly  fortified  by  a 
series  of  breastworks  and  forts,  well  mounted,  with  nearly  two 
hundred  heavy  siege  guns,  which  would  seem  to  make  the 
place  well  nigh  invulnerable  to  an  equal  number  of  troops  as 
the  assaulting  party. 

General  Hoke  established  his  lines  on  the  upper  town  or 
river,  and  Ransom's  Brigade  on  the  south  or  front  part  of  the 
town,  all  under  the  command  of  Hoke.  On  the  18th,  Ran- 
som was  ordered  to  assault  the  works  in  front  of  the  town 
which,  by  the  way,  was  that  part  of  the  work  that  embraced 
the  three  principal  forts  and  could  not  be  carried  by  an  as- 
sault made  directly  in  front. 

Preparatory  to  making  this  assault  the  Twenty-fourth  Reg- 
iment was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  in  a  skirt  of  woods,  some 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  enemy's  works,  and  a  de- 
tail made,  to  intercept  and  drive  back  the  enemy's  sharpshoot- 
ers, posted  some  two  hundred  yards  in  front  of  us  in  the  open 
field.  Our  line  advanced  about  half  the  distance,  when  the 
firing  commenced,  and  we  can  truthfully  say,  that  this  was 
the  finest  work  of  the  kind  we  ever  saw,  our  lines  steadily 
advancing,  while  the  enemy's  retreated  into  the  forts. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  followed  the  line  of  skirmish- 
ers to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  forts,  where  we  were 
halted  and  ordered  to  lie  down  in  a  deep  ravine.  At  this  mo- 
ment (dark)  all  the  artillery  on  both  sides,  that  could  be 
brought  to  bear  was  in  full  play,  and  from  then  until  a  late 
hour  at  night  it  was  a  sublime,  as  it  was  also  an  awful  scene, 
to  watch  the  transition  of  the  bursting  shells,  dealing  death 
and  destruction  on  every  hand.  The  light  caused  by  the 
vivid  flash  of  the  cannon  and  the  explosion  of  shells,  made 
it  sufficient  at  times  to  have  picked  up  a  pin  from  the  earth. 
In  this  assault  our  casualties  were  comparatively  light,  con- 
sidering how  terriffic  was  this  artillery  duel. 

We  withdrew  late  at  night,  and  the  next  day  Ransom's  Bri- 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  283 

gade  was  sent  around  in  rear  of  the  town  on  the  river  to  make 
the  assault  from  below.  Company  E,  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
was  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers  and  to  find  out,  if  possi- 
ble, if  the  bridge  at  the  creek  had  been  burned.  As  we  have 
before  stated  in  this  sketch,  the  writer  was  acting  as  courier 
from  the  skirmish  line  to  General  Ransom's  headquarters.  It 
was  now  night,  and  I  had  delivered  a  message  froim  Captain 
Lane,  in  charge  of  the  skirtmishers,  to  General  Ransom,  with 
regard  to  the  force  of  the  enemy  at  the  creek,  when  Lieuten- 
ant Applewhite,  of  Texas,  and  acting  as  aid  to  General  Ran- 
som, was  standing  by  and  asked  permission  to  take  "this 
man"  (myself),  and  go  to  the  creek  and  ascertain  if  the  bridge 
had  been  burned.  Ransom  at  first  objected,  but  finally 
yielded,  and  Applewhite  and  myself  set  out,  but  did  not  go 
far  before  we  met  General  Bearing,  of  our  eavarly,  and  one 
other  man. 

On  learning  that  we  were  going  to  the  creek,  Bearing  and 
his  man  joined  us  and  we  four  soon  stood  on  the  bank  of  the 
creek.  The  bridge  had  been  burned  and  a  small  boat  was  on 
the  opposite  side.  Bearing  asked  who  would  swim  the  creek 
and  get  the  boat,  and  no  sooner  said  than  the  man  we  did  not 
know  was  across  the  creek  and  had  the  boat.  The  enemy,  as 
we  soon  learned,  was  about  forty  paces  from  us  behind  breast- 
works. The  man  that  swam  the  creek,  we  have  learned  since 
the  war  was  Cavenaugh,  from  Onslow  county.  It  was  a 
brave  deed,  and  we  mention  it  simply  to  show  the  material 
that  composed  the  Southern  army,  then  around  Plymouth, 
and  no  doubt  there  were  hundreds  of  equally  brave  spirits 
in  that  unequal  contest,  some  of  whom  fell  that  night  and  the 
next  morning  in  the  storming  of  this  strong  citadel. 

Captain  Lane,  with  Company  E,  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
now  arrived  at  the  creek,  and  soon  after  a  pontoon  was  fixed 
and  Lane  and  his  ooimpany  went  across  to  the  Yankee  side. 
When  he  gave  the  order  to  forward,  the  enemy  poured  into 
them  a  heavy  fire  from  behind  breastworks,  wounding  several 
of  Lane's  men.  Lane,  however,  maintained  his  ground  until 
reinforcements  arrived,  which  was  about  ten  minutes  later, 
when  the  Yankees  fled. 

We  followed  on  to  a  hedgerow  about  one  thousand  yards 
from  the  main  forts,  when  Company  E  held  the  skirmish 


284  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

line  during  the  night.  At  dawn  of  the  day,  the  20th,  Cap- 
tain Durham  of  Eansom's  Staff,  ordered  Captain  Lane  to 
forward  his  line  of  Skirmishers.  This  order  was  greeted  by 
a  shower  of  minie  balls  from  the  enemy.  At  the  time  all 
of  his  artillery  that  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  us  was  in 
full  play,  which  made  the  earth  quake  beneath  our  feet. 
Amid  this  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  Lane  led  his  line  in  ad- 
vance of  the  line  of  battle  to  the  first  fort.  On  arriving  at 
the  fort,  Daniel  King,  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Company  E, 
mounted  the  parapet  and  demanded  its  surrender,  which 
order  was  obeyed.  The  second  fort  was  then  stormed  and 
carried ;  the  third  also,  and  our  victory  was  complete.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment  and  Eansom's  Brigade  had  stormed 
and  taken  an  army  greater  in  nunibers  than  they  themselves, 
and  the  enemy  well  fortified  within  these  strong  forts,  but 
this  was  not  done  without  some  loss  to  us,  for  in  Company  E, 
Lane's,  alone,  we  numbered  twenty-one  killed  and  wounded. 

Hoke's  Brigade  occupied  the  line  above  town  on  the  river 
and  consequently  did  but  little  of  the  fighting  on  this  day. 
This  was  a  complete  victory  for  our  side  and  it  was  greatly 
due  to  Ransom  and  his  brigade. 

The  recapture  of  Plymouth,  IST.  C,  under  the  existing  cir- 
cumstances, was  one  of  the  most  splendid  victories  achieved 
by  Southern  arms  in  this  great  contest,  and  about  the  only 
hard  fought  battle  on  North  Carolina  soil.  At  night,  the 
troops  were  marched  out  of  town  and  the  dead  buried  with 
military  honors.  On  the  following  day  the  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  was  sent  to  garrison  the  town  where  we  remained 
for  a  day  or  two,  when  we  were  relieved  by  the  Fiftieth  Regi- 
ment, North  Carolina  troops,  and  Ransom's  Brigade  sent  to 
lay  siege  to  Washington,  N.  C. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  at  this  town  the  Yankees  took  to  their 
gunboats  and  left  for  parts  unknown,  and  we  set  oxit  for  New 
Bern,  N.  C,  reaching  a  point  near  the  city  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Trent,  6  May.  Here  we  had  some  fighting,  cap- 
turing about  fifty  prisoners,  with  a  loss  of  but  two  men  on 
our  side  killed. 

8  May,  we  reached  Kinston,  N.  C,  on  our  way  to 
Virginia.     About  10  May,    we    reached    Petersburg,    Va., 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  285 

and  were  sent  down  on  the  James  river  to  intercept  Butler, 
then  advancing  on  Richmond  from  the  south  side  of  the 
James ;  Ransom's  Brigade  was  now  assigned  to  Bushrod 
Johnson's  division,  under  command  of  General  Beauregard. 
Ransom's  Brigade  was  now  sent  to  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  on 
the  14th,  was  sent  down  the  railroad  to  occupy  a  line  of 
breastworks  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  lines.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  rested  its  right  at  the  end  of  the  works,  on 
a  marsh  said  to  be  impassable  by  troops. 

The  enemy  was  closing  in  upon  us  in  front  and  file.  Soon 
after  reaching  this  position  the  enemy  broke  through  this 
swamp  and  attacked  our  line  in  rear,  breaking  our  line  tem- 
porarily and  severely  wounding  General  Ransom.  At  this 
moment,  the  gallant  Captain  Durham  was  killed  at  the  head 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  which  was  now  being  pressed 
from  all  sides  and  the  only  alternative  was  to  cut  through  the 
enemy's  lines  from  the  rear,  which  was  done  in  admirable 
style.  The  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  to  cover  the  retreat 
up  the  railroad,  the  enemy  shelling  with  all  their  artillery 
which  made  this  position  anything  but  comfortable.  At 
night,  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  to  rest  on  their  arms 
and  Company  E  was  sent  forward  on  a  skirmish.  During 
the  night  we  could  hear  the  cries  of  a  wounded  reb  in  front 
of  our  lines,  the  words  of  whom  we  could  not  understand  at 
the  time,  or  that  it  had  a  special  signification  or  meaning 
until  hostilities  ceased  for  the  time  and  the  wounded  man 
was  brought  safely  into  our  lines.  It  was  said,  by  men  that 
knew,  that  this  man  was  a  Free  Mason,  and  was  thus  safely 
rescued.  Firing  was  kept  up  during  the  night,  and  in  the 
early  morning  of  the  15th  assumed  the  proportions  of  a  regu- 
lar battle.  Fighting  was  kept  up  during  the  day,  and  in  the 
afternoon  the  whole  line  became  engaged.  Ransom's  Brigade 
occupying  much  the  same  position  of  the  night  before.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment  suffered  terribly  during  the  day. 
Cotapany  E  lost  nine  m«n  wounded  and  one  killed  by  the  ex- 
ploding of  a  shell.  It  was  here  that  Colonel  Clarke,  com- 
manding the  brigade,  was  severely  wounded,  and  never  again 
returned  to  the  regiment.  ISTight  closed  this  day's  fighting, 
and     as    the    morning    of    16     May,'  1864,   was   ushered 


286  North  Carolina  Troops,  186]-'65. 

in,  we  were  again  on  the  move,  the  Twenty-fourth  Kegi- 
ment  occupying  the  left  of  the  line  from  that  of  the  previous 
day.  About  9  o'clock  Ransom's  Brigade,  in  command  of 
Colonel  Eutledge,  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Eegiment,  was  ordered 
to  retake  a  portion  of  our  works  that  had  been  captured  the 
day  before.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harris  led  the  Twenty- 
fourth  to  the  charge.  The  route  over  which  we  had  to  pass 
was  about  500  yards. 

The  timber  had  been  cut  and  felled  in  the  direction  from 
which  we  had  to  make  the  advance.  At  the  word  forward,  we 
made  our  way  as  best  we  could,  losing  our  men  at  every  step. 
Reaching  the  works  occupied  by  the  enemy,  the  conflict  be- 
came fearful,  the  breastwork  only  dividing  the  two  lines.  At 
this  moment  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  had  one  hundred  or 
more  of  her  already  thin  ranks  stricken  down,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  her  history  had  to  fall  back  in  disorder.  On 
reaching  the  point  from  which  we  first  started^  Colonel  Har- 
ris reformed  the  regiment  for  a  second  charge.  Captain 
Lane,  Company  E,  on  getting  his  men  together,  found  that 
he  had  but  two  men  left.  The  writer  was  one  of  the  two.  Ad- 
dressing General  Beauregard,  who  was  present,  in  tears,  told 
him  that  he  had  lost  all  of  his  men  but  two,  pointing  to  my- 
self and  Creech.  Beauregard  said  to  Lane:  "Captain,  you 
have  done  enough ;  take  those  two  men  and  act  as  rear  guard 
and  recruit  your  company."  But  when  Harris  ordered  the 
second  charge.  Lane  ordered  us  to  fall  in  and  we  did  so.  But 
on  reaching  the  works  the  Yankees  had  fled,  leaving  their 
dead  and  wounded  behind. 

This  was  a  heart-rending  scene.  The  dead  and  wounded 
were  lying  in  every  conceivable  condition,  and  cries  for  help 
went  up  all  around.  It  is  enough  that  we  should  say,  that 
none  could  look  on  and  not  weep,  unless  he  possessed  a  heart 
as  unsusceptible  as  stone,  or  that  he  were  a  soldier.  Butler 
retreated  to  Bermuda  Hundred.  Beauregard  followed. 
About  the  flrst  of  June,  we  had  a  heavy  skirmish  fight  at  Ber- 
muda Hundred,  and  the  fighting  was  kept  up  from  day  to 
day  for  several  days.  On  one  occasion  Company  E  was  sent 
to  reinforce  Colmpany  H  on  the  skirmish  line.  Soon  the 
whole  regiment  was  sent  and  drove  the  enemy  back.     Reach- 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  287 

ing  a  road,  Colonel  Harris  gave  the  order  to  lie  down,  and 
just  here  happened  a  little  incident  that  we  will  mention  for 
the  fun  of  the  thing.  When  the  order  came  to  lie  down,  the 
writer  crossed  over  the  road  and  took  a  position  behind  a 
forked  oak,  and  began  firing  at  the  Yankee  colors  about  one 
hundred  yards  off.  Soon  we  were  joined  by  Tom  Toler,  who 
also  began  to  fire  soon  after.  Looking  around  we  saw  that 
the  regiment  was  going.  Calling  to  Tom  to  let's  go,  he  said, 
"No,  we  are  going  up." 

We  shook  hands  and  parted  and  on  reaching  the  regiment, 
I  told  the  boys  Tom  was  gone  up ;  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  but 
in  a  few  moments  up  came  Tom,  out  of  breath,  puffing  and 
blowing,  and  said  the  next  time  he  offered  himself  to  the 
Yanks,  they  would  be  sure  to  have  him.  The  boys  gave  a 
loud  yell  at  Tom's  expense. 

18  June  below  Richmond,  near  Bottom's  Bridge,  doing 
picket  duty  on  a  creek.  This  was  as  bad  picket  duty 
as  we  ever  did,  the  two  lines  being  divided  by  the  streaim  and 
not  more  than  forty  yards  apart.  All  that  was  necessary  for 
the  exchange  of  shots  was  to  show  yourself  or  shake  a  bush. 

21  June,  left  Chaffin's  Bluff  and  went  to  Petersburg,  fight- 
ing every  day.  On  reaching  the  city,  we  were  hastened  for- 
ward to  reinforce  some  militia  that  had  withstood  the  Yan- 
kee forces  around  Petersburg  up  to  this  time,  and  had  been 
driven  to  our  last  line  of  works.  Soon  after  our  arrival,  the 
enemy  charged  our  regiment  in  heavy  column.  We  let  them 
come  sufficiently  near,  when  we  mowed  them  down  so  fear- 
fully that  hundreds  threw  down  their  guns  and  surrendered. 

At  night  the  firing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides.  Just  before 
day  the  enemy  broke  Johnson's  (Tennessee)  Brigade  and 
came  in  our  rear  before  we  knew  it.  The  result  was  that  all 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  that  were  asleep  were  captured,  being 
over  one  hundred.  It  was  now  day  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  fell  back  to  a  new  position,  and  were  ordered 
to  build  new  works  and  support  Miller's  battery.  We  worked 
during  the  day  with  our  hands  and  bayonets,  and  by  night  we 
had  a  strong  work.  At  night  Colonel  Faison,  in  command  of 
the  brigade,  ordered  us  to  move  to  the  left,  and  soon  after  to 
take  back  a  portion  of  the  works  that  Wise's  Virginia  Brigade 


288  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

had  been  run  out  of.  The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  led 
by  Major  Love.  This  was  a  desperate  struggle,  it  being  nec- 
essary to  club  the  enemy  out  with  the  butts  of  our  guns.  It  was 
soon  over,  however,  and  our  loss  was  light,  considering  the 
situation.  We  remained  here  in  this  captured  works  until 
just  before  day,  the  enemy's  dead  and  wounded  in  piles 
among  us,  when  we  were  moved  to  the  right.  This  brought 
day  of  the  morning  of  the  23rd,  and  we  were  again  ordered 
to  built  breastworks  which  was  again  done  during  the  day 
with  bayonets  as  our  only  tools.  The  eneray  massed  their 
columns  all  day  in  a  deep  ravine  in  our  front. 

About  sunset  they  advanced  several  columns  deep.  Our 
lines  were  doubled  also.  On  they  came  to  within  seventy- 
five  yards  before  we  gave  them  the  first  fire;  still  they  came 
until  the  third  round,  Avhen  they  weakened  and  fell  back 
down  the  hill,  still  firing  but  to  no  effect,  as  the  balls  passed 
well  over  us.  About  9  o'clock  at  night,  we  were  relieved  by 
General  Longstreet's  corps,  and  sent  out  near  the  reservoir 
for  rest,  the  first  we  had  had  for  several  days.  On  leaving 
the  works,  we  came  in  range  of  the  enemy's  bullets  and  suf- 
fered considerable  loss.  The  siege  of  Petersburg  now  began 
by  General  Grant,  and  the  line  of  breastworks  built  this  day 
by  the  Southern  army  was  the  line  maintained  and  held  by 
them  during  the  remaining  nine  raontlis  of  the  war.  During 
this  nine  months,  there  was  scarcely  a  moment,  and  certainly 
not  an  hour,  but  the  sound  of  arms  could  be  heard  on  some 
portion  of  the  lines.  Time  rolled  on.  Ransom's  Brigade  oc- 
cupying that  portion  of  Lee's  line  from  the  right  bank  of  Ap- 
pomattox river  to  and  beyond  the  iron  railroad  bridge,  east  of 
the  city.      Skirmishing  was  now  an  every  day  occurrence. 

In  many  places  the  two  lines  were  not  one  hundred  yards 
apart. 

On  30  July,  Grant  sprung  the  mine,  afterwards 
known  as  the  "Crater,  or  Blow-xip  at  Petersburg."  The  right 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  rested  within  a  few  paces  of 
the  "Crater"  at  the  time  of  this  explosion,  and  was  among  the 
first  troops  to  engage  in  repelling  "Bumside's  IsTegro  Sol- 
diers" from  this  bloody  chasm.  We  remained  here  among 
these  dead  negroes  until  they  were  buried,  or  partially  so,  for 


Twenty-Fourth  Regiment.  ,289 

several  days,  the  stench  being  unbearable  under  other  circum- 
stances. This  portion  of  the  lines  was  ever  after  known  as 
Mortar  Hill.  Subsequently,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment 
was  moved  to  the  left,  and  occupied  the  line  from  the  iron 
bridge  to  the  river  as  before  stated.  Here  it  was  our  daily  oc- 
cupation to  watch  the  enemy  through  port  holes  made  through 
sand  bags  and  to  dodge  mortar  shells.  At  night  we  did  picket 
duty  in  the  rifle  pits  between  the  two  lines,  in  some  places  not 
more  than  forty  yards  from  the  Yankee  pickets.  Often  we 
would  meet  and  exchange  tobacco  and  coffee,  and  have  a  social 
chat  with  each  other. 

In  Qctober,  the  Regiment  was  recruited  by  conscripts  from 
Camp  Holmes,  which  swelled  our  ranks  somewhat,  and  many 
of  these  men  made  good  soldiers.  Time  moved  on  with  its 
many  changes,  in  men  and  other  things.  The  Yankees  often 
making  desperate  efforts  to  break  our  lines,  but  were  as  often 
repulsed,  and  sometimes  with  heavy  loss.  About  15  March, 
1865,  Ransom's  Brigade  was  relieved  and  sent  about 
seven  miles  west  of  the  city.  Here  we  remained  for  a  few 
days  in  some  houses  or  huts  that  had  been  built  by  the  army. 
About  24  March,  at  night,  we  were  ordered  to  fall  in 
ranks,  not  knowing  what  was  going  to  happen  next.  We  took 
up  the  line  of  march  in  the  direction  of  Petersbuig,  which 
place  we  reached  after  midnight.  We  were  ordered  to  the 
place  we  had  left  but  a  few  days  before,  at  the  iron  bridge. 
It  now  became  apparent  that  something  had  to  be  done.  About 
one  hour  to  day,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  ordered 
to  mount  the  works  and  move  as  quietly  as  possible  on  the 
enemy's  works. 

Moving  on  in  the  darkness  we  soon  came  in  contact  with 
the  enemy's  cJieveaux  de  freise  fastened  together  Avith  wire. 
Through  this  we  so&n  made  an  opening,  and  entered  the  works 
without  firing  a  gun,  the  Yankees  not  expecting  an  assault. 
As  we  brought  them  out  in  their  night  clothes  we.  would  send 
them  to  the  rear.  A  moment  later  firing  commenced  to  our 
right,  but  the  enemy  was  so  completely  taken  by  surprise  that 
their  effort  was  but  a  feeble  one,  and  we  had  their  line  for  a 
mile  or  more.  For  some  unknown  cause  the  advantage  we 
19 


290  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

had  then  gained  was  thrown  away,  and  we  were  permitted  to 
quietly  remain  where  we  were  until  Grant  moved  a  portion 
of  his  army  from  Hatcher's  Run,  some  nine  miles  away. 

It  was  now  9  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  when  the  Yan- 
kees came,  they  presented  a  sublibae  scene  in  their  long  lines 
of  blue.  We  prepared  to  receive  them  as  they  came;  but 
soon  yelling  commenced  to  the  right  of  Ransom's  Brigade, 
and  later  they  came  in  both  front  and  rear  and  poured  into 
us  a  heavy,  enfilading  fire,  which  was  very  destructive  to  our 
men.  It  was  here  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harris  was  severely 
wounded,  and  Major  Love  took  command  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment.  We  were  now  powerless  to  help  ourselves, 
as  the  Yankees  were  closing  in  upon  us  from  every  quarter, 
and  the  order  was  given  to  fall  back  by  companies,  begin- 
ning on  the  left  of  the  regiment ;  but  before  the  right  compa- 
nies received  the  order  the  enemy  had  cut  off  all  chances  of 
retreat.  The  writer  was  present  with  Major  Love  at  the 
head  of  the  regiment  when  the  Yankees  came,  and  saw  him 
wrest  frdm  the  hands  of  a  Yankee  color-bearer  his  colors,  but 
of  course  he  was  not  allowed  to  keep  them,  for  we  were  now 
prisoners,  or  ^.t  least  one-half  of  the  men  belonging  to  the  two 
right  companies  were.  We  have  never  known  the  number 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  Twenty-fourth  in  this  engagement, 
but  it  was  very  heavy  in  both  men  and  officers,  as  there  was 
but  a  handful  of  men  left  under  the  command  of  Captain 

• to  surrender  at  Five  Forks,  a  week  later.     We 

believe,  however,  that  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  repre- 
sented at  Appomattox  in  the  final  surrender  by  our  beloved 
commander,  but  by  no  organized  command.  Those  of  us 
taJsen  prisoners  were  sent  to  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  and  to  John- 
son's Island,  N.  Y.,  where  we  remained  until  June,  1865. 

Thus  closed  the  services  to  the  "Lost  Cause"  of  one  of  the 
best  regiments  that  the  Old  North  State  furnished  during  the 
late  war. 

W.  K  Rose,  Je. 

OVBESHOT,    N.    C, 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  REGIMENT. 
1.    T.  L.  Clingman,  Colonel.  4.    James  A.  Blalock,  Captain,  Co.  F. 

8.    Henry  M.  Butledge,  Colonel.  5.    James  M.  Cathey,  Captain,  Co.  F. 

3.    T.  D.  Bryson,  Captain,  Co.  B.  6.    W.  Pinck  Welch,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  C. 

7.    J.  C.  L.  Gudger,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant. 


TVENTT-FIFTH  REGinmi. 


By  garland  S.  FERGUSON,  Second  Lieutenant  Company  F. 


In  May,  1861,  the  companies  which  were  to  form  the  Twen- 
ty-fifth Regiment  began  to  organize  in  Western  North  Caro- 
lina and  to  assemble  in  Camp  Patton  at  Asheville.  As  each 
successive  company  took  its  position  in  camp  the  guard  line 
was  extended  and  the  civilian  began  to  do  duty  and  learn  the 
step  and  manoeuvers  of  the  soldier.  By  15  August,  ten  com- 
panies, the  requisite  number,  were  in  camp  and  the  regiment 
was  organized,  the  field  ofiicers  being  elected  by  the  votes  of 
the  commissioned  officers  of  the  companies. 

Hon.  Thomas  L.  Clingmajst,  Colonel,  who  for  years  had 
represented  the  mountain  district  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  had  resigned  his  seat  in  the  United 
States  Senate — afterwards  Brigadier-General. 

St.  Claib  Deaeing,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  who  had  resigned 
his  position  in  the  United  States  Army — later  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral. 

Hektey  M.  EutlegEj  Major,  a  boyish-looking  young  man 
of  22,  with  military  education  and  bearing. 

W.  ]Sr.  Feeeman,  was  appointed  Adjutant. 

W.  H.  Beysow^  Quartermaster. 

John  W.  Walkee,  Commissary. 

De.  S.  S.  Satchwell^  Surgeon. 

De.  G.  W.  Fletchee,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

J.  C.  L.  Gudgee^  Sergeant-Major. 

Clinton  A.  JoneSj  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

Julius  M.  Toung^  Commissary  Sergeant. 

Petee  M.  EicHj  Drum  Major. 

The  companies  composing  the  regiment  were : 

Com  f  ANY  A — From  Henderson  County,  conmianded  by 


292  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Captain  Baylis  M.  Edney,  who  was  killed  in  1863,  and  after- 
wards by  Captain  Matthew  H.  Love,  who  was  promoted  to 
Major  and  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Captain  John  Plumby, 
who  was  killed  at  Five  Forks. 

Company  B — From  Jackson  County,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain  Thaddeus  D.  Bryson,  and  afterwards  by  Captain  David 
Rogers. 

Company  C — ^From  Haywood  County,  commanded  by 
Captain  Sam  C.  Bryson,  who  was  promoted  Major,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, wounded  at  Eraser's  Farm  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg on  the  night  of  lY  June,  1864,  resigned,  and  afterwards 
by  Captain  W.  IST.  Freeman. 

Company  D — From  Cherokee  County,  commanded  by 
Captain  John  W.  Francis,  who  was  promoted  Major,  wounded 
at  Malvern  Hill,  resigned,  and  afterwards  comtaianded  by 
Captain  Lee  B.  Tatham. 

Company  E — From  Transylvania  County,  commanded  by 
Captain  Francis  W.  Johnston,  afterwards  by  Captain  Wm. 
W.  Graves,  who  was  killed  in  front  of  Petersburg,  then  by 
Captain  Charles  L.  Osborne. 

Company  F — From  Haywood  County,  commanded  by 
Captain  Thomas  I.  Lenoir,  afterwards  by  Captain  James  M. 
Cathey,  who  was  killed  at  the  "Crater"  in  front  of' Peters- 
burg on  the  30th  of  June,  1864,  then  by  Captain  James  A, 
Blaylock. 

Company  G^ — From  Athens,  Georgia,  Clay  and  Macon 
counties,  North  Carolina,  commanded  by  Captain  Wm.  S. 
Grady,  who  was  promoted  Major  and  mortally  wounded  at 
the  "Crater"  30  June,  1864,  and  afterwards  by  Captain  John 
S.  Hayes,  then  Captain  John  H.  Phinisee. 

Company  H — From  Buncombe  and  Henderson  counties, 
commanded  by  Captain  Frederick  Blake,  and  afterwards  by 
Captain  Solomon  Cunningham,  who  was  killed  at  Fredericks- 
burg 13  December,  1862,  then  by  Captain  Thomas  J.  Young. 

Company  I — From  Buncombe  County,  commanded  by 
Captain  George  W.  Howell,  afterwards  by  Captain  W..  Y. 
Morgan,  who  was  promoted  Major,  and  then  by  Captain  A.  B. 
Thrash. 

Company  K — From  Buncombe  cotinty,   commanded  by 


Twenty-Fifth  Regiment.  293 

Captain  Charles  M.  Roberts,  who  was  promoted  Major  of  a 
battalion  and  killed  by  bush  whackers  while  on  detail  duty  in 
Madison  County  in  1864,  and  then  commanded  by  Captain 
Jesse  M.  Burleyson. 

With  the  exception  of  a  part  of  Company  G,  the  regiment 
was  composed  of  mountain  men  west  of  the  Ridge,  the  Colo- 
nel was  a  politician  and  statesman ;  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  a 
professional  soldier;  the  Major  a  civilian  with  a  military  ed- 
ucation. There  were  but  few  slave  owners  in  the  regiment, 
90  per  cent,  of  the  men  were  farmers  and  farmer's  sons,  fully 
80  per  cent,  home  owners,  or  the  sons  of  farmers  who  owned 
their  farms.  With  the  exception  of  the  Lieutenant-Colonel 
the  survivors  expected  to  return  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of 
life  after  the  war  should  terminate. 

The  majority  of  the  men  composing  the  regiment  had  been 
Union  men  until  after  President  Lincoln's  Proclamation, 
they  then  regarded  their  interests  with  the  South  and  ac- 
knowledged their  allegiance  to  the  State.  They  had  gone  to 
war  to  defend  their  homes  from  invasion  by  an  armed  foe. 

The  men  had  been  accustomed  to  independence  of  thought 
and  freedom  of  action  and  had  elected  for  their  company  of- 
ficers their  neighbors  and  companions  and  had  no  idea  of 
giving  up  more  of  their  personal  liberty  than  should  be  nec- 
essary to  make  them  effective  soldiers — obedient  on  duty,  in- 
dependent off — this  spirit,  they  in  a  marked  degree,  retained 
to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  it  was  this  which  made  them  the 
pride  of  their  General  in  battle  and  sometimes  gave  him  an- 
noyance in  camp.  Under  the  mild  discipline  of  the  Colonel 
and  skillful  training  and  accurate  drill  of  the  LieutenanlhCol- 
onel  and  Major,  the  regiment  was  soon  thoroughhly  drilled 
and  disciplined,  on  duty.  On  18  September  the  reg- 
iment marched  from  Asheville  to  Icard  Station  below  Mor- 
ganton,  the  nearest  railroad  point;  the  majority  of  the  regi- 
ment had  never  seen  a  steam  engine  or  a  railroad.  It  stopped 
a  day  or  two  in  Raleigh  and  drew  uniforms  and  reached  Wil- 
mington 29  September  and  went  into  camp  at  Mitch- 
ell's Sound.  Here  the  regiment  had  arms,  muskets, 
distributed  to  it.  In  ISTovember  it  was  sent  to  the  coast  de- 
fence of  South  Carolina  and  camped  near  Grahamville  most 


294  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

of  the  winter,  doing  picket  duty,  drilling  and  building  fortifi- 
cations. 14  March,  1862,  the  regiment  left  Grahamville  for 
ISTew  Bern,  N.  0.,  but  before  reaching  that  point  the  city  had 
been  taken  and  the  regiment  met  the  retreating  Confederate 
troops  at  Kinston,  where  it  went  into  camp  and  remained 
until  after  the  reo-rganization,  being  attached  to  the  bri- 
gade commanded  by  General  Robert  Ransom,  which  consisted 
of  the  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-sixth,  Thirty- 
fifth  and  Forty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiments.  At  the  re- 
organization Clingman  was  re-electel  Colonel,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Dearing  being  a  professional  soldier  ob- 
jected to  again  taking  a  second  place  in  the  regi- 
ment and  retired  from  the  command.  Major  Rutledge 
was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Captain  S.  C.  Bry- 
son  of  Company  C,  elected  Major.  Colonel  Clingman  was 
soon  promoted  Brigadier-General,  Rutledge  to  Colonel ;  Bry- 
son  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  Francis  of  Company 
D,  to  Major. 

On  24  June,  1862,  the  regiment  reached  Richmond, 
Va.,  as  a  part  of  General  Robert  Ransom's  brigade; 
by  sunrise  of  the  25th  it  was  on  the  march  towards  the  front 
and  to  join  the  division  of  General  Huger,  which  was  then  en- 
gaged at  Seven  Pines  on  the  Williamsburg  road.  There  was 
heavy  firing  of  artillery  and  musketry  in  front.  It  had  at 
last  come  in  hearing  of  the  true  music  of  war.  About  one-half 
mile  from  the  line  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  double  quick. 
It  was  thrown  in  line  on  the  immediate  left  of  the  Williams- 
burg road,  and  when  within  range  of  the  enemy  the  regi- 
ment halted,  the  front  rank  at  the  command  fired  and  fell  to 
the  ground,  the  rear  rank  fired  over  theln,  then  with  bayo- 
nets fixed  we  raised  the  rebel  yell  and  charged ;  the  enemy 
gave  way  and  the  ground  which  had  been  lost  in  the  morning 
was  retaken.  The  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry 
and  three  times  tried,  without  effect,  to  retake  their  lines.  At 
6  o'clock  p.  m.  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  was  opened  on  the  regi- 
ment without  demoralizing  or  moving  it.  It  was  relieved  at 
dark.  Major-General  Huger  in  his  report  of  this  battle 
says:  "The  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  (Colonel  H.  M.  Rut- 
ledge) was  pushed  to  the  left  of  the  Williamsburg  road, 


Twenty-Fifth  Regiment.  295 

where  the  enemy  had  advanced,  and  drove  them  back  in  gal- 
lant style."  The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  two  killed  and  forty 
wounded.  Private  B.  B.  Edmondson  was  promoted  to  Ad- 
jutant of  the  regiment  for  gallantry  on  the  field.  General  Rob- 
ert Ransom  commended,  in  his  report  of  the  engagement,  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  regiment. 

The  regiment  was  on  several  occasions,  during  the  suc- 
ceeding days,  under  fire.  On  2  July  at  Malvern  Hill  late 
in  the  evening  it  made  a  charge,  but  for  want  of  sup- 
port and  on  account  of  a  galling  fire,  it  was  ordered  back,  and 
with  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  was  reformed  under 
cover  by  General  Robert  Ransom,  and  again  advanced  to 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  guns  and  line,  when 
the  men  raised  a  yell  and  charged  in  the  face  of  a  perfect 
sheet  of  fire  from  musketry  and  artillery,  without  wavering, 
to  within  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's  guns,  some  going  even 
nearer.  At  this  point  General  Ransom  discovered  that  he 
was  not  supported  and  that  the  enemy  were  heavily  massed, 
very  greatly  outnumbering  his  men.  Unwilling  to  sacrifice 
his  men  in  a  hopeless  charge  and  dark  coming  on  he  withdrew 
from  the  attack.  In  his  report  of  the  battle  he  speaks  in  the 
highest  terms  of  praise  of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men, 
commending  especially  the  courage  and  coolness  of  Colonel 
Rutledge  and  Major  Francis.  The  Colonel  was  stunned  by  a 
bursting  shell  and  the  Major  wounded.  The  regiment's  loss 
was  ninety-three  in  killed  and  wounded.  After  the  battle  of 
Malvern  Hill  General  Ransom  had  full  confidence  in  the 
fighting  qualities  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  and  the  men 
of  the  regiment  .had  full  confidence  in  him  as  a  careful,  cour- 
ageous and  skillful  leader  in  battle.  It  was  only  in  camp 
and  on  the  march  that  any  difl^erence  existed  between  the  men 
and  their  General;  this  existence  amounted  to  positive  dis- 
like, in  some  instances  hate.  The  men  of  the  Twenty-fifth 
Regiment  would  not  have  exchanged  General  Robert  Ran- 
som as  a  leader  in  battle  for  any  General  in  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia.  His  mastery  of  military  tactics,  cool- 
ness on  the  field,  and  judgment  of  ground  enabled  him  to 
place  his  men  in  action  with  great  rapidity  and  comparative 
safety,  xmtil  they  were  ready  to  do  execution.     If  he  had  un- 


296  NoETH  Carolina  Troops,  186] -'65. 

derstood  volunteer  soldiers  and  realized  that  four-fifths  of  the 
men  in  ranks  were  as  careful  of  their  personal  honor,  and  as 
anxious  for  the  success  of  the  cause  as  he,  he  would  have 
been  one  of  the  gi-eatest  generals  in  Lee's  army,  was  the  opin- 
ion of  some,  and  is  still  the  opinion  of  the  writer.  After  Mal- 
vern Hill  the  regiment  went  into  camp  for  a  time  at  Drewry's 
Bluff.  It  was  here,  in  consequence  of  the  exposure  just  gone 
through,  that  army  sickness  first  made  its  telling  effect  on  the 
regiment,  the  loss  by  death  from  sickness  being  eighty-one. 
About  this  time  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  taken  out  of 
our  brigade  and  later  the  Fifty-sixth  Eegiment  was  assigned 
us  in  its  place. 

The  regiment,  with  the  brigade,  was  attached  to  Walker's 
Division  in  the  Maryland  campaign,  and  at  Harper's  Ferry 
was  placed  to  gviard  Loudon  Heights  to  prevent  the  escape  of 
the  enemy.  When  it  was  first  made  known  to  the  men 
by  General  Lee's  order  that  the  army  was  to  cross  the  Poto- 
mac there  was  a  considerable  murmur  of  disappointment  in 
ranks.  The  men  said  thej^  had  volunteered  to  resist  invasion 
and  not  to  invade,  some  did  not  believe  it  right  to  invade 
Northern  territory,  others  thought  that  the  same  cause  that 
brought  the  Southern  army  to  the  front  would  increase  the 
jSTorthern  army,  still  others  thought  the  war  should  be  car- 
ried into  the  North;  thus  the  men  thought,  talked  and  disa- 
greed. This  was  the  first  dissension  among  the  men  of  the 
regiment,  but  all  were  united  in  their  confidence  and  love 
for  Lee. 

At  Sharpsburg  the  regiment  was  put  into  action  near  the 
extreme  left  of  Lee's  line.  Our  troops  were  retreating  in 
front  of  a  determined  charge  of  the  enemy,  the  men  passed 
through  the  retreating  troops,  raised  the  yell,  and  charged 
with  a  determination  that  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field 
to  cover  of  his  heavy  works. 

Camping  equij^ments  had  been  left  behind  at  Richmond, 
and  frequently  on  the  march  the  men  had  to  resort  to  ram- 
rods for  baking  purposes  and  forked  sticks  for  the  roast; 
blankets  and  change  of  clothing  had  been  left  at  Sharpsburg, 
and  when  the  men  recrossed  the  Potomac  they  were  without 
blankets  and  bare  of  clothing,  this  was  late  in  September  and 


TWENTY-FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

J.    S.  J.  SheltoD,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  C.  3.    J.  T.  Cathey,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  F. 

2.    W.  H  Hartgrove.  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F.  4.    Garland  S.  Ferguson, 8<1  Lieut.,  Co.F 

5.    John  W.  Norwood,  1st  Sergeant,  Co.  C. 


Twenty-Fifth  Regiment.  297 

the  regiment  did  not  receive  new  blankets  till  some  time  in 
October.     The  beds  were  room}'  but  cool. 

After  remaining  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  for  some  time 
the  regiment  marched  to  Madison  Court  House,  where  it 
bivouaced  and  there  drew  a  stipply  of  clothing  and  blankets, 
then  marched  to  Fredericksburg.  The  winter  at  Fredericks- 
burg was  cold,  but  sh^ters  were  made  of  pine  brush,  log  fires 
built  in  front,  and  with  an  additional  supply  of  blankets  and 
clothing,  which  most  men  received  from  home,  the  men  were 
fairly  comfortable. 

On  11  and  12  December,  1862,  the  regiment  was 
in  position  back  of  Marye's  House.  About  11  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  General  Robert  Ransom  informed 
the  regiment  that  General  Cobb's  men  who  were  holding  ovir 
line  in  front  of  Marye's  House,  were  short  of  ammunition 
and  must  be  reinforced,  and  that  the  xmdertaking  was  a  dan- 
gerous one;  the  men  fully  understanding  the  importance  and 
danger  of  the  duty,  moved  forward  with  a  firm  and  steady 
step,  like  patriots,  to  battle.  On  reaching  the  crest  of  the 
hill  (the  regiment  having  been  divided  so  as  to  pass  the  house 
on  either  side)  it  met  a  fearful  fire  from  the  enemy  two  hun- 
dred yards  off.  In  casting  an  eye  along  the  line  men  could  be 
seen  falling  like  sheaves  before  the  sickle.  In  less  than  two 
minutes  the  regiment's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty.  It  reached  Cobb's  line  just  as  his  men 
were  emptying  their  last  cartridge,  and  held  the  line,  repell- 
ing six  successive  assaults,  until  relieved  at  nightfall. 

During  the  spring  of  1863  the  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Kenansville,  Wilmington,  and  other  places  in  North 
Carolina.  The  fall  and  winter  of  1863  the  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Garysburg,  from  which  place  it  made  several  ex- 
cursions to  check  the  advances  of  the  enemy  on  the  coast  of 
ISTorth  Carolina,  but  did  not  see  much  hard  service  until  the 
spring  of  1864.  In  October,  1863,  a  detachment  of  the  regi- 
ment under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bryson,  had  an  engagement 
at  Hot  Springs,  in  Madison  County,  North  Carolina.  The 
enemy  outnumbered  them  twenty  to  one,  and  the  loss  of  the 
detachment  in  killed  and  wounded  was  heavy,  including  Lieu- 
tenant Hyatt,  of  Company  F,  who  was  killed  on  the  field. 


298  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

In  April,  1864,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  assault 
and  capture  of  Plymouth,  IST.  C. 

During  the  Virginia  and  Maryland  campaigns,  Colonel 
Eutledge  had  so  endeared  himself  to  the  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers and  privates  of  his  regiment,  by  his  courage  and  kind- 
ness, that  they  presented  him  a  fine  saddle  horse,  not  allowing 
the  commissioned  ofiicers  to  bear  any  part  of  the  expense  or 
take  any  part  in  the  presentation  ceremonies. 

General  Robert  Hansom  was  promoted  Major-General  June 

1863,  and  Colonel  Matthew  W.  Eansom,  of  the  Thirty-fifth, 
was  promoted  to  Brigadier-General  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  brigade.  General  Matthew  Ransom  was  a  law- 
yer, very  handsome  in  appearance,  of  undoubted  courage  and 
knew  the  temper  of  volunteer  soldiers.  The  men  of  the  regi- 
ment loved  him  and  trusted  him. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Drewry's  Bluff  12  May, 

1864,  in  which  engagement  Company  F  lost  Lieutenant 
Ebed  J.  Ferguson,  killed,  and  six  non-commissioned  officers 
and  privates  wounded;  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Ware  Bottom  Church  and  Bermuda  Hundred. 

On  16  June,  1864,  the  regiment  crossed  to  the  South  of 
the  Appomattox  for  the  defence  of  Petersburg  and  entered  at 
once  into  the  fight  in  front  of  Avery's  House,  and  checked  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  who  was  driving  back  the  Petersburg 
militia,  the  only  protection  to  the  city  at  that  time.  On  the 
night  of  the  17th  the  regiment  participated  in  the  engagement 
at  Avery's  Farm,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their  breastworks 
at  the  point  where  the  Twenty-fifth  made  its  attack. 

From  16  June,  1864,  until.April,  1865,  the  regiment  was 
constantly  under  fire,  with  the  exception  of  about  ten  days 
in  March,  occupying  the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
The  position  of  the  regiment  on  30  June,  1864, 
was  on  the  right  of  Ransom's  brigade  and  to  the 
left  of  Elliott's  South  Carolina  brigade.  The  explosion  of 
Grant's  Mine  (the  "Crater")  was  in  the  line  occupied  by  the 
left  regiment  of  the  South  Carolina  brigade.  Immediately 
after  the  explosion  the  Twenty-fifth  regiment,  then  number- 
ing about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  moved  from  the  trenches 
and  formed  a  new  line  in  the  rear  of  the  trenches  occupied  by 


Twenty-Fifth  Regiment.  299 

the  South  Carolinians,  which  had  been  taken  at  the  time  of 
the  explosion  and  which  were  then  occupied  by  the  enemy.  The 
regiment,  with  a  remnant  of  the  Sixth  South  Carolina,  was  the 
only  force  between  the  enemy  and  the  city,  at  that  point. 
The  enemy  massed  his  troops  in  our  trenches  in  front  of  us 
until  he  had  sixteen  regimental  flags  in  our  works.  He  made 
several  attempts  to  move  forward  and  force  our  line,  but 
was  successfully  repulsed  and  held  in  check  for  several  hours, 
until  reinforcements  arrived.  The  regiment  led  Mahone's 
men  in  the  charge  which  retook  the  works.  In  retaking  the 
works  the  fight  was  hand  to  hand,  with  guns,  bayonets,  and 
swords,  in  fact  anything  a  man  could  fight  with.  One  six- 
teen year  old  boy  had  his  gun  knocked  out  of  his  hands  and 
picked  up  a  cartridge  box  and  fought  with  that.  Major 
Grady,  who  commanded  the  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded 
and  Captain  Jas.  M.  Cathey,  of  Company  F,  killed. 

On  21  August,  1864,  the  regiment  participated  in  the 
battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  between  Petersburg  and 
Reams'  Station.  The  enemy  had  entrenched  himself  behind 
heavy  earthworks  and  had  felled  the  timber  in  front,  crossing 
the  laps  of  the  trees  and  sharpening  the  limbs.  In  order 
to  reach  their  works  the  timber  had  to  be  removed  so  as  to 
make  a  passway  for  the  men.  During  this  time  the  enemy 
kept  up  a  constant  fire  until  our  men  reached  the  works.  The 
color-bearer  of  the  regiment  was  shot  down  and  Sergeant 
J.  B.  Hawkins,  of  Company  C,  caught  the  colors,  rushed  for- 
ward and  placed  them  on  the  works.  The  works  were  taken 
and  the  enemy  driven  back  under  cover  of  his  heavy  artillery. 
The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  heavy  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Garland  S.  Ferguson,  of  Company  F,  was 
wounded  in  the  right  shoulder,  but  did  not  quit  the  field. 

On  25  March,  1865,  a  detail  of  ten  men  from  each 
regiment  of  Ransom's  brigade,  under  Lieu.tenant  Burch,  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  J.  B.  Hawkins,  of  Company 
C,  Twenty-fifth  regiment,  who  received  his  orders  from  Gen- 
eral Robert  Ransom  in  these  words:  "I  order  you  to  take 
Fort  Steadman,  not  attack  it."  Lieutenant  Hawkins  quietly 
executed  this  order  and  had  the  fort  in  possession  without  the 
firing  of  a  gun. 


300  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  Twenty-fifth  was  moved  forward  to  the  left  of  Fort 
Steadman  and  nearly  in  front  of  the  position  it  had  occupied 
in  the  ditches  through  the  winter ;  drove  in  the  enemy's  pick- 
ets, took  their  first  works  and  held  them.  The  fort  of  the 
enemy  in  the  field  on  the  left  was  not  taken,  and  the  enemy 
from  that  point  poured  a  fearfnl  enfilading  fire  into  the 
regimBnt.  Several  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made  from  the 
front  to  dislodge  the  regiment.  After  the  enemy  retook  Fort 
Steadman  and  was  advancing  in  front  and  while  the  regiment 
was  suffering  the  effects  of  an  enfilading  fire  from  the  left,  the 
Colonel  walked  along  the  line  of  his  regiment  with  his  cap  on 
sword,  shouting  to  his  men,  "Don't  let  them  take  our  front, 
Twenty-fifth,  the  Twenty-fifth  has  never  had  her  front 
taken."  At  this  time  orders  were  received  from  General  G-or- 
don  to  fall  back  to  our  line  of  works.  The  loss  of  the  regi- 
ment was  hfeavy.  A  number  of  commissioned  ofiicers  were 
severely  wounded,  including  Lieutenant  Garland  S.  Fergu- 
son, whose  left  thigh  was  broken ;  many  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers and  privates  were  killed  and  wounded. 

After  Steadman  the  regiment  moved  to  the  right,  marching 
and  fighting ;  the  principal  battles  in  which  it  was  engaged 
were  at  Amelia  Court  .House,  and  Five  Forks.  I  can  do  no 
better  in  giving  the  description  of  the  battle  of  Five  Forks 
than  to  do  so  in  the  language  of  the  gallant  and  beloved  Colo- 
nel of  the  regiment.  He  says :  "At  Five  Forks  I  was  more 
proud  of  the  regiment  than  I  had  ever  been  before,  and  that 
is  saying  a  great  deal.  I  have  thought  of  them  and  com- 
pared them  to  the  'Stonewall'  of  Manassas.  They  were  sur- 
rounded on  three  sides  by  -many  times  their  own  numbers, 
but  there  they  stood,  a  solid  mass  of  mountain  men, 
broad  sides  from  the  enemy  being  poured  into  them,  and  there 
they  stood  like  the  rock  of  Gibraltar.  When  I  remember 
that  heroic  scene,  I  cannot  fail  to  compare  that  gallant  com- 
pany, desperate  band,  to  the  line  the  Great  Napoleon  saw  at 
Waterloo.  Speaking  afterwards  of  the  English  line  of  bat- 
tle, he  says :  'I  covered  them  with  artillery,  I  fiooded  them 
with  infantry,  I  deluged  them  with  cavalry,  but  when  the 
smoke  of  battle  rose,  there  stood  the  red  line  yet.'  Yes,  there 
stood  the  gray  line,  the  only  line  that  stood  that  day,  that  I 


Twenty-Fifth  Regiment.  301 

saw,  and  finally,  after  combating  five  different  and  separate 
times  over  the  same  field,  pine  thickets,  broom  grass,  old 
fields,  all  sorts  of  a  place,  I  was  going  to  win.  I  was  attempt- 
ing to  whip  the  enemy  with  the  Twenty-fifth  North  Caro- 
lina, and  I  knew  I  could  do  it.  I  thought  I  was  getting  along 
finely,  until  I  happened  to  look  to  front,  left  and  right,  and 
saw  we  were  surrounded  with  but  a  small  loop  hole  to  get 
through.  We  backed  through  that,  emptying  into  their  faces 
the  last  cartridge  we  had." 

The  regiment's  loss  from  its  enlistment  to  the  surrender 
was:  Killed  in  battle,  220;  died  from  disease,  280,  and  470 
were  wounded,  of  which  last  number  140  were  wounded 
more  than  once. 

When  General  Lee's  order  to  surrender  was  received,  the 
Twenty-fifth  regiment  still  had  its  flag.  It  was  furled,  and 
taken  down  in  obedience  to  the  order,  but  the  color-sergeant 
concealed  it  on  his  person,  returned  with  it  home  and  gave  it 
to  his  captain,  and  it  was  destroyed  by  a  fire  when  Captain 
Freeman's  house  was  burned. 

I  omitted  to  state  that  Dr.  F.  N.  Luckey  was  made  surgeon 
of  the  regiment  in  1862,  in  place  of  Dr.  Satchwell,  who  was 
assigned  to  hospital  duty,  and  Serge  ant-Major  J.  C.  L. 
Gudger  was  promoted  Adjutant  in  1864,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  Adjutant  Edmondston. 

Captain  H.  A.  Boone  succeeded  Captain  T.  D.  Bryson  in 
command  of  Company  B.  Captain  Boone  was  murdered  on 
the  streets  of  Murphy  by  the  celebrated  outlaw.  Morrow,  af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war. 

Garland  S.  FeegusoNj 
Waynesville,  N.  0., 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 


1.  Zebulon  B.  Vance,  Colonel. 

8.  Harry  K.  Burgwyn.  Colonel. 

3.  John  R.  Lane,  Colonel. 

4.  J.  T.  Jones,  Lieut-Colonel. 


5.  N.  P.  Rankin,  Major. 

6.  Thomas  J.  Boykin,  Surgeon. 

7.  J.  J.  Young,  Captain  and  Asst.  Q.  M. 

8.  James  B.  Jordan,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt. 


TVENTT-5IXTH    REGIHENT. 


By  assistant  SURGEON  GEORGE  C.  UNDERWOOD. 


"  Vi-xere  fortes  ante  agamemnona  multi;  sed  omnes  illacrimabUes.  urgentur 
ignotique  longa  node,  carent  quia  vote  sacro.  Paulum  sepultx  distat  inertise 
celata  virtus." 

CAMP  OF  INSTEtrCTION. 

The  regiment  was  mobilized  at  the  Camp  of  Instruction 
at  "Crab  Tree,"  about  three  miles  from  Ealeigh,  IST.  0.  At 
this  Camp,  during  the  months  of  July  and  August,  1861, 
were  assembled  ten  companies  from  the  counties  of  Alamance, 
Anson,  Ashe,  Caldwell,  Chatham,  Moore,  Eandolph,  Union, 
Wake,  and  Wilkes.  These  companies  were  organized  before 
leaving  home,  and  on  arrival  at  Camp  of  Instruction,  reported 
as  follows : 

1. — Jeff  Davis  Mountaineers,  Ashe  County ;  Captain,  An- 
drew ]Sr.  McMillan;  Eirst  Lieutenant,  George  K.  Eeeves; 
Second  Lieutenant,  Jesse  A.  Eeeves ;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, James  Porter. 

2. — Waxhaw  Jackson  Guards,  Union  County ;  Captain,  J. 
J.  C.  Steele;  First  Lieutenant,  William  Wilson;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Taylor  G.  Cureton;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
John  W.  Eichardson. 

3. — ^Wilkes  Volunteers,  Wilkes  County ;  Captain  Abner  E. 
Carmichael ;  First  Lieutenant,  Augustus  H.  Horton ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Phineas  Horton ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Wil- 
liam W.  Hampton. 

4. — ^Wake  Guards,  Wake  County;  Captain,  Oscar  E. 
Eand ;  First  Lieutenant,  James  B.  Jordan ;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant James  T.  Adams ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  James  W. 
"Vinson. 

5. — Independent  Guards,  Chatham  County;  Captain,  W. 


304  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

S.  Webster;  First  Lieutenant,  William  J.  Headen;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Bryant  0.  Dunlap;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
S.  W.  Brewer. 

6. — Hibriten  Guards,  Caldwell  County;  Captain,  Nathan- 
iel P.  Rankin ;  First  Lieutenant,  Joseph  E.  Ballew ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  John  B.  HoUoway;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
Alfred  T.  Stewart. 

Y. — Chatham  Boys,  Chatham  County;  Captain,  William 
S.  McLean;  First  Lieutenant,  John  E.  Matthews;  Second 
Lieutenant,  George  C.  Underwood;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Henry  C.  Albright. 

8. — Moore  Independents,  Moore  County;  Captain, William 
P.  Martin ;  First  Lieutenant,  Clement  Dowd ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, James  D.  Mclver ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Robert 
W.  Goldston. 

9. — Caldwell  Guards,  Caldwell  County;  Captain,  Wilson 
S.  White;  First  Lieutenant,  John  Carson;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, John  T.  Jones;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Milton  P. 
Blair. 

10. — Pee  Dee  Wild  Cats,  Anson  County;  Captain,  James 
C.  Carraway;  First  Lieutenant,  James  S.  Kendall;  Second 
Lieutenant,  John  C.  McLauchlin;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, William  C.  Boggan. 

The  commandant  of  the  Camp  of  Instruction  at  Crab  Tree 
was  Major  Harry  King  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  not  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  who  had  graduated  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute 
in  May  previous. 

The  Adjutant  of  the  Camp  was  Oliver  Cromwell  Petway, 
also  a  cadet  at  the  Virginia  Military  Academy  in  1860-1861, 
subsequently  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Thirty-fifth  North 
Cal-olina  Regiment,  and  killed  at  Malvern  Hill  1  July,  1862. 

Of  this  young  commandant,  Corporal  John  R.  Lane,  Com- 
pany G,  subsequently  rising  by  his  military  talents  to 
the  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  gives  his  first  impressions  as 
follows :  "We  took  the  train  at  Company  Shops  (now  Bur- 
lington) for  Raleigh;  arriving  at  this  place,  the  company 
marched  out  to  Camp  Crab  Tree,  a  Camp  of  Instruction,  and 
were  assigned  our  position  in  camp  a  little  after  dark.  On 
the  next  morning  when  we  awoke,  we  saw  the  sentinels  at 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  305 

their  posts  and  realized  that  we  were  indeed  in  the  war.  Im- 
mediately after  roll  call — but  there  was  no  roll  call  in  our 
company — Major  li.  K.  Burgwyn,  commander  of  the  Camp 
of  Instruction,  sent  down  to  Captain  W.  S.  McLean,  demand- 
ing the  reason  for  his  failure  to  report  his  company. 

Before  the  excitement  occasioned  by  his  message  had  sub- 
sided among  the  commissioned  ofScers,  an  order  came  for  a 
corporal  and  two  men  to  report  at  once  at  headquarters.  Cap- 
tain McLean  selected  Corporal  Lane,  his  lowest  subaltern  of- 
ficer, and  two  of  the  most  soldierly-looking  men,  S.  S.  Car- 
ter and  W.  G.  Carter,  to  report  to  Major  Burgwyn. 

Accordingly,  these  three  worthies  appeared  before  the  com- 
mandant, wondering  whether  they  were  going  to  be  promoted, 
hanged  or  shot.  This  was  our  first  sight  of  the  commanding 
officer,  who  appeared  though  young,  to  be  a  youth  of  author- 
ity, beautiful  and  handsome;  the  flash  of  his  eye  and  the 
quickness  of  his  movements  betokened  his  liravery.  At  first 
sight  I  both  feared  and  admired  him.  He  gave  us  the  fol- 
lowing order:  "Corporal,  take  these  men  and  thoroughly 
police  this  Camp ;  don't  leave  a  watermelon  rind  or  anything 
filthy  in  Camp." 

This  cheering  order  completely  knocked  the  starch  out  of 
our  shirts  and  helped  greatly  to  settle  us  down  to  a  soldier's 
life.  The  cleanliness  of  the  camp  was  reported  by  the  officer 
of  the  day  as  being  perfect.  You  may  be  sure  our  officers  re- 
ported the  company  promptly  after  that. 

REGIMENTAL   ORGANIZATION    (AUGUST   27,    1861). 

The  companies  composing  the  regiment  were  from  the  cen- 
tral and  western  coiinties  of  the  State ;  counties  which  had  op- 
posed secession  until  the  Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln 
(April  15,  1861)  calling  upon  Governor  Ellis  to  furnish 
North  Carolina's  quota  of  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers 
to  coerce  the  seceding  Southern  States. 

After  being  drilled  and  otherwise  disciplined,  these  ten 
companies  were  organized  into  a  regiment  designated  as  the 

20 


306  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Troops    (Infantry)    and  the 
companies  took  rank  as  follows : 

Captain  McMillan's  Company,  from  Ashe  County,  as 
Company  A. 

Captain  Steele's  Company,  from  Union  County,  as 
Company  B. 

Captain  Caemighael's  Company,  from  Wilkes  County, 
as  Company  C. 

Captain  Rand's  Company,  from  Wake  County,  as  Com- 
pany D. 

Captain  Webster's  Company,  from  Chatham  County,  as 
Company  E. 

Captain  Rankin's  Company,  from  Caldwell  County,  as 
Company  F. 

Captain  McLean's  Company,  from  Chatham  County,  as 
Company  G. 

Captain  Martin's  Company,  from  Moore  County,  as 
Company  H. 

Captain  White's  Company,  from  Caldwell  County,  as 
Company  I. 

Captain  Caeea way's  Company,  from  Anson  County,  as 
Company  K. 

The  company  officers  completed  the  regimental  organiza- 
tion by  electing  as  Colonel,  Captain  Zehulon  B.  Vance,  then 
Captain  of  the  "Rough  and  Ready  Guards"  from  Buncombe 
County,  in  the  Fourteenth  North  Carolina  Troops ;  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, Major  Harry  K.  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  commandant 
of  the  camp;  and  as  Major,  Captain  Abner  B.  Carmichael, 
of  Company  C. 

Colonel  Vance  subsequently  appointed  First  Lieutenant 
James  B.  Jordan,  of  Company  D,  Adjutant ;  Sergeant  Joseph 
J.  Young,  of  Company  D,  Quartermaster ;  Lieutenant  Robert 
Goldaton,  of  Company  H,  Commissary,  who  died  at  Carolina 
City  October,  1861 ;  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Boykin,  of  Sampson 
County,  Surgeon;  and  Private  Daniel  M.  Shaw,  Company 
H,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Rev.  Robert  H.  Marsh,  of  Chatham  County,  since  so  widely 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  307 

known  as  an  eloquent  preacher  of  the  Baptist  persuasion, 
was  appointed  Chaplain.  The  commissions  of  the  officers 
tore  date  27  August,  1861.  First  Lieutenant  A.  H.  ITorton, 
of  Company  C,  was  promoted  Captain  vice  Carmichael, 
elected  Major.     The  non-commissioned  staff  were: 

L.  L.  Polk,  Sergeant-Ma j or,  of  Company  K. 
Benjamin  ITind^  Hospital  Steward,  of  Company  ~K. 
E.  H.  HoBNADAYj  Ordnance  Sergeant,  of  Company  E. 
Jesse  Feeguson,  Commissary  Sergeant,  of  Company  C. 
Abbam  J.  Lanb^  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  of  Company  G. 

ENCAMPMENT  ON  BOGUE  ISLAND. 

Promptly  on  its  organization  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
the  defence  of  Fort  ii  aeon,  on  Bogue  Island.  Leaving  Ral- 
eigh on  the  2d  of  September,  1861,  under  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Burgwyn,  (Colonel  Vance  not  having  as  yet 
reported  for  duty) ,  the  regiment,  halting  a  few  days  at  More- 
head  City,  took  up  its  permanent  camp  near  Fort  Macon — • 
at  which  place  Colonel  Vance  assumed  command.  The 
months  of  September,  October  and  ISTovember,  1861,  were 
passed  at  this  place.  The  time  was  occupied  in  guard 
duties,  drilling  and  preparing  for  the  arduous  duties  that  lay 
before  them. 

Occasionally,  upon  rumor  that  the  enemy  were  landing, 
the  long  roll  would  be  sounded,  and  the  regiment  drawn  up  in 
line.  There  was  great  sickness  among  the  soldiers.  An  en- 
demic of  measles  and  fever  prevailed.  A  hospital  was  estab- 
lished at  Carolina  City  on  the  mainland,  three  miles  west  of 
Morehead  City — Commissary  Goldston,  Assistant  Surgeon 
Shaw,  Lieutenant  John  E.  Matthews  and  many  privates  died 
in  a  short  while.  Nine  men  from  one  Company  died  in  a 
week.  Supplies  had  to  be  brought  across  the  Sound,  and  the 
water  being  shallow,  the  men  had  to  wade  quite  a  distance  to 
get  to  the  vessels  bringing  the  rations. 

The  regimental  officers  were  incessant  in  their  attentions  to 
their  men,  showing  them  every  kindness,  providing  every 
comfort  possible,  and  became  much  endeared  to  those  under 
their  authority.     When  time  came  to  go  into  winter  quar- 


308  North  Carolina  Troops,  186r-'65. 

ters,  the  regiment  was  moved  to  the  mainland  and  camped 
midway  between  Morehead  and  Carolina  Cities.  While  in 
this  camp,  Captain  McLean,  of  Company  Gr,  was  appointed 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  and  Corporal  John  K.  Lane  elected 
Captain  of  the  Company. 

The  winter  of  1861-1862  was  passed  in  unremitting  drill 
and  under  strict  measures  of  discipline,,  which  got  the  regi- 
ment into  fine  condition' for  the  opening  campaign;  and  here 
they  acquired  a  reputation  for  efficiency  in  drill  and  obedi- 
ence to  orders  which  they  retained  with  increasing  credit  until 
the  final  surrender 

In  October,  1861,  General  D.  H.  Hill  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  District  of  Pamlico,  to  be  succeeded  in  No- 
vember by  Brigadier-General  L.  O'B.  Branch.  After  the  fall 
of  Eoanoke  Island  (10  February,  1862)  and  in  view  of  the 
threatened  attack  on  New  Bern  by  General  Burnside,  the  reg- 
iment was  ordered  up  the  railroad  within  three  miles  of  New 
Bern,  and  there  went  into  bivouac  and  assigned  to  Branch's 
command,  which  as  then  constituted,  was  composed  of  the 
Seventh,  Twenty-sixth,  Twenty-seventh,  Thirty-third,  Thir- 
ty-fifth and  Thirty-seventh  North  Carolina  Regiments,  In- 
fantry, and  Latham's  and  Brem's  Batteries  of  artillery.  Colo- 
nel Spruill's  Second  Cavalry  (Nineteenth  North  Carolina), 
a  battalion  of  militia  under  Colonel  H.  J.  B.  Clark,  and  some 
detached  companies.  Brigadier-General  R.  C.  Gatlin  com- 
manding the  Department  of  North  Carolina  and  coast  de- 
fenses, headquarters  at  Goldsboro,  was  in  supreme  command. 

BATTLE  OF  NEW  BEEN,  N.  0.  14  MARCH,  1862. 

General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside  flushed  with  his  captures  of 
Fort  Hatteras  (29  August,  1861)  and  Eoanoke  Island  (If) 
February,  1862)  was  now  about  to  attempt  still  greater  move- 
ments on  the  military  chess  boajd,  and  on  11  March,  1862 
he  embarked  the  brigades  of  Foster,  Bono  and  Parke  aad 
accompanying  artillery,  at  Eoanoke  Island  and  reached  Slo- 
cum's  Creek  where  it  empties  into  the  Neuse  river,  some  six- 
teen miles  from  New  Bern,  on  the  evening  of  the  12th.  Early 
next  morning,  after  shelling  the  country  around,  General 
Burnside  disembarked  his  command,  and  ordered  Foster's 


Confedera+e 
Ted era I 


1  .J77i«JffaXtory  t^&tv  £fJ'4fil 


Y  ^5anft>gwffi»aiis;y 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  309 

Brigade  to  advance  up  the  county  road,  and  attack  our  front 
and  left ;  Reno's  Brigade  to  march  up  the  railroad  with  orders 
to  turn  our  right;  and  Parke's  Brigade  to  follow  along  the 
county  road  at  convenient  distance  as  a  support  either  to  Fos- 
ter or  Reno  as  there  might  be  need. 

General  Burnside's  advance  appears  to  have  met  no  oppo- 
sition ;  the  Croatan  breastworks  above  Otter  Greek  he  found 
abandoned,  and  at  night  his  entire  command  bivouacked  in 
easy  striking  distance  of  the  Confederate  lines  of  defence, 
which  we  will  now  describe. 

About  five  miles  below  New  Bern  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
!N"euse  River  the  Gonfederates  had  constructed  a  strong  fort, 
called  "Fort  Thompson,"  manned  by  thirteen  siege  guns  of 
good  size,  stipported  by  ten  field  pieces,  with  three  navy  32- 
pounders  on  its  rear  face. 

From  the  fort  in  a  straight  line  to  the  railroad  leading 
from  New  Bern  to  Morehead  City,  was  the  main  line  of  de- 
fense, consisting  of  a  strong  breastwork  about  one  and  one- 
quarter  miles  in  length. 

Through  the  centre  of  these  breastworks  the  Beaufort 
County  road  leading  to  New  Bern  passed,  and  intersected  the 
railroad  about  two  miles  behind  the  works ;  thence  crossed  the 
Trent  river  on  a  wooden  bridge  about  a  mile  and  a  half  above 
New  Bern.  Where  the  breastworks  met  the  railroad  there 
was  a  brick  kiln,  and  this  proved  to  be  the  cause  of  all  our 
woes  in  this  battle.  Instead  of  continuing  the  breastworks 
straight  across  the  railroad  into  the  swamp  beyond,  to  make 
the  line  as  short  as  possible  after  reaching  the  railroad,  the 
line  was  thrown  back  abou.t  15U  yards  to  the  banks  of  BuUen's 
Creek  and  thence,  a  series  of  small  breastworks  conforming 
to  the  features  of  the  ground,  ran  off  in  the  direction  of  a 
swamp.  To  guard  this  gap  of  150  yards  in  which  was  this 
brick  kiln  plant,  General  Branch  ordered  the  brick  kiln  to  be 
loopholed;  and  the  evening  before  the  battle,  had  ordered 
down  two  24-pounder  guns  which  were  being  mounted  when 
the  party  was  fired  into  in  the  beginning  of  the  action  and 
the  work  was  stopped  never  to  be  resumed.  The  timber  in 
front  of  the  breastworks  had  been  felled  for  some  350  yards. 

General  Branch's  disposition  of  his  troops  had  to  be  made 


310  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

with  great  rapidity,  as  the  enemy  left  him  no  time  for  delay. 
At  4  p.  m.  on  the  12th  of  March,  General  Branch  was  notified 
of  the  enemy's  approach.  He  ordered  Colonel  Sinclair,  of 
the  Thirty-fifth  JSTorth  Carolina  Regiment,  to  proceed  to 
Fisher's  landing,  just  above  the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek,  to  re' 
sist  any  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  land.  Late  in  the  night 
he  ordered  the  Twenty-sixth  Worth  Carolina  Regiment  and 
Brem's  Battery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn  in  command,  to 
follow.  Colonel  Vance  being  temporarily  in  command  of  the 
Post  of  New  Bern.  These  troops  arrived  to  find  the  enemy 
had  anticipated  them  by  occupying  this  ground,  so  the  two 
regiments  fell  back  to  take  their  places  in  the  main  line  for 
the  next  day's  battle. 

General  Branch  divided  his  forces  that  were  to  defend  the 
works  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  namely,  between  the  rail- 
road and  Fort  Thompson,  into  two  wings  to  be  commanded 
respectively  by  Colonel  C.  C.  Lee,  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  Colonel  Reuben  P.  Camp- 
bell, of  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment.  Colonel  Lee's 
command  embraced  the  troops  between  the  fort  and  the  county 
road,  and  was  composed  of  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment  and  his  own,  the  Thirty-seventh  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment;  on  the  right  of  the  county  road  reaching  to 
the  railroad  constituted  Colonel  Campbell's  command  and 
was  defended  by  his  own  regiment  (the  Seventh) ;  the  Thirty- 
fifth  g.nd  Captain  Whitehurst's  independent  company,  and 
on  the  right  next  to  the  railroad  was  placed  the  battalion  of 
militia  under  command  of  Colonel  H.  J.  B.  Clark.  Two  sec- 
tions of  Brem.'s  and  Latham's  batteries  of  artillery  were 
posted  along  this  line  between  the  county  road  and  railroad, 
under  Colonel  Campbell's  command. 

Colonel  Vance,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment, was  in  command  of  all  the  defences  on  the  right  of  the 
railroad,  comprising  a  distance  of  one  and  a  quarter  miles. 
His  own  regiment,  one  or  two  detached  companies  and  a  sec- 
tion of  Brem's  artillery,  were  the  only  troops  at  his  disposal 
for  this  important  defense.  His  line  ran  along  the  bank  of 
BuUen's  Creek  for  ahowt  half  a  mile,  until  the  creek  emptied 
into  a  swamp ;  beyond  this  swamp  his  line  was  extended  to  the 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  311 

Weathersby  road  leading  to  ISTew  Bern ;  and  beyond  this  (on 
the  right)  was  Bryce's  Creek,  a  deep  and  impassable  stream  of 
about  75  yards  wide,  which  empties  into  the  Trent  Biver. 
Shortly  after  the  battle  opened,  the  part  of  Governor  Vance's 
line  next  to  the  railroad  and  under  the  immediate  command 
of  Major  Carmichael,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment,  was  re- 
inforced, first  by  five  companies  of  Colonel  Avery's  Eegi- 
ment, the  Thirty-third  North  Carolina,  held  in  reserve ;  and 
as  the  battle  progressed  and  more  determined  became  the  at- 
tempt of  the  enemy  to  carry  this  position,  the  other  five  com- 
panies of  the  Thirty-third  Regiment,  under  the  gallant  Colo- 
nel Avery  and  Lieutenant-Colonel- Robert  F.  Hoke,  came  to 
Major  Carmichael's  assistance.  As  will  hereafter  be  seen, 
the  enemy  never  succeeded  in  carrying  the  works  on  the  right 
of  the  railroad. 

During  the  day  of  the  13th,  the  enemy  kept  up  a  brisk 
shelling  from  their  gun  boats,  now  in  the  l^euse,  and  keeping 
abreast  of  their  land  forces ;  and  by  night  had  gocten  his  three 
brigades  in  position  for  the  attack  early  the  next  morning. 
These  were  disposed  as  follows :  General  J.  G.  Foster  formed 
his  line  across  the  county  road  parallel  to  the  Confederate 
works,  the  Twenty-fifth  and  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
Regiments  on  the  right,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  and  Twenty- 
third  Massachusetts  on  the  left,  supported  by  six  navy  howitz- 
ers and  the  howitzers  of  Captains  Dayton  and  Bennett. 

General  Jesse  L.  Reno  formed  his  brigade  on  the  left  of  the 
railroad  in  the  following  order,  viz.,  the  Twenty-first  Massa- 
chusetts, Ninth  New  Jersey  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania 
Regiments.  General  Parke's  Brigade  was  drawn  up  in  line 
in  the  intermediate  space  between  General's  Foster  and  Reno, 
with  orders  to  support  whichever  brigade  needed  it. 

About  1 :30  a.  m.  the  battle  was  opened  by  a  shot  from  a 
Parrott  gun  from  Latham's  battery  under  Lieutenant  Wood- 
btiry  Wheeler.  This  shot  dispersed  a  squad  of  horsemen  who 
seemed  to  be  reconnoitering  under  cover  of  the  woods.  Imme- 
diately after  this,  the  firing  became  general.  General  Fos- 
ter's attacks  on  the  main  works  in  his  front  made  but  little,  if 
any,  impression;  they  were  easily  repulsed.  Doubtless  the 
enemy  knew  the  weak  points  in  the  Confederate  line  of  de- 


312  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

fense.  Immediately  on  getting  his  men  into  line,  General 
Eeno  ordered  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  S.  Clark  to  charge  with 
the  right  wing  of  his  regiment,  the  Twenty-first  Massachu- 
setts, and  tate  the  brick  kiln. 

Colonel  Clark  says  in  his  report :  "At  the  moment  of  our 
arrival  at  the  Cut,  the  enemy  were  busily  engaged  in  re- 
moving ammunition  from  the  cars  which  had  just  come  down 
from  New  Bern  with  re-enforcements.  At  the  first  volley 
from  Company  C  the  enemy  in  great  astonishment,  fled  from 
the  road  and  trench  to  a  ravine  in  the  rear  of  the  brick  yard. 
General  Reno  ordered  Color-bearer  Bates  to  plant  his  flag 
upon  the  roof  of  a  building  within  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments.  General  Reno,  with  Companies  C,  A,  B,  and  H,  of 
the  right  wing,  dashed  across  the  railroad  up  the  steep  bank 
and  over  the  rifle  trench  on  top  into  the  brick  yard.  Here 
we  were  subjected  to  a  most  destructive  cross  fire  from  the 
enemy  on  both  sides  of  the  railroad  and  lost  a  large  number 
of  men  in  a  very  few  minutes.  The  General  supposing  he 
had  completely  flanked  the  enemy's  works,  returned  across 
the  road  touring  up  the  rest  of  his  brigade;  but  just  at  this 
time  a  tremendous  fire  of  nmsketry  and  artillery  was  opened 
from  the  redoubts  hitherto  unseen,  which  were  nine  in  nu.m- 
ber,  extending  from  the  railroad  more  than  a  mile  to  the 
right  into  the  forest. 

"The  General,  now  obliged  to  devote  his  attention  to  the 
enemy  in  front  of  his  brigade,  ordered  the  left  wing  of  the 
Twenty-first  Massachusetts  not  to  cross  the  road,  but  to  con- 
tinue to  fire  upon  the  enemy  in  the  first  two  redovibts.  These 
troops  consisted  of  the  Thirty-third  North  Carolina  and  the 
Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiments,  and  were  the  best 
an  led  and  fought  the  most  gallantly  of  any  of  the  enemy's 
forces ;  their  position  was  almost  impregnable  so  long  as  their 
left  flank  resting  on  the  railroad  was  defended.  They  kept 
up  an  incessant  fire  for  three  hours  until  their  ammunition 
was  exhausted,  and  the  remainder  of  the  rebel  forces  had  re- 
treated from  that  portion  of  their  works  lying  between  the 
river  and  the  railroad." 

Having  quoted  so  freely  from  the  Federal  side,  let  us  now 
see  what  was  doing  among  the  Confederates.     It  is  seen.  Gen- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  313 

eral  'Branch  had  but  one  brigade  to  oppose  three — but  six  reg- 
ments  to  oppose  thirteen.  These  thirteen  Federal  regiments 
were  in  full  ranks.  The  Twenty-iirst  Massachusetts,  of 
which  we  have  been  speaking,  took  into  the  battle  743  men. 
When  Colonel  Campbell  was  informed  by  Colonel  Sinclair, 
"under  much  excitement,"  that  the  enemy  had  flanked  him 
and  were  coming  up  the  trenches  which  had  been  vacated  by 
the  militia,  Colonel  Campbell  ordered  Colonel  Sinclair  to 
leave  the  works  and  charge  bayonets  upon  the  advancing  col- 
umns ;  this  Colonel  Sinclair  failed  to  do,  and  left  the  field  in 
confusion.  Colonel  Campbell  then  ordered  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Haywood  to  have  his  men,  the  Seventh  IsTorth  Carolina 
Regiment,  leave  the  works  and  charge  the  enemy.  This  was 
done  in  handsome  style,  and  the  enemy  were  driven  over  the 
breastworks  and  the  guns  of  Brem's  Battery  that  had  fallen 
into  their  hands,  were  retaken.  This  charge  was  so  impetuous 
that  the  enemy  largely  magnified  the  number  of  men  that 
made  it.  Says  Colonel  Clark,  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachu- 
setts Regiment,  resuming  our  quotation  from  his  report  of  the 
battle:  "Having  been  ordered  into  the  brick  yard  and  left 
there  with  my  colors  and  the  four  companies  above  mentioned, 
and  finding  it  impossible  to  remain  there  without  being  cut  to 
pieces,  I  was  compelled  either  to  charge  upon  Captain  Brem's 
Battery  of  flying  artillery  or  retreat.  Accordingly,  I  formed 
my  handful  of  men  (about  200)  in  line,  the  right  resting  on 
the  breastworks  of  the  enemy,  and  commenced  firing  upon  the 
men  and  horses  of  the  first  piece.  Three  men  and  two  horses 
having  fallen,  I  gave  the  order  to  charge  bayonets  and  went 
to  the  first  gun.  Leaving  this  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Wal- 
cott  and  Private  John  Dunn,  of  Company  B,  I  proceeded  to 
the  second  gun,  about  300  paces  from  the  brick  yard.  By  this 
time  the  three  regiments  of  the  rebel  infantry,  who  had  re- 
treated from  the  breastworks  to  a  ravine  in  the  rear  when  we 
entered  the  brick  yard,  seeing  that  we  were  so  few  and  re- 
ceived no  support,  rallied  and  advanced  on  us.  The  Thirty- 
fifth  and  Thirty-seventh  ISTorth  Carolina,  supported  by  the 
Seventh  North  Carolina,  came  upon  us  from  the  ravine  in 
splendid  style,  with  their  muskets  at  the  right  shoulder  and 
halted.     Most  forttmately,  or  rather  providentially,  for  us. 


314     North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

they  remained  undecided  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  re- 
solved on  a  movement  v^hich  saved  us  from  destruction.  In- 
stead of  giving  us  a  volley  at  once,  they  first  hesitated,  and 
then  charged  upon  us  vs^ithout  firing.  I  instantly  commanded 
my  men  to  spring  over  the  parapet  and  ditch  in  front,  and  to 
retreat  to  the  railroad,  keeping  as  close  as  possible  to  the  ditch. 
On  the  railroad  I  found  Colonel  Rodman  with  the  Fourth 
Rhode  Island  Regiment  waiting  for  orders,  and  I  urged  him 
to  advance  at  once  and  charge  upon  their  flank,  as  I  had 
done." 

Up  to  this  point  in  the  battle,  everything  had  gone  on  sat- 
isfactorily for  the  Confederates  on  the  right  of  the  railroad. 
General  Reno's  attacks  had  been  met  and  repulsed  hand- 
somely. The  Confederate  line  of  defense  on  the  right  of  the 
railroad  as  heretofore  stated,  consisted  of  rifle  pits  and  de- 
tached intrenchments  in  the  form  of  lunettes  and  redans  along 
the  bank  of  BuUen's  Creek,  and  across  the  swamp  to  the 
Weathersby  road,  about  one  and  one-quarter  miles.  A  rifle 
pit  near  the  railroad  was  occupied  by  Captain  Oscar  R.  Rand, 
Avith  his  Company  D,  about  77  men ;  by  Company  A,  68  men, 
and  by  25  men  from  Company  G,  all  under  command  of  Ma- 
jor A.  B.  Carmichael,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment.  Quot- 
ing from  Captain  Rand's  account  of  the  battle,  written 
shortly  after  his  capture  and  addressed  to  Colonel  Z.  B. 
Vance : 

"About  7 :30  a.  m.  the  battle  commenced  on  the  left  and  for 
a  time,  extending  from  Fort  Thompson  along  the  whole  line 
of  the  breastworks  to  the  railroad,  the  roar  of  cannon  and 
musketry  was  incessant.  Within  a  few  minutes  after  the 
battle  had  commenced,  the  enemy  made  his  appearance  on  the 
right  of  the  railroad  directly  in  front  of  us.  About  one  reg- 
iment (the  left  wing  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts)  took 
position  between  the  railroad  and  BuUen's  Creek,  sheltering 
themselves  in  the  woods  and  behind  the  logs,  while  the  main 
body  consisting  of  several  regiments  advanced  under  cover  of 
the  woods  down  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  occupying  the 
heights  and  extending  himself  along  ovlt  right. 

"When  the  advance  of  the  enemy  had  reached  nearly  oppo- 
site Major  Carmichael's  position,  he  gave  the  order  to  fire, 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  315 

and  sent  a  volley  full  into  the  head  of  the  advancing  column. 
The  enemy  replied  immediately  and  from  this  time  to  the 
close  of  the  action,  the  j&ring  never  ceased.  At  first,  the  en- 
emy shooting  very  badly,  their  balls  flying  high  above  our 
heads  and  cutting  the  boughs  from  the  tops  of  the  trees  in  our 
rear,  whereas  our  men,  under  direction  of  Major  Oarmichael 
and  other  officers,  took  deliberate  aim,  sending  death  into  their 
ranks.  As  soon  as  we  were  fairly  engaged  with  this  part  of 
the  enemy,  the  other  part  which  held  position  between  the 
railroad  and  the  creek  came  up  from  under  their  cover  and 
attempted  to  cross  the  railroad  with  a  view  to  flank  the  main 
intrenchments  and  cut  our  lines  in  two. 

"No  sooner  was  this  attempted  than  it  was  discovered,  and 
every  gun  ordered  to  bear  upon  them.  One  well  directed 
volley  scattered  this  force.  Many  a  poor  fellow  fell  here  to 
rise  no  more,  for  they  were  well  exposed. 

"Just  at  this  time,  about  half  an  hour  after  the  battle  had 
commenced,  Colonel  Avery,  who  had  been  held  in  reserve,  ar- 
rived with  the  Thirty-third  regiment.  He  with  four  compa- 
nies entered  the  rifle  pits  occupied  by  us,  while  four  other 
companies  under  Major  Gaston  Lewis,  were  ordered  to  occupy 
an  advanced  rifle  pit  nearest  to  the  brick  yard.  This  move- 
ment was  attended  with  great  danger,  and  was  gallantly  ex&- 
cuted.  Major  Lewis  had  to  advance  a  space  of  150  yards 
over  fallen  timber ;  all  the  while  exposed  to  the  enemy's  flre, 
and  without  being  able  to  return  it.  He  gained  the  position, 
however,  and  held  it  during  the  remainder  of  the  action. 

"The  battle  now  raged  furiously ;  the  enemy  throwing  them- 
selves along  our  right  so  as  to  gain  the  point  from  which  he 
could  fire  directly  into  our  trenches,  and  Colonel  Avery,  ably 
seconded  by  Major  Oarmichael,  using  every  effort  to  prevent 
it.  In  this  they  were  somewhat  aided  by  the  artillery  and 
infantry,  part  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment  and  two  com- 
panies of  the  Thirty-third  Regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Hoke — on  the  right  of  us,  only  two  or  three  companies 
of  which,  however,  were  within  range.  The  intention  of  the 
enemy  was  plain.  They  were  to  engage  lis  hotly  on  both 
wings,  and  then  with  a  sufficient  force  can-y  the  railroad, 
which,  when  gained,  would  cut  our  lines  in  two  and  be  equiv- 


316  North  Carolina  Troops,   l861-'65. 

alent  to  flanking  us  right  and  left.  No  troops  were  at  any 
time  stationed  along  the  line  from  the  extreme  left  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Eegimeht  to  the  brick  kilns,  a  distance  of  over 
200  yards,  until  Colonel  Avery  ordered  Major  Lewis  with 
four  companies  of  the  Thirty-third  Regiment,  to  occupy  it. 
There  were  also  no  troops  defending  the  line  from  the  brick 
kiln  to  where  the  main  breastworks  touched  the  railroad,  a 
distance  of  200  yards  or  more. 

"The  enemy  now  determined  to  carry  this  part  of  the  line 
of  our  defence.  What  part  the  militia,  who  were  stationed 
along  the  main  breastworks  nearest  the  railroad,  and  the 
Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  who  were  next  to  them,  took  in  resist- 
ing this  attempt,  I  cannot  say.  The  brick  kilns  and  other 
buildings  excluded  the  view.  These  troops  were  certainly 
aear  enough,  and  by  a  proper  change  of  front  could  have 
thrown  themselves  upon  the  enemy  and  overwhelmed  him. 

"The  force  attempting  this  point  of  our  works,  I  do  not  be^ 
lieve  to  have  been  more  than  one  regiment.  (It  was  only  the 
right  wing  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts  Regiment) ,  and 
the  main  resistance  he  encountered  came  from  the  rifle  pits 
occupied  by  Major  Carmichael's  and  Major  Lewis'  com- 
mands. The  enemy  was  held  in  check  for  some  considerable 
time,  but  at  last  he  succeeded  and  carried  the  railroad  be- 
tween the  brick  kilns  and  the  main  breastworks  and  a  part 
of  his  force  passed  in.  They  had  advanced  but  a  short  dis- 
tance, however,  when  they  were  met  by  a  part  of  the  Seventh 
North  Carolina  Regiment  and  driven  out  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  the  Yankees  leaping  over  the  breastworks  into  the 
ditch  beyond. 

"It  was  during  this  time  that  we  met  with  a  severe  loss  in 
the  death  of  Major  Carmichael — as  true  a  patriot  and  as 
brave  a  gentleman  as  ever  lived.  His  death  occurred  in  this 
manner:  Colonel  Avery  and  Major  Carmichael  were  stand- 
ing together  at  the  corner  of  the  traverse  nearest  the  railroad. 
Tliey  were  watching  the  action  on  the  left  and  beyond  the 
brick  yard,  when  a  single  ball,  whether  aimed  at  the  party  or 
not,  entered  the  mouth  of  Major  Carmichael  as  he  was  speak- 
ing, and  passed  out  at  the  back  of  the  neck.  I  was  standing 
at  his  side  when  he  fell.     He  died  instantly.     A  feeling  of 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  317 

bitter  grief  ran  through  the  trenches  as  he  fell,  for  there  was 
not  a  man  in  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment  who  was  not  devot- 
edly attached  to  him.  During  the  battle,  Major  Carmichael 
wore  a  small  Confederate  flag,  perhaps  three  by  four  inches  in 
dimension,  mounted  on  a  staff  and  attached  to  his  cap.  This 
ma;j  have  attracted  the  fatal  shot."  The  flag  had  been  given 
the  Major  by  a  lady  of  New  Bern,  and  he  had  promised  her 
he  would  wear  it  in  his  cap  in  his  first  battle.  It  was  doubt- 
less the  cause  of  his  being  singled  out  by  some  sharpshooter. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  left  of  the  Confederate  line  be- 
tween the  railroad  and  Fort  Thompson.  General  Branch's 
paucity  of  troops  prevented  his  taking  advantage  of  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Haywood's  brilliant  bayonet  charge  with  the 
Seventh  Kegiment.  The  enemy  were  driven  back,  but  there 
were  no  soldiers  to  occupy  the  vacant  line  of  defense  at  the 
brick  yard,  or  to  take  the  place  in  the  works  vacated  by  the 
retreat  of  the  militia  and  the  Thirty-fifth  Eegiment.  Says 
General  Branch,  in  his  report :  "The  whole  of  the  militia  had 
abandoned  their  positions.  Colonel  Sinclair's  Regiment  very 
qiiickly  followed  their  example.  This  laid  open  Haywood's 
right  and  a  portion  of  the  breastworks  was  left  vacant.  I  had 
not  a  njan  with  whom  to  occupy  it,  and  the  enemy  soon  passed 
in  a  column  along  the  railroad  and  through  a  portion  of  the 
cut  down  timber  in  front  which  marched  up  behind  the  breast- 
works to  attack  what  remained  of  Colonel  Campbell's  com- 
mand." How  this  was  done  we  will  explain  by  quoting  from 
Brigadier-General  Parke,  commanding  the  force  su.pporting 
Reno's  Brigade  attacking  the  Confederate  right  wing. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  Clark,  commanding  the  Twenty-first 
Massachusetts,  meeting  Colonel  Rodman,  of  the  Fourth 
Rhode  Island,  informed  him  he  had  been  in  the  works  and 
assured  him  of  the  feasibility  of  again  taking  the  intrench- 
ments. 

"I  approved  of  this  course  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Rodman, 
and  at  once  ordered  the  Eighth  Connecticut  and  the  Fifth 
Rhode  Island  to  his  support.  Passing  quickly  by  the  rifie 
pits  which  opened  on  us  with  little  injury,  we  entered  in  rear 
of  the  intrenchments  and  the  regiments  in  a  gallant  manner 
carried  gun  after  gun,  until  the  whole  nine  brass  pieces  on 


318  North  Carolina  Troops,  l861-'65. 

their  front  line  wei-e  in  our  possession,  the  enemy  sullenly  re- 
tiring, firing  only  three  guns  from  the  front  and  three  others 
from  the  fort  on  their  left  (Thompson).  The  Eighth  Con- 
necticut and  Fifth  Elhode  Island  followed  immediately  in 
the  rear,  and  in  support  of  the  Fourth  Khode  Island.  Al- 
though now  in  possession  of  the  entire  works  of  the  enemy  be- 
tween the  railroad  and  the  river,  the  heavy  firing  on  our  left 
and  beyond  the  railroad  proved  that  General  Reno's  Brigade 
was  still  hotly  engaging  the  enemy. 

"I  ordered  the  Fifth  Ehode  Island  Battalion  and  the 
Eighth  Connecticut  to  advance  cautiously.  Captain  J.  N". 
King  then  reported  that  the  enemy  still  occupied  rifie  pits 
along  side  the  railroad  back  of  the  brick  yard  and  a  series  of 
redoubts  extending  beyond  the  railroad  and  in  General  Eeno's 
front. 

"I  then  had  the  Fourth  Rhode  Island  brought  up  and  or- 
dered the  Colonel  to  drive  the  enemy  from  his  position.  This 
order  was  executed  in  a  most  gallant  manner.  The  regiment 
charged  the  enemy  in  flank,  while  a  simultaneous  charge  was 
made  by  General  Reno  in  front,  thus  driving  the  enemy  from 
his  last  stronghold." 

General  Burnside  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  says :  "Gen- 
eral Foster  seeing  our  forces  inside  the  enemiy's  lines,  im- 
mediately ordered  his  brigade  to  charge,  when  the  whole  line 
of  breastworks  between  the  railroad  and  the  river  were  most 
gallantly  carried.  After  the  cheers  of  our  men  had  subsided, 
it  was  discovered  that  General  Reno  was  still  engaged  with 
the  enemy  on  the  left,  upon  w\iich  General  Parke  moved  back 
with  a  view  of  getting  in  rear  of  the  enemy's  forces  in  the  in- 
trenchments  to  the  left  of  the  railroad.  General  Foster,  also 
moved  forward  with  one  of  his  regiments,  with  a  view  of  get- 
ting to  the  rear."  It  was  to  this  last  regiment  that  Colonel 
Avery  and  Captain  Rand  surrendered.  This  regiment  Gen- 
eral Foster  marched  down  the  county  road  leading  to  ITew 
Bern,  until  opposite  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment, 
when  turning  to  the  left,  he  marched  through  the  woods  and 
took  position  on  both  sides  of  the  railroad;  he  also  brought 
up  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  placed  them  in  positicm. 

Let  us  now  return  to  Captain  Rand's  account  of  the  clos- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  319 

ing  incidents  of  the  battle  on  his  part  of  the  line :  "The  ac- 
tion at  this  place  had  now  continued  for  more  than  three 
hours.  Our  men  from  first  to  last  poured  in  their  fire  with 
deliberate  aim.  Colonel  Avery  was  everywhere  along  the 
trenches  animating  the  men  by  his  presence.  I  may  say 
that  nearly  every  man  did  his  duty  nobly.  Many  were  the 
narrow  escapes.  Colonel  Avery  received  a  ball  through  his 
cap,  and  many  received  balls  through  their  hats  or  clothes. 
The  respective  forces  were  all  the  time  within  from  two  to 
three  hundred  yards  of  each  other ;  all  had  been  silent  along 
our  lines,  both  right  and  left  of  us  for  some  time.  Just  at 
this  time,  while  we  were  so  intently  engaged  on  our  front,  we 
were  fired  into  on  our  left  by  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy 
who  had  taken  position  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  beyond  the 
railroad.  This  determined  the  conflict  so  far  as  we  were 
concerned.  Colonel  Avery  saw  in  an  instant  that  nothing 
now  remained  but  to  draw  off  the  troops.  The  order  was 
given  and  we  went  out  of  the  trenches  amidst  a  perfect  storm 
of  bullets  from  both  right  and  left. 

The  intention  of  Colonel  Avery  was  to  rally  the  men  and 
form  line  on  the  railroad.  He  succeeded  in  a  great  measure, 
and  marched  diagonally  through  the  woods,  a  distance  of 
three  or  four  hundred  yards,  for  a  point  on  the  railroad  just 
above  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment.  My  com- 
pany occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  rifle  pit,  and  became  the 
right  of  the  line  in  retreat.  The  woods  were  so  filled  with 
underbrush  that  we  could  see  but  a  short  distance  before  us. 
When  we  had  advanced  far  enough  to  see  through  the  opening 
made  for  the  railroad  track,  and  had  nearly  reached  the  place 
where  we  were  to  form  line,  we  discovered  just  across  the 
railroad,  and  about  fifty  or  seventy-five  yards  in  front  of  our 
right,  four  pieces  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  a  regiment  of 
infantry  deployed  on  each  side  and  extending  across  the  rail- 
road. An  officer  immediately  rode  out  and  demanded  a  sur- 
render. Seeing  ourselves  surrounded  and  no  hope  of  escape. 
Colonel  Avery,  and  those  on  the  right,  surrendered.  Those 
on  the  left,  being  further  off,  and  aided  by  the  cover  of  the 
woods,  nearly  all  escaped.  The  surrender  took  place  at  11 :30 
o'clock  a.  m.     The  number  of  prisoners  taken  at  this  place 


320  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  number  of  prisoners 
taken  in  all  were  two  himdred  and  six."  This  admirable  and 
intelligent  account  of  the  battle  was  prepared  by  Captain 
Rand,  shortly  after  his  capture.  It  is  accompanied  with  a 
diagram  of  the  battle  field  made  by  Lieutenant  Woodbury 
Wheeler,  of  Latham's  Battery,  who  was  also  captiired. 

These  gentlemen  were  permitted  to  visit  the  battle  field 
from  one  end  to  the  other,  and  they  carefully  made  notes  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  an  account  of  the  battle.  Space  for- 
bids my  quoting  the  report  in  its  entirety.  I  will  only  make 
one  further  quotation:  "We  received  no  orders  to  retreat, 
neither  did  we  receive  orders  of  any  kind  during  the  whole 
course  of  the  battle.  The  woods  were  very  thick,  which, 
coupled  with  the  mist  of  the  morning,  made  it  impossible  to 
see  our  troops  on  either  side.  We  retreated  because  we  were 
exposed  to  a  cross  fire,  and  because  it  would  have  been  certain 
destruction  to  have  held  our  places  five  minutes  longer.  No 
ofiicer  or  man  dreamed  of  such  a  thing  as  being  taken  pris- 
oner. We  cou.ld  have  made  good  our  retreat  if  we  had  re- 
ceived the  order  as  others  did." 

In  justice  to  General  Branch,  on  this  point,  I  quote  from, 
his  ofiicial  report:  "Finding  the  day  was  lost,  my  next  care 
was  to  secure  the  retreat.  I  dispatched  two  couriers  to  Colo- 
nel Avery  and  two  to  Colonel  Vance,  with  orders' to  fall  back 
to  the  bridges,  etc.,  etc."  These  couriers  never  delivered  their 
orders.  This  account  "will  be  incomplete  without  making 
quotation  from  Colonel  Vance's  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Rob- 
ert F.  Hoke's  reports  of  this  battle.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hoke  says :  "The  regiment  moved  up  to  the  scene  of  action 
in  fine  style.  Colonel  Avery  in  command  in  the  centre,  I  of 
the  right  wing.  Major  Lewis  of  the  left.  Colonel  Avery  gave 
the  command  to  fire,  which  seemed  to  have  great  effect,  as 
the  enemy  scampered.  Major  Lewis  then  moved  to  the  right 
of  the  railroad  with  several  (four)  companies,  and  engaged 
the  enemy  from  that  time  tmtil  after  12  o'clock.  He  be- 
haved most  gallajatly,  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  whole  battle 
field.  He  repulsed  the  enemy  time  and  again,  and  twice 
charged  them  with  detachments  from  his  companies,  and 
each  time  made  them  flee.     Our  loss  was  greater  at  that 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  321 

point  than  any  other,  as  he  had  to  fight  to  his  front,  right, 
and  left,  biit  still  maintained  his  position.  Finding  the  en- 
emy were  getting  in  strong  force  on  our  right,  and  were  going 
to  turn  our  right  flank,  as  there  were  no  troops  between  our 
regiment  and  the  left  of  Colonel  Vance's  companies,  a  dis- 
tance of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  I  moved  quickly  with  Captain 
Park's  company,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  Colonel  Avery  for 
another  company.  He  immediately  sent  me  Captain  Kes- 
ler's  company.  I  ordered  the  whole  to  fire,  which  did  great 
execution,  as  the  enemy  fell  and  fled,  but  soon  appeared  in 
strong  force  and  again  we  drove  them  back,  but  soon  they 
again  appeared  in  stronger  force,  and  engaged  us,  which  con- 
tinued until  12  :30  o'clock.  At  12  :15  o'clock  I  saw  a  United 
States  flag  flying  upon  one  of  our  works,  but  saw  Colonel 
Avery  still  fighting.  I  did  not  know  that  Colonel  Avery  and 
Major  Lewis  had  fallen  back  until  I  saw  the  enemy  upon  my 
left  with  several  regiments,  and  about  fifty  yards  to  the  rear 
of  the  position  Colonel  Avery  had  occupied.  I  ordered  the 
men  under  my  command  to  fall  back,  but  to  do  so  in  order. 
We  were  hotly  fired  at  as  we  fell  back." 

I  next  quote  from  Colonel  Z.  B.  Vance's  report  of  the  bat- 
tle :  "The  regiment  was  posted  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn  in  the  series  of  redans,  constructed  by  me  on  the  right 
of  the  railroad,  in  the  rear  of  Bullen's  Branch,  extending 
from  the  railroad  to  the  swamp,  about  500  yards  from  the 
road  by  Weathersby.  At  this  road  I  had  constructed  the 
night  before  a  breastwork,  commanding  the  passage  of  the 
swamp,  and  there  was  placed  a  section  of  Brem's  artillery. 
Lieutenant  Williams  commanding,  and  Captain  McEae's 
company  of  infantry,  with  a  portion  of  Captain  Hays'  and 
Lieutenant  W.  A.  Graham's  Second  Cavalry  (ISTineteenth 
JSTorth  Carolina)  dismounted.  About  2  o'clock  Friday  morn- 
ing (14  March)  I  pushed  Companies  B,  E,  and  K,  of  my 
right  wing  across  the  small  swamp  alluded  to  so  as  to  make 
my  extreme  right  rest  on  the  battery  at  the  Weathersby  road. 
During  the  day,  two  companies  of  the  Thirty-third  Regiment, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hoke,  about  9  a.  m.,  were  placed 
in  the  redans  vacated  by  my  right  companies. 
21 


322  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  battle  began  on  my  left  wing  about  7:30  a.  m.,  ex- 
tending towards  my  right  by  degrees,  until  about  8  :30  a.  m., 
all  the  troops  in  my  command  were  engaged  as  far  as  the 
swamp  referred  to. 

The  fight  was  kept  up  until  about  12  o'clock,  when  infor- 
mation was  brought  me  by  Captain  J.  J.  Young,  my  Quar- 
termaster, who  barely  escaped  with  his  life  in  getting  to  me, 
that  the  enemy  in  great  force  had  turned  my  left  by  the  rail- 
road track  at  the  woods  and  the  brick  yard,  had  pillaged  my 
camp,  were  firing  in  reverse  on  my  left  wing,  and  were  sev- 
eral hundred  yards  up  the  railroad  between  me  and  New 
Bern.  Also  that  all  the  troops  were  in  full  retreat  except  my 
own. 

Without  hesitation,  I  gave  the  order  to  retreat.  My  men 
jumped  out  of  the  trenches,  rallied  and  formed  in  the  woods 
without  panic  or  confusion,  and  having  first  sent  a  messenger 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn  to  follow  with  the  forces  on 
the  right,  we  struck  across  the  Weathersby's  road  to  Bryce's 
Creek.  On  arriving  at  the  creek,  found  only  one  small  boat, 
capable  of  carrying  only  three  men.  The  creek  here  is  too 
deep  to  ford  and  seventy-five  yards  wide.  Some  plunged  in 
and  swam  over,  and  swimming  over  myself,  I  rode  down  to 
Captain  Whitf  ord's  house  on  the  Trent  river,  and  through  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  Kit.  Foy,  procured  three  more  small  boats. 
Carrying  one  on  our  shoulders,  we  hurried  up  to  the  crossing. 
In  the  meantime,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn  arrived  with 
the  forces  of  the  right  wing  in  excellent  condition,  and  as- 
sisted me  with  the  greatest  coolness  and  efficiency  in  getting 
the  troops  across,  which,  after  four  hours  of  hard  labor,  and 
the  greatest  anxiety,  we  succeeded  in  doing.  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Burgwyn  saw  the  last  man  over  before  he  entered  the 
boat.    I  regret  to  say  that  three  men  were  drowned  in  crossing. 

"A  large  Yankee  force  were  drawn  up  in  view  of  our  scouts, 
about  one  mile  away,  and  their  skirmishers  appeared  just  as 
the  rear  got  over." 

Of  the  deaths  of  Major  Carmichael  and  Captain  Martin 
Colonel  Vance  thus  feelingly  speaks: 

"Major  A.  B.  Carmichael  fell  about  11  a.  m.  by  a  shot 
through  the  head,  while  gallantly  holding  his  post  on  the  left 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  323 

under  a  most  galling  fire.  A  braver,  nobler  soldier  never  fell 
on  field  of  battle.  Generous  and  open-hearted,  as  he  was 
brave  and  chivalrous,  he  was  endeared  to  the  whole  regiment. 
Honored  be  his  memory.  Soon  thereafter,  Captain  W.  P. 
Hartin,  of  Company  11,  also  fell,  near  the  regimental  colors. 
Highly  respected  as  a  man,  brave  and  determined  as  a  sol- 
dier, he  was  equally  regretted  by  his  command,  and  by  all 
who  Imew  him.  Lieutenant  Porter,  of  Company  A,  was  also 
left  behind  wounded.  Captain  A.  IST.  McMillan  was  badly 
wounded,  but  got  away  safely. 

"Once  across  Bryce's  Creek,  we  were  joined  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Hoke,  Thirty-third  Regiment,  with  a  portion  of  his 
command,  and  took  the  road  for  Trenton.  We  marched 
night  and  day,  stopping  at  no  time  for  rest  or  sleep  more  than 
four  hours.  We  arrived  at  Kinston  safely  about  noon  on  16 
March,  having  marched  fifty  miles  in  about  thirty-six 
hours." 

"I  cannot  conclude  this  report,"  says  Colonel  Vance, 
"without  mentioning  in  terms  of  the  highest  praise  the  spirit 
of  determination  and  power  of  endurance  manifested  by  the 
troops  during  the  hardships  and  sufferings  of  our  march. 
Drenched  with  rain,  with  blistered  feet,  without  sleep,  many 
sick  and  wounded,  and  almost  naked,  they  toiled  on  through 
day  and  all  the  weary  watches  of  the  night  without  murmur- 
ing, cheerfully,  and  with  subordination,  evincing  most  thor- 
oughly the  high  qualities  in  adversity  which  military  men 
learn  to  value  even  more  than  courage  on  the  battle  field." 

We  close  this  account  of  the  battle  with  one  or  two  inci- 
dents. When  Bryce's  Creek  was  reached,  there  was  some 
confusion,  and  a  natural  eagerness  to  get  across,  as  the  ene- 
my's guns  were  heard  in  the  distance.  Many  attempted  to 
swim  across,  and  several  were  drowned  before  the  officers 
could  restrain  them.  Colonel  Vance,  to  inspire  confidence, 
spurred  his  horse  in  the  creek,  the  animal  refusing  to  swim, 
the  Colonel  became  unseated  and  weighed  down  with  his  ac- 
coutrements, he  sank  from  view  in  the  dark  water  of  the 
stream  and  was  about  to  be  drowned,  when  assistance  was  ren- 
dered him,  and  he  reached  the  opposite  side  in  safety.  Lieu- 
tenantColonel  Burgwyn  and  his  college-mate,  Lieutenant  W. 


324  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

A.  Graham,  Company  K,  ISTineteenth  ISTorth  Carolina  (Sec- 
ond Cavalry),  taking  their  stand  on  opposite  sides  of  a. 
path  leading  to  the  stream,  with  swords  crossed,  counted  the 
men  off  in  boat  load  lots  as  they  were  called  out,  and  in  this 
way  without  confusion  or  crowding,  all  were  successfully  fer- 
ried over  and  these  two  officers  were  the  last  to  step  aboard. 

Major  Wm.  A.  Graham,  so  widely  known  in  the  State  for 
his  prominence  in  agricultural  matters,  at  the  battle  of  'New 
Bern  was  Lieutenant  in  command  of  Company  K,  Second 
North  Carolina  Cavalry,  and  the  writer  has  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  get  him  for  an  eye  witness  account  of  that  part  of  the 
battlefield  where  his  command  was  posted,  as  follows : 

"My  company  (K)  was  dismounted  and  placed  in  the  brick 
yard.  About  sun  set  was  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Vance, 
Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Troops,  who  sent  me  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Burgwyn,  commanding  right  wing  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment  and  the  companies  on  the  road 
(Weathersby).  Colonel  Burgwyn  placed  my  company  on 
picket  some  half  mile  or  more  beyond  the  bridge,  and  he,  with 
writer,  scouted  on  flank  of  the  pickets.  The  axes  of  the  en- 
emy could  be  heard  cutting  a  road  along  the  railroad. 

"Next  morning  Captain  Hayes,  of  Company  A,  Second 
Cavalry,  reported.  The  pickets  were  called  in  and  every- 
thing made  ready  for  the  battle.  The  forces  at  the  road 
(Weathersby)  consisted  of  Companies  A  and  K,  Second  Cav- 
alry, a  section  of  the  Charlotte  battery.  Lieutenant  A.  B, 
Williams  in  command  and  Captain  McRae's  independent 
company  of  infantry.  Company  K  connected  the  force  in 
the  road  with  the  right  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment.  No 
enemy  appeared  in  our  front  and  when  Colonel  Burgwyn  be- 
gan forming  the  companies  of  the  TAventy-sixth  in  rear  of 
the  entrenchments,  we  had  no  idea  we  had  been  defeated,  but 
thought  it  was  probably  for  pursuit.  Going  to  him  for  or- 
ders, he  informed  me  that  we  had  been  defeated  on  the  left 
and  must  try  and  beat  the  enemy  to  New  Bern. 

"Everything  moved  off  in  fair  order  until  getting  near  the 
crossing  of  the  railroad,  a  scout  announced  the  enemy  coming 
up  the  railroad  only  a  short  distance  ojBf.  Colonel  Burgwyn 
ordered  the  artillery  and  Captain  Hayes'  company,  who  were 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  325 

mounted,  to  save  themselves,  which  they  proceeded  to  do. 
Colonel  Burgwyn,  with  the  infantry,  took  to  the  left  through 
the  woods.  He  dismounted  his  ordetly  and  gave  me  one  of 
his  horses  and  ordered  me  to  scout  to  the  left  and  forward  to 
see  if  the  bridges  were  standing.  Coming  out  at  the  camp 
of  the  Thirty-seventh  Regiment,  I  saw  both  bridges  on  fire 
and  so  reported.  We  then  struck  the  trail  of  Colonel  Vance's 
retreat  and  overtook  his  command  at  Bryee's  creek,  endeavor- 
ing to  cross  in  a  boat,  carrying  three  men.  Colonel  Vance 
had  swam  his  horse  across  the  creek  and  had  gone  to  hunt 
other  boats.  It  was  reported  that  the  enemy  were  close  upon 
us  and  at  least  half  of  the  men  threw  their  arms  in  the  creek, 
saying  they  did  not  intend  that  the  Yankees  should  have 
them.  There  was  great  confusion.  Colonel  Burgwyn  was  as 
cool  as  if  nothing  unusual  was  transpiring.  Calling  such  of 
the  officers  as  he  saw  to  him,  he  announced  he  would  hold  a 
"council  of  war,"  told  the  council  we  were  responsible  for  the 
action  of  the  men,  and  must  form  them  and  keep  order.  This 
was  done.  Men  were  sent  up  and  down  the  creek  to  hunt 
boats. 

"In  the  afternoon  a  negro  man  who  belonged  to Foy, 

came  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  and  announced  there 
was  a  boat  a  mile  or  so  down  the  creek  where  Colonel  Hoke 
(R.  F.)  had  crossed.  The  men  moved  off  through  the  swamp 
down  the  creek,  sometimes  up  to  the  armpit  in  the  mire.  The 
negro  went  along  on  the  other  side,  and  when  he  reached  the 
boat  he  halloed  and  we  went  to  him.  I  got  into  the  boat  and 
had  just  taken  a  seat,  when  Colonel  Burgwyn  called  me  to 
him  and  said  I  must  help  him  keep  the  men  from  overload- 
ing and  sinking  the  boat;  the  boat  would  hold,  eighteen.  I 
stood  facing  Colonel  Burgwyn,  and  each  time  as  we  counted 
eighteen  we  halted  the  column.  When  we  all  had  crossed  ex- 
cept Colonel  Burgwyn  and  myself,  I  entered  the  boat  and, 
leading  the  horse  into  the  water,  swam  him  over  along  its 
side.  The  boat  returned  and  Colonel  Burgwyn  came  over  in 
like  style.  It  was  now  near  sun  set.  Colonel  Burgwyn  took 
command  of  such  formation  as  there  was  and  held  it  until  we 
reached  Trenton  next  day,  where  we  found  Colonel  Vance 
and  several  hundred  men  of  the  different  commands  which 


326 


North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 


had  been  at  New  Bern.     Colonel  Vance  assumed  command 
and  brought  the  troops  to  Kinston." 

When  Captain  J.  J.  Yoimg  met  the  fleeing  militia,  he  tried 
to  rally  them- — exhorted  them  to  go  back  and  rejoin  their 
comrades  fighting  in  the  works,  saying,  their  conduct  would 
forever  disgrace  them ;  that  the  papers  would  be  full  of  their 
cowardice,  etc.,  etc.  One  of  them  replied :  "I  had  rather  fiU 
twenty  newspapers  than  one  grave."  Some  of  the  militia  did 
not  stop  running  until  they  reached  New  Bern.  One  was 
found  dead  on  the  rear  platform  of  the  last  train  as  it  crossed 
the  river  into  New  Bern,  expiring  as  he  reached  the  train 
just  starting,  having  run  all  the  way  from  the  battle  field, 
about  five  miles. 

To  make  this  account  historically  complete,  I  append 
list  of  the  troops  engaged  on  either  side,  and  the  casualties 
sustained. 

CONFEDERATE  FORCES,  BRIGADIER   GENERAL  L.  O'B. 
BRANCH,  COMMANDING. 


/ 

KEQIMENTS. 

.  >,'     . 

tB 

Qi.- 

u 

u 

o 

?:> 

O 

W 

H 

o 

.   c3 

a 

03 

a 

zi 

^S 

iz; 

;zi 

^ 

iz; 

^ 

■*s 

c3 

roO 

CD 

CO 

t^ 

lO 

i>- 

ca 

o 

t^ 

^^-^   « 

CO 

(N 

CO 

w 

h1 

H 

Killed                           .    . 

6 

0  j     5 

32 

4 

5 

1 

1 

10 

64 

Wounded    

15 

0 

10 

28 

8 

11 

3 

3 

11 

89 

Missing  and  Prisoners.. 

30 

0 

73 

144 

42 

9 

8 

8 

22 

885 

488 


UNION  FORCES,  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 
COMMANDING. 


BRISADES. 

Foster's  Bri- 
gade, 23,  24.  25 
and    27    Mass. 
and  10  Conn. 

Reno's    Bri- 
gade, 31  Mass., 
51  N.  Y.,9  N. 
J.  and  51  Pa. 

Parke's  Bri- 
gade, 4  R  L,  5 
R.  L,8and  11 
Conn. 

Totals. 

Killed. . . . 

37 

30 

21 

88 

Wounded  . 

145 

167 

58 

370 

Artillery  .  . 

3'  killed,  8  Iwounded. 

10 

465 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  327 

So  much  space  is  given  to  the  account  of  this,  the  first  hat- 
tie  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  because  it  was  its  first 
battle,  and  the  conduct  of  its  officers  and  men  was  so  alto- 
gether creditable.  No  troops  could  have  borne  themselves 
better  under  the  ordeal  to  which  they  were  exposed.  The 
rapidity  of  General  Burnside's  advance  took  General  Branch 
by  surprise.  The  latter  expected  at  least  a  day's  delay  at 
Fisher's  landing,  and  at  the  Croatan  breastworks  above  Otter 
Creek,  but  there  was  no  fight  at  these  advanced  points  of  de- 
fense, and  nothing  delayed  the  enemy's  rapid  approach.  An- 
other day  and  the  brick  yard  would  have  been  defended  by 
artillery,  and  this  point  secure.  General  Burnside  would  have 
failed  in  his  attempt  to  capture  New  Bern.  The  disparity  of 
forces  was  great,  but  General  Foster,  with  his  five  regiments, 
opposed  by  Colonels  Campbell  and  Lee,  with  their  three, 
could  make  no  headway  on  the  Confederate  left;  and  General 
Keno,  with  his  four  regiments,  assisted  by  General  Parke, 
was  regularly  driven  back  by  the  Twenty-sixth  and  Thirty- 
third  Regiments  on  the  right.  One  regiment  to  have  replaced 
the  350  militia,  and  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  would  have 
stood  as  firm  as  the  others,  and  there  would  have  been  no  un- 
defended part  of  the  line  to  let  the  enemy  through ;  and  rein- 
forcements, which  were  hurrying  to  General  Branch's  assist- 
ance, would  have  reached  him  during  the  day. 

General  Burnside  well  won  his  promotion  as  Major-Gen- 
eral,  which  was  the  result  of  his  victory,  whereas  on  the  Con- 
federate side,  this  battle  introduced  to  the  military  world 
names  to  become  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  the  war. 

The  press  of  the  State  heaped  eulogies  upon  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  and  recruits  flocked 
to  its  standard. 

Governor  Vance  applied  for  and  received  permission  to  re- 
cruit his  regiment  to  a  legion,  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to  suc- 
ceed, several  companies  having  arrived  in  camp,  and  others 
were  at  home  drilling,  when  he  gave  up  the  attempt  in  dis- 
gust at  what  he  thought  was  "the  opposition  to  the  scheme  on 
the  part  of  the  State  and  Confederate  authorities,"  and  the 
companies  were  disbanded. 

While  resting  at  Kinston,  after  the  battle  of  New  Bern, 


328  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Captain  If.  P.  Eankin,  of  Company  F,  was  elected  Majorvice 
Carmichael,  killed;  and  First  Lieutenant  Clement  Dowd 
elected  Captain  of  Company  H,  vic«  Martin,  killed;  First 
Lieutenant  Joseph  E.  Ballew  was  promoted  to  be  Captain  of 
Company  F. 

The  troops  around  Kinston  were  now  reorganized.  Brig- 
adier-General French,  on  16  March,  reached  Groldsboro  and 
relieved  General  Branch  of  the  command  of  the  District  of 
Pamlico;  and  19  March  General  Gatlin  was  relieved  of  com- 
mand on  account  of  ill  health,  and  Major-General  Theo.  H. 
Holmes,  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of 
ISTorth  Carolina.  On  17  March  Brigadier-General  Robert 
Ransom  was  ordered  to  Goldsboro  "for  duty  with  troops  in 
the  field,"  and  a  brigade  was  formed  for  him  consisting  of  the 
Twenty-fourth,  Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-sixth,  Thirty-fifth, 
Forty-eighth  and  Forty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiments. 
Under  this  gallant  and  accomplished  soldier  and  disciplina- 
rian, numerous  drills  and  strict  camp  regulations  prevailed 
until  on  20  June,  1862,  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  Virginia 
to  join  Lee's  army,  then  confronting  McClellan  below  Rich- 
mond. 

EEORGAjyiZATION  FOE  THE  WAE. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  a  twelve-months  regiment, 
and  in  the  Spring  of  1862  re-enlisted  for  the  war.  The  men 
in  the  ranks  were  given  the  right  to  elect  their  company  offi- 
cers, and  the  latter  the  right  to  elect  field  ofiicers. 

Many  changes  took  place  in  the  regiment  at  its  reoi'ganiza- 
tion.  Colonel  Vance  was  always  most  popular  with  his  men. 
He  sought  and  obtained  to  the  fullest  extent  the  love  of  his 
soldiei-s,  was  always  solicitous  of  their  welfare  and  comfort, 
leaving  chiefly  to  his  second  in  command  matters  of  drill  and 
discipline.  At  no  time  was  there  any  doubt  as  to  his  re- 
election. 

As  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn,  had  the  election  taken 
place  before  the  regiment  had  in  actual  battle  experienced  the 
benefit  of  drill  and  strict  obdience  to  orders,  he  could  not  have 
been  re-elected.  Says  an  officer  of  the  regiment  (Captain 
Thomas  J.  Cureton) :     "Colonel  Burgwyn  was  emphatically 


Twenty-Sixth  Hegiment.  329 

a  worker  in  camp,  careful  of  the  comforts  of  his  men,  con- 
stantly drilling;  he  believed  in  discipline  and  endeavored  to 
bring  his  regiment  to  the  highest  state  of  efficiency.  I  always 
found  him  strict  in  camp,  so  much  so,  that  up  to  the  battle  of 
New  Bern  he  was  very  unpopular,  and  I  often  heard  the  men 
say  if  they  ever  got  into  a  fight  with  him  what  they  would 
do,  etc.,  etc." 

The  morning  before  the  fight,  Burnside's  gunboats  were 
coming  up  the  river,  shelling  the  banks.  Colonel  Vance  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  right  of  our  line,  or  in  other  words, 
acting  Brigadier-General.  Lievitenant-Colonel  Burgwyn  was, 
therefore,  in  command  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment.  He 
suspected  the  feelings  of  the  men  towards  him.  He  formed 
the  regiment  at  the  point  where  the  breastworks  crossed  the 
railroad,  and  addressed  them  in  substance  as  follows:  "Sol- 
diers !  the  enemy  are  before  you,  and  you  will  soon  be  in 
combat.  You  have  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
drilled  regiments  in  the  service.  Now  I  wish  you  to  prove 
yourselves  one  of  the  best  fighting.  Men,  stand  by  me,  and  I 
will  by  you."  The  response  was  unanimous — "We  will," 
from  the  men.  Next  day  the  battle  was  fought.  Only  the 
left  companies  of  the  regiment  under  the  command  of  Major 
Carmichael,  and  Captains  Rand  and  Martin  were  most  ac- 
tively engaged,  and  suffered  heavily.  The  right  companies, 
when  they  found  the  enemy  on  their  flank  and  getting  in 
their  rear,  had  to  fall  back  to  find  the  bridge  across  the  Trent, 
on  fire,  our  troops  all  gone,  and  the  only  way  of  escape  was  to 
cross  Bryce's  Creek. 

When  we  got  there  only  a  small  boat  that  would  parry  two 
people  at  a  time  could  be  found.  Colonel  Vance  rode  his 
horse  in  the  creek,  which  refused  to  swim,  and  the  colonel 
was  very  nearly  drowned  before  assistance  reached  him.  Sev- 
eral of  the  men  were  drowned  trying  to  swim  the  creek.  When 
the  boat  reached  the  bank  we  were  on,  an  officer  called  to  Col- 
onel Burgwyn  to  get  in  first.  He  was  met  with  the  reply: 
"I  will  never  cross  until  the  last  man  of  my  regiment  is  over." 
Nor  did  he  till  the  last  man  was  over. 

We  retreated  up  to  Trenton  Court  House  and  expected 
pursuit.     Colonel  Burgwyn  was  always  in  the  rear.     From 


330  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

this  time  on  he  had  the  entire  confidence  of  his  men  and  was 
their  pride  and  love.  Colonel  Vance  and  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Burgwyn  received  practically  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
regiment. 

CHANGES  IK  THE  OEFICEKS  AT  EEOEGANIZATIOISr. 

First  Lieutenant  James  S.  Kendall,  Company  K,  was  elec- 
ted Major.  This  gallant  officer  and  accomplished  soldier 
only  survived  his  promotion  a  few  weeks,  dying  before  the 
regiment  left  for  Virginia,  from  yellow  fever,  contracted  at 
Wilmington  while  on  furlough. 

First  Lieutenant  William  Wilson  became  Captain  of  Com- 
pany B ;  Second  Lieutenant  James  T.  Adams,  Captain  of 
Company  D ;  Second  Lieutenant  John  T.  Jones,  Captain  of 
Company  I;  Second  Lieutenant  John  C.  McLauchlin,  Cap- 
tain of  Company  K.,  and  First  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Brewer, 
Captain  of  Company  E. 

A  WOMAM"  EECETJIT. 

While  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  in  camp  in  and 
around  Kinston,  after  the  battle  of  New  Bern,  many  recruits 
joined  the  command.  Among  them  were  two  young  men, 
giving  their  names  as  L.  M.  and  Samuel  Blalock.  They  en- 
listed in  Captain  Ballew's  company  (F)  and  were  brought  to 
the  regiment  by  private  James  D.  Moore,  of  Company  F. 
On  the  way  from  their  home,  in  Caldwell  County,  to  join  the 
regiment,  Moore  was  informed  in  strict  confidence  by  L.  M. 
(Keith)  Blalock,  that  Samuel  was  his  young  wife,  and  that 
he  would  only  enlist  on  condition  that  his  Avife  be  allowed  to 
enlist  with  him.  This  was  agreed  to  by  Moore,  who  was  act- 
ing as  recruiting  officer,  and  Moore  also  promised  not  to 
divulge  the  secret.  Sam  Blalock  is  described  as  a  good  look- 
ing boy,  aged  16,  weight  about  130  pounds,  height  5  feet  and 
4  inches,  dark  hair;  her  husband  (Keith)  was  over  6  feet  in 
height.  Sam  Blalock's  disguise  was  never  penetrated.  She 
drilled  and  did  the  duties  of  a  soldier  as  any  other  member 
of  the  company,  and  was  very  adept  at  learning  the  manual 
and  drill. 

In  about  two  months  her  husband,  who  was  suffering  from 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  331 

hernia  and  from  poison  from  sumac,  was  discharged,  and 
Sam  informed  his  Captain  and  Colonel  Vance,  that  he  was  a 
woman,  whereupon  she  was  discharged  and  permitted  to  join 
her  husband. 

On  returning  home,  Keith  Blalock  and  his  wife,  now 
knoAvn  by  her  real  name,  "Malinda,"  joined  Kirk's  com- 
mand, an  organized  body  of  Union  troops,  made  up  largely  of 
deserters  and  bushwhackers,  operating  in  the  Western  part 
of  the  State. 

In  the  Spring  of  1864,  while  the  said  James  D.  Moore  was 
at  home  at  his  father's,  at  a  place  called  the  Globe,  recovering 
from  the  wound  he  had  received  at  Gettysburg,  the  house 
was  attacked  by  Keith  and  Malinda  Blalock,  and  their  gang, 
and  Carroll  Moore,  his  father,  severely  wounded.  Several  of 
the  marauders  were  wounded,  and  among  them  Malinda. 

Again  in  the  fall  of  1864,  Keith  and  his  raiders  attacked 
Mr.  Carroll  Moore's  house,  and  were  again  driven  off.  This 
time  Keith  was  shot  in  the  head,  and  one  eye  put  out. 

After  the  war,  Keith  attempted  merchandizing  in  Mitchell 
County  and  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  but  was  defeated,  and  about  1892  he  and  his 
wife  went  to  Texas.  They  subsequently  returned  to  North 
'  Carolina,  and  at  this  time  (1901)  are  living  in  Mitchell 
county.  Malinda  Blalock's  maiden  name  was  Pritchard,  and 
her  brother,  Riley  Pritchard,  was  United  States  Commis- 
sioner in  President  Harrison's  Administration. 

MALVEE,N  HILL^  JULY  1,  1862. 

Ordered  to  Virginia,  20  June,  1862.  Ransom's  Brigade 
was  directed  to  report  to  General  Huger  on  the  Williamsburg 
road,  and  a  little  before  dark  on  the  night  of  25  June,  Colo- 
nel Vance's  Regiment  relieved  the  Twenty-fourth  JSTorth  Car- 
olina Regiment  on  picket  duty  in  front  of  the  enemy. 

The  night  was  very  dark,  and  with  no  one  to  direct  them, 
the  regiment  took  position  on  one  side  of  a  rail  fence  and  in 
front  of  a  hedge  row.  As  it  happened,  the  enemy  were  lying 
down  in  line  of  battle  on  the  opposite  side,  and  abiding  their 
time.     After  the  Twenty-sixth  had  gotten  quieted  dovm  for 


332  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

the  night,  in  entire  ignorance  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy, 
the  latter  suddenly  arose,  thrust  their  guns  through  the  fence 
rails  and  opened  fire.  So  close  were  they  to  us,  says  a  mem- 
ber of  the  regiment,  that  the  beards  of  many  of  the  men  were 
singed.  The  surprise  was  so  great  that  seven  of  the  compa- 
nies on  the  right  of  the  regiment  went  to  the  rear ;. however, 
Companies  G,  H  and  K,  undaunted  by  the  nearness  and  num- 
bers of  the  enemy,  remained  on  the  field.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing those  companies  were  highly  complimented  by  their  field 
ofiicers  for  their  exceedingly  creditable  conduct  in  holding 
their  lines  during  the  night  under  such  trying  circumstances. 
Again,  on  picket,  on  the  27  June,  the  Twenty-sixth  Regi- 
ment was  pushed  to  the  front  and  took  possession  of  some 
unfinished  works  of  the  enemy.  Just  as  it  was  about  to  be  re- 
lieved, it  was  attacked,  but  returned  the  fire  so  briskly  and 
with  such  effect  as  to  drive  the  enemy  back. 

Quoting  from  so  much  of  Brigadier-General  Robert  Ran- 
som's report  of  the  part  his  brigade  took  in  the  battle  of  Mal- 
vern Hill,  as  applies  to  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  he  says : 
"At  7  p.  m.  (July  1,  1862)  I  received  the  third  request  from 
General  Magruder,  that  he  must  have  aid,  if  only  one  regi- 
ment. The  message  was  so  pressing  that  I  at  once  directed 
Colonel  Clarke  to  go  with  his  regiment  ( Twenty-fourth  North 
Carolina).  The  brigade  was  at  once  put  in  motion,  Colonel 
Clarke  had  already  gone.  Colonel  Rutledge  next,  then  Colonel 
Ransom,  Colonels  Ramseur  and  Vance,  all  moved  to  the 
scene  of  conflict  at  the  double  quick.  As  each  of  the  three 
first  named  regiments  reached  the  field,  they  were  at  once 
thrown  into  action  by  General  Magruder's  orders.  As  the 
last  two  arrived,  they  were  halted  by  me  to  regain  their 
breath,  and  then  pushed  forward  under  as  fearful  fire  as  the 
mind  can  conceive. 

"Ordering  the  whole  to  the  right  so  as  to  be  able  to  form 
under  cover,  I  brought  the  brigade  in  line  within  200  yards 
of  the  enemy's  batteries.  It  was  now  twilight ;  the  line  was 
put  in  motion  and  moved  steadily  forward  to  within  less  than 
100  yards  of  the  batteries.  The  enemy  seemed  unaware  of 
our  movements.  Masses  of  his  troops  appeared  to  be  moving 
from  his  left  towards  his  right.     Just  at  this  instant  the  bri- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  333 

gade  raised  a  tremendous  shout,  and  the  enemy  at  once 
wheeled  into  line  and  opened  upon  us  a  perfect  sheet  of  fire 
from  muskets  and  the  batteries.  We  steadily  advanced  to 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  guns.  The  enemy  had  concen- 
trated his  forces  to  meet  us.  Our  onward  movement  was 
checked ;  the  line  wavered  and  fell  back  before  a  fire,  the  in- 
tensity of  which  is  beyond  description.  It  was  a  bitter  disap- 
pointment to  be  compelled  to  yield  when  their  guns  seemed 
almost  in  our  hands." 

The  losses  sustained  by  Ransom's  Brigade  from  26  June  to 
1  Jxily,  186'2,  inclusive,  embraced .  three  Colonels  wounded, 
one  Lieutenant-Colonel  killed,  several  field  officers  and  many 
company  officers,  and  a  total  of  499  privates  killed  and 
wounded. 

Casualties  separately  stated : 

Regiments  24th. 

Killed 9 

Wounded 42 

INCIDENTS    OI"   THE   BATTLE. 

During  the  charge  of  the  regiment  at  Malvern  Hill,  Cap- 
tain Lane,  of  Company  G,  had  the  pocket  of  his  coat  cut  open 
by  a  ball,  and  the  contents  fell  on  the  ground.  Among  these 
was  a  package  wrapped  in  newspaper,  containing  the  month's 
pay  of  his  company.  Next  morning  Captain  Lane  discovered 
his  loss,  obtained  permission  to  go  and  hunt  for  it,  and  strange 
to  say,  found  the  package  untouched,  lying  in  the  open  ground 
where  it  had  fallen  among  the  dead  and  wounded. 

After  the  regiment  had  taken  its  position  for  the  night 
after  the  charge,  and  the  officers  and  men  were  resting  on  their 
arms.  Captain  Lane  lay  down  between  two  of  his  soldiers  and 
fell  asleep,  l^ext  morning  when  he  awoke  the  man  on  his 
right  and  left  had  both  been  killed  by  the  enemy's  fire  while 
asleep,  and  their  deaths  not  discovered.  They  awoke  to  the 
sound  of  the  "reveille"  in  another  world. 

While  the  men  were  lying  down  in  line  of  battle,  waiting 
the  order  to  charge,  they  were  subjected  to  a  furious  shelling, 
and  there  was  more  or  less  dodging  of  the  head  as  the  missiles 


25th. 

26th. 

35th. 

49th. 

22 

6 

18 

14 

106 

40 

91 

75 

334  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

whizzed  by.  "Why  are  you  so  polite  in  the  presence  of  the 
enemy,"  remarked  Colonel  Vance.  A  rabbit  was  flushed  by 
the  line  as  it  advanced,  which  caused  the  men  to  raise  a  shout 
as  it  ran  past  them,  whereupon  Colonel  Vance  joined  in  the 
cry,  saying:  "Go  it  cotton  tail.  If  I  had  no  more  reputation  to 
lose  than  you  have,  I  would  run  too." 

On  7  July  Kansom's  Brigade  was  ordered  back  to  General 
Holmes'  command,  and  on  31  July,  1862,  Major-General  D. 
H.  Hill  relieved  General  Holmes  in  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  North  Carolina,  and  11  August  Brigadier-General  J. 
Johnston  Pettigrew,  who  had  been  severely  wounded  and 
captured  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  1  June,  1862,  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  Petersburg,  and  given  the  brigade 
then  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Junius  Daniel. 

TWENTY  SIXTH    EEGIMENT     DETACHED     FEOM    EANSOm's    AND 
ASSIGNED  TO  PETTIGEEW''s  BEIGADE. 

Colonel  Vance's  election  as  Governor  in  August,  1862, 
caused  a  vacancy  in' the  Colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regi- 
ment. The  LieutenantColonel  was  not  21  years  of  age,  and 
the  opposition  of  General  Ransom  to  his  promotion  on  account 
of  his  age,  the  General  saying:  "He  wanted  no  boy  Colonel 
in  his  brigade,"  was  well  known  to  the  regiment,  and  indig- 
nantly resented. 

Application  was  made  through  the  proper  channels  for  a  " 
transfer  to  some  other  brigade,  and  on  26  August,  1862,  by 
special  order  No.  199,  from  the  A.  &  I.  G.  office,  at  Rich- 
niond,  the  Twenty-sixth  Regimont  was  detached  and  ordered 
to  report  to  Brigadier-General  S.  G.  French,  at  Petersburg, 
Va.,  for  duty  with  the  brigade  formerly  commanded  by  Brig- 
adier-General J.  G.  Martin. 

Referring  to  the  election  of  Colonel  Vance  as  Governor, 
one  of  the  regiment  writes  as  follows:  "Though  rejoicing 
that  he  had  been  chosen  Governor  of  the  State  by  such  a  com- 
plimentary majority,  with  a  pang  of  regret  we  saw  Colonel, 
now  Governor-elect  Z.  B.  Vance,  exchange  the  sword  for  the 
helm  of  State.  He  received  almost  the  unanimous  support 
of  the  regiment,  there  being  only  seven  votes  cast  against  him, 
which  well  attests  his  popularity  among  his  troops. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  335 

"His  separation  from  us  was  quite  sad,  all  feeling  the 
heavy  loss  to  the  regiment.  In  his  farewell  address  to  the 
regiment,  he,  with  his  usual  truthfulness  and  sincerity,  scorn- 
ed to  hold  out  any  false  promises  to  those  who  had  been  under 
his  command,  telling  them  plainly,  that  all  they  could  expect 
was  'War !  War ! !  War ! ! !     Fight  till  the  end.' 

"But  in  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn  to 
the  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  we  gained  an  officer,  young, 
gallant  and  brave,  and  eminently  fitted  to  fill  the  vacancy." 

Speaking  of  the  transfer  of  the  regiment  to  Pettigrew's  Bri- 
gade, this  writer  goes  on  to  say:  "Never  was  there  a  more 
fortunate  change.  It  seemed  as  if  Pettigrew  and  Burgwyn 
were  made  for  each  other.  Alike  in  bravery,  alike  in  action, 
alike  in  their  militai-y  bearing,  alike  in  readiness  for  battle 
and  in  skillful  horsemanship,  they  were  beloved  alike  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  Twenty-sixth.  Each  served  as  a  pattern  for 
the  other,  and  in  imitating  each  other  they  reached  the  high- 
est excellence  possible  of  attainment  in  every  trait  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  ideal  soldier."  It  will  be  of  pathetic  interest  to 
state  in  addition  to  the  above  eloquent  panegyric,  that  both 
General  Pettigrew  and  Colonel  Burgwyn  were  akimni  of  the 
State  University,  and  fell  on  the  field  of  battle  within  a  few 
days  of  each  other,  the  one  on  Gettysburg's  gory  field,  1  July, 
1863  ;  the  other,  commanding  the  rear  guard  of  the  army  on 
its  retreat  across  the  Potomac  at  Falling  Waters,  14  July, 
1863. 

The  promotion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn,  and  the 
death  of  Major  Kendall,  who  had  been  sick  since  his  election, 
required  the  filling  of  the  positions  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
and  Major.  A  board  of  examination  having  been  appointed 
to  pass  upon  the  qualifications  of  all  officers  before  their  pro- 
motion. Captain  John  K.  Lane,  of  Company  G,  and  Captain 
John  T.  Jones,  of  Company  I,  were  summoned  for  examina- 
tion, and  obtaining  the  favorable  report  of  the  board,  which 
was  composed  of  Colonel  H.  K.  Burgwyn,  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth;  Colonel  Thomas  Singletary,  of  the  Forty-fourth,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  T.  L.  Hargrave,  of  the  Forty-seventh 
North  Carolina  Regiments,  duly  received  their  commissions 
as  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Major,  respectively.     About  this 


336  North  Carolina  Troops,   l861-'65. 

time,  Captain  Ballew,  of  Company  F,  resigned  and  First 
Lieutenant  E.  M.  Tuttle  was  promoted  to  be  Captain  of  this 
company,  to  become  famous  above  all  other  companies  in  the 
army,  from  the  fact  that  every  member  present,  numbering 
ninety-one,  was  killed  or  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. Captain  Steele,  of  Company  B,  also  resigned,  and 
First  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Cureton  became  Captain,  and 
served  most  gallantly  to  the  end.  Lieutenants  H.  C.  Albright 
and  N.  G.  Bradford  were  promoted  to  be  Captains  of  Com- 
panies H  and  I,  respectively. 

PETTIGEEw's    BRIGADE. 

This  brigade  to  become  so  famous  in  military  annals,  was 
composed  of  the  Eleventh,  Twenty-sixth,  Forty-fourth,  Forty- 
seventh  and  Fifty-second  North  Carolina  Regiments. 

Of  the  commander  of  this  brigade,  later  on  in  this  sketch 
a  more  extended  notice  will  be  given.  He  was,  at  the  time 
of  its  organization,  convalescent  from  the  severe  wound  re- 
ceived on  1  June,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  and  was 
placed  in  command  of  Petersburg  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Dur- 
ing the  months  of  September,  October,  November  and  De- 
cember, 1862,  Pettigrew's  Brigade  was  either  on  duty  in 
Virginia  or  North  Carolina. 

The  faithfulness  with  which  Colonel  Burgwyn  disciplined 
the  regiment,  much  improved  its  efficiency,  and  it  became 
known  as  one  of  the  best  drilled  regiments  in  the  service.  In 
his  labors  in  this  behalf,  he  was  ably  seconded  by  his  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, John  R.  Lane,  who  manifested  extraordinary 
abilities  as  a  drill  master,  and  disciplinarian.  "This  perfec- 
tion of  drill,  to  which  the  excellent  music  of  Captain  Mickey's 
band  greatly  added,  was  a  cause  of  just  pride  to  every  member 
of  the  regiment,  officers  and  men  alike.  Never  was  any 
man  prouder  of  his  regiment  and  of  his  band,  considered  the 
finest  in  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  than  Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn," writes  a  member  of  the  regiment. 

EAWLS'  MILLSj  2  NOVBMBEK^  1862. 

The  first  opportunity  afforded  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment 
to  show  of  what  stuff  it  was  made,  acting  in  an  independent 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  337 

command,  occurred  in  the  engagement  at  Eawls'  Mills,  in 
Martin  County,  N.  C,  in  resisting  General  J.  G.  Foster's 
attempt  to  capture  the  regiment  while  on  a  reconnoissance  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Washington,  Beaufort  County. 

In  his  report  of  the  expedition,  General  John  G.  Foster, 
commanding  the  Federal  troops  in  North  Carolina,  with 
headquarters  at  New  Bern,  says  he  set  out  on  31  October, 
1862,  from  New  Bern  to  capture  the  three  regiments  (Seven- 
teenth, Twenty-sixth  and  Fifty-ninth  North  Carolina)  forag- 
ing through  the  Eastern  counties  of  the  State.  He  took  three 
brigades,  21  pieces  of  artillery  and  cavalry,  with  ample  wagon 
train,  total  5,000  men. 

On  2  November,  1862,  Foster  left  Washington  for  Wil- 
liamston.  On  the  same  evening  he  encountered  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Regiment  at  Little  Creek.  He  says :  "I  ordered  Colo- 
nel Stevens,  commanding  Second  Brigade,  to  drive  them 
away.  The  engagement  lasted  one  hour,  when  the  enemy 
being  driven  from  their  rifle  pits  by  the  effective  fire  of  Bel- 
ger's  Rhode  Island  Battery,  retired  to  Rawls'  Mill.  One 
mile  further  on,  where  they  made  another  stand  in  a  recently 
constructed  field  work,  Belger's  battery  and  two  batteries  of 
the  Third  New  York  artillery,  after  half  an  hour,  succeeded 
in  driving  the  enemy  from  their  works,  and  across  the  bridge, 
which  they  burned.  We  bivouacked  on  the  field,  and  next 
day  proceeded  to  Williamston." 

The  only  Confederate  troops  to  oppose  these  5,000  of  Fos- 
ter were  six  companies  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  under 
Colonel  Burgwyn.  Leaving  four  companies  under  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Lane,  at  Williamston,  on  the  Roanoke  river.  Col- 
onel Burgwyn  started  out  on  a  reconnoissance  to  go  as  far  as 
Washington,  N.  C.  He  stationed  two  companies  at  Rawls' 
Mills,  under  Captain  McLauchlin,  of  Company  K,  with  or- 
ders to  fortify  the  position  and  proceeding  with  the  remaining 
four,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  N.  C,  just  as  Gen- 
eral Foster  was  starting  out  to  capture  him. 

Colonel  Burgwyn  had  no  cavalry  or  artillery.  There  were 
two  parallel  roads  leading  out  of  Washington  for  William- 
ston. Again,  it  was  necessary  to  delay  the  Federal  advance 
22 


338  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

as  much  as  possible,  to  give  time  to  Colonel  Ferebee,  of  the 
Fifty-ninth  Regiment  (Fourth  Cavalry)  and  LieutenanlhCol- 
onel  Lamb,  in  command  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  who 
were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Plymouth,  to  retrace  their  steps. 
Dispatching  a  messenger  to  Colonels  Lamb  and  Ferebee,  warn- 
ing them  of  their  danger,  and  one  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane, 
with  an  order  to  join  him  at  Rawls'  Mills,  Colonel  Burgwyn 
determined  to  resist  Foster's  advance  at  that  point. 

As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  which  of  the  two  roads  the 
enemy  had  selected.  Colonel  Burgwyn  chose  the  other  and 
started  out  in  the  race  for  Rawls'  Mills.  On  reaching  the 
Mills,  he  ordered  Captain  McLauchlin  to  go  down  the  road  on 
which  Foster  was  advancing,  and  hold  him  in  check  at  Little 
Creek.  Captain  McLauchlin,  with  Companies  K  and  I, 
reached  Little  Creek  just  as  the  enemy's  cavalry  began  to 
cross,  and  attacked  them  with  his  handful  of  men. 

Colonel  Burgwyn,  placing  his  four  companies  in  the  hastily 
constructed  breastworks  at  the  Mills,  awaited  Foster's  ad- 
vace.  After  Captain  McLauchlin  had  been  for  some  time 
engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Little  river,  successfully  defend- 
ing the  passage  of  the  stream  against  Colonel  Stevenson's  bri- 
gade with  cavalry  and  artillery.  Colonel  Burgwyn  sent  Com- 
panies D  and  F,  under  command  of  Major  Jones,  to  Cap- 
tain McLauchlin's  support.  Fearing  that  a  longer  resist- 
ance by  so  small  a  force  would  result  in  its  capture.  Colonel 
Burgwyn,  after  the  fight  had  lasted  over  an  hour,  ordered 
Captain  McLauchlin  to  join  him  at  the  Mills.  Here  Gen- 
eral Foster  brought  into  action  three  batteries  of  artillery 
against  the  six  companies  at  the  Mills,  and  succeeded,  "ac- 
cording to  the  General's  report,"  after  half  an  hour,  in  driv- 
ing the  enemy  from  his  works,  and  across  the  bridge,  which 
they  burned.  The  fact  was.  Colonel  Burgwyn,  having  re- 
ceived advices  that  Colonels  Ferebee  and  Lamb  were  safe, 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane  having  joined  him  from  Wil- 
liamston,  conckided  to  retire  in  the  night,  so  as  not  to  disclose 
the  paucity  of  his  force,  and  at  his  leisure  fell  back  in  the 
direction  of  Tarboro,  first  burning  the  bridge  at  the  Mill. 
Captain  McLauchlin  lost  one  killed,   and  three  wounded. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  339 

General  Foster's  report  admits  a  loss  of  six  killed  and  eight 
wounded. 

After  proceeding  to  within  ten  miles  of  Tarboro,  "owing 
to  the  exposed  condition  of  his  men  and  want  of  provisions," 
says  General  Foster,  he  abandoned  any  further  advance,  and 
countermarched  to  Washington,  and  thence  to  New  Bern. 

It  was  a  singular  coincidence  that  the  Federal  General 
(Foster)  had  been  the  tutor  of  his  youthful  antagonist  (Bur- 
gwyn),  when  the  latter  was  a  student  at  West  Point,  in  1856, 
awaiting  appointment  in  that  institution,  at  which  General 
Foster,  then  Captain  Foster,  was  one  of  the  professors.  The 
art  of  war  as  taught  by  the  professor  was  in  this  instance  ap- 
plied to  his  discomfiture  by  the  pupil. 

Foster's  expedition  against  goldsboeo. 

In  December,  1862,  General  Foster  started  out  from  New 
Bern  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Neuse  river,  and 
capture  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  Major-General  S.  G.  French,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina,  under 
Major-General  G.  W.  Smith,  commanding  at  Richmond,  as- 
sembled his  forces  to  oppose  him.  On  17  December,  1862,  a 
spirited  engagement  took  place  near  Goldsboro,  in  which  Gen- 
eral Foster  was  driven  back,  and  he  hastily  retreated  to  New 
Bern.  Pettigrew's  brigade  was  not  seriously  engaged  in  this 
action,  but  pursued  General  Foster  on  the  latter's  retreat. 

GENERAL  D.  H.  HILl's  ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE  NEW  BERN. 

On  7  February,  1863,  Major-General  G.  W.  Smith  re- 
signed and  Major-General  D.  H.  Hill  was  again  placed  in 
command  of  the  troops  in  North  Carolina.  General  Hill  re- 
solved on  the  capture  of  New  Bern.  General  Pettigrew  was 
given  command  of  the  troops  on  the  north  side  of  the  Neuse, 
and  General  Hill  had  charge  of  those  to  operate  on  the  south 
side. 

General  Pettigrew  with  his  brigade,  started  from  Golds- 
boro on  9  March,  1863.  By  rapid  marches  he  reached  the 
enemy's  works  at  Barrington's  Ferry,  near  New  Bern.  The 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  ordered  at  daylight  into  position 


340  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

to  carry  the  place.  Three  20-poun(l  Parrott  guns  relied  upon 
to  destroy  the  gunboats  guarding  the  water  approaches  to 
ISTew  Bern,  proved  utterly  worthless.  One  burst,  the  ammu- 
nition was  defective  and  their  fire  proved  more  injurious  to 
the  Confederates  than  to  the  enemy.  There  was  nothing  to 
do  but  to  withdraw.  "The  only  question,"  says  General  Pet- 
tigrew  in  his  report,  "was  whether  I  should  carry  the  works 
before  withdrawing.  The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  had  been 
in  waiting  ever  since  daylight,  and  would  have  done  it  in  five 
minutes.  The  works  we  could  not  hold.  There  would  be  a 
probable  loss  of  a  certain  number  of  men  sixty  miles  from  a 
hospital.  I  decided  against  it.  It  cost  me  a  struggle  after 
so  much  labor  and  endurance  to  give  up  the  eclat,  but  I  felt 
that  my  duty  to  my  country  required  me  to  save  my  men  for 
some  operation  in  which  sacrifice  would  be  followed  by  conse- 
quences. I  therefore  withdrew  the  whole  command  except 
the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  which  remained  within  about 
500  yards  of  the  place,  in  order  to  cover  the  withdrawal  of 
Captain  Whitf ord's  men.  I  cannot  refrain  from  bearing  tes- 
timony to  the  unsurpassed  m.ilitary  good  conduct  of  those 
under  me.  In  seven  days  they  marched  12Y  miles ;  waded 
swamps,  worked  in  them  by  night  and  day,  bivouaced  in  the 
rain,  some  times  without  fire,  never  enjoyed  a  full  night's  rest 
after  the  first,  besides  undergoing  a  furious  shelling,  and 
discharging  other  duties.  All  this  without  murmuring  or 
even  getting  sick." 

It  was  not  long  before  General  Pettigrew  had  another 
chance  at  the  enemy,  in  which  he  was  more  fortunate.  Gen- 
eral Hill,  with  all  his  available  forces,  on  30  March,  1863, 
invested  General  Foster  in  Washington,  IST.  C.  On  9  April, 
1863,  at  Blount's  Creek,  Pettigrew's  brigade  met  and  defeated 
General  Spinola  in  the  latter's  attempt  to  raise  the  siege. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  capture  the  place  after  the  enemy's 
gun  boats  had  succeeded  in  passing  the  batteries  at  Rodman's 
Point,  and  thus  reinforcing  General  Foster,  after  fourteen 
days  investment.  General  Hill  withdrew,  having  failed  in  this 
attempt  to  capture  the  town. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  James  T.  Adams,  Lieut  -Colonel.  4.    Stephen  "W.  Brewer,  Captain.  Co.  E. 

2.  Samuel  P.  Wagg,  Captain,  Co.  A.  6.    Jos.  R.  Ballew,  Captain,  Co.  F. 

3.  'William  Wilson,  Captain,  Co.  B.  6.    R.  M.  Tuttle,  Captain,  Co.  F. 

7.    H.  C.  Albright,  Captain,  Co.  G. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  341 

MAJOR  GENERAL  HAEKY  HETh's  DIVISION. 

On  1  May,  1863,  Pettigrew's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  Rich- 
mond to  be  ever  thereafter  attached  to  the  Army  of  ISTothem 
Virginia.  Taking  position  first  at  Hanover  Junction,  to 
protect  that  important  point  in  the  enemy's  attempts  to  cap- 
ture Richmond,  the  brigade,  leaving  the  Forty-fourth  Regi- 
ment behind  at  the  junction,  as  a  guard,  proceeded  to  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  now  attached  to  Heth's  Division,  set  out  on 
15  June  on  the  memorable  march  to  invade  Pennsylvania. 

Heth's  Division,  as  then  organized,  was  composed  of  Arch- 
er's Tennessee,  Davis'  Mississippi,  Brockenborough's  Vir- 
ginia, and  Pettigrew's  North  Carolina  Brigades. 

The  division  commander  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  a  gradu- 
ate of  West  Point,  had  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  and  against  the  Indians  on  the  frontier,  and  had  re- 
signed from  the  United  States  Army  to  accept  service  under 
his  native  State.  Promoted  from  Colonel  of  the  Forty-fifth 
Virginia  Regiment  to  the  command  of  a  Virginia  Brigade,  he 
won  additional  promotion  by  his  services  in  the  Chancellors- 
ville  campaign  (Spring  of  1863),  and  was  now  at  the  head  of 
a  command  ever  to  bear  his  name  and  to  serve  under  him  until 
he,  with  its  shattered  remnants,  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 
"His  earnest  praise  of  the  great  qualities  of  his  North  Caro- 
lina soldiers  was  imstinted.  Even  to  the  last,  there  was  a 
peculiar  tension  and  quiver  of  the  mouth  when  he  would 
speak  of  their  almost  God-like  heroism  at  Gettysburg,  and 
the  unheard  of  and  never  equalled  slaughter  that  checked,  but 
never  terrified  them." 

MARCH  TO  GETTYSBURG. 

Says  a  member  of  the  regiment :  "What  a  fine  appearance 
the  regiment  made  as  it  marched  out  from  its'  bivouac  near 
Fredericksburg  that  beautiful  June  morning.  The  men 
beaming  in  their  splendid  uniforms ;  the  colors  flying,  and  the 
drums  beating ;  everything  seemed  propitious  of  success.  On 
this  march  it  was  a  real  pleasure  to  see  with  what  joy  the  peo- 
ple who  had  hitherto  been  under  the  domination  of  the  Fed- 
erals, received  us.     We  marched  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry, 


342  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

where  the  gallows  on  which  the  notorious  John  Brown  waa 
hanged,  was  pointed  out  to  us.  Our  Colonel  was  one  of  the 
cadets  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  at  the  time,  and  one 
of  those  who  had  guarded  John  Brown  while  awaiting  his  ex- 
ecution. 

We  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown  and  continued 
our  march  and  rested  beyond  the  little  town  of  Fayetteville, 
Pa.,  on  Sunday,  28  June,  1863.  At  this  place  the  Chaplains 
held  services. 

Alas,  the  last  Sunday  on  earth  to  many  a  noble  soul  then 
beating  with  such  high  hopes  and  aspirations.  At  this  place 
some  of  the  men  of  our  brigade  robbed  a  farmer  of  a  few  of 
his  bee  hives.  This  was  regretted,  for  strict  orders  had  been 
given  that  on  this  great  march  into  the  enemy's  country,  noth- 
ing should  be  taken  except  such  provisions  as  the  commissa- 
ries might  require  to  be  issued  as  rations  and  for  which  they 
were  willing  to  pay.  It  being  suggested  that  some  of  the 
men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  got  some  of  the  honey,  Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane  sought  out  the  owner  and 
paid  him  for  it.  The  farmers  along  our  line  of  march  were 
quietly  reaping  and  housing  their  grain.  They  did  not  seem 
to  be  in  the  least  frightened  or  dismayed  by  our  presence,  and 
were  left  by  us  in  the  quiet  and  undisturbed  possession  of 
their  crops. 

On  30  June,  we  halted  at  a  little  village  named  Cashtown, 
on  the  Chambersburg  Turnpike,  about  nine  miles  from  Get- 
tysburg, and  were  mustered  preparatory  to  payment,  and  later 
in  the  afternoon  proceeded  to  within  about  three  and  one-half 
miles  of  Gettysburg,  just  this  side  of  a  little  creek,  crossed  by 
a  stone  bridge,  where  we  filed  to  the  right  and  bivouacked  in  a 
-beautiful  grove.  That  night  Lietitenant-Colonel  Lane  was 
entrusted  with  the  charge  of  the  picket  lines.  After  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  line,  two  ladies,  much  distressed  and 
alarmed,  because  they  were  cut  off  from  their  houses,  ap- 
proached Colonel  Lane  who,  assuring  them  that  the  Confeder- 
ate soldier  did  not  make  war  upon  women  and  children,  but 
ever  esteemed  it  his  duty  and  privilege  to  protect  them,  ad- 
vanced the  picket  line  beyond  their  homes,  which  lay  close  by. 

The  same  day  General  Pettigrew,  with  three  regiments  of 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  343 

his  brigade,  kept  on  to  Gettysburg  to  procure  shoes  and  other 
army  supplies  for  his  men ;  but  meeting  a  strong  force  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  (two  brigades  of  Buford's  Division),  and 
instriicted  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement,  General  Pettigrew 
retraced  his  steps  and  rejoined  the  rest  of  the  division  in 
bivouac  on  the  Ohambersburg  Turnpike,  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  distant  from  the  village  of  Gettysburg.  That 
night  the  men  of  Heth's  Division  quietly  dreamed  of  home 
and  loved  ones  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  momentous  fact 
that  Meade's  great  army  was  almost  within  their  hearing. 

GETTYSBUEG,  1-3  JULY,  1863. 

A  warning  carbine  shot  from  a  vidette  of  Buford's  Cavalry 
Division  on  the  bridge  over  Marsh  Creek,  fired  in  the  early 
misty  mom  at  the  head  of  a  column  of  infantry  marching 
rapidly  down  the  Chambersburg  Turnpike,  was  the  opening 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  This  infantry  column  was  the 
head  of  Heth's  Division,  marching  to  "feel  the  enemy"  of 
whose  presence  the  skirmish  of  the  afternoon  before,  had  ap- 
prised them.  At  once  the  leading  brigade  (Archer's)  was 
filed  to  the  right,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  its  left  resting  on 
the  turnpike  and  advanced  to  the  front.  Davis'  brigade, 
forming  in  a  similar  manner  on  the  left  of  the  pike,  with  its 
right  resting  on  the  pike,  also  advanced.  Pettigrew's  and 
Brockenborongh's  Brigades,  for  the  present,  were  held  in  re- 
serve. Says  a  member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment:  "As 
the  head  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  reaches  the  summit 
of  the  hill  beyond  the  bridge  crossing  Marsh  Creek,  the  enemy 
opens  fire,  sweeping  the  road  with  their  artillery.  There 
is  some  little  excitement,  but  it  soon  disappears  as  Colonel 
Burgwyn  riding  along  the  line  in  his  grandest  style,  com- 
mands in  his  clear,  firm  voice,  'Steady  boys,  steady.'  " 

The  regiment  filed  off  to  the  right  about  a  hundred  yards, 
when  General  Pettigrew  and  staff  appeared  on  the  field.  He 
was  mounted  on  his  beaiitiful  dappled  gray.  ISTever  before 
had  he  appeared  to  greater  advantage.  His  command  was 
"echelon  by  battalion,  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  by  the  left 
flank."  Colonel  Burgwyn  gave  his  Regiment  the  command, 
March !     Then,  as  each  regiment  of  the  brigade  marching  to 


344  North  Carolina  Tkoops,  1861 -'65. 

the  right,  uncovered  the  regiment  in  its  front,  its  commander 
gave  the  order  "By  the  left  flank,  March,"  and  thus  in  a  few 
moments,  and  by  the  quickest  tactical  movement  the  brigade 
was  in  line  of  battle,  marching  to  the  front  in  the  following 
order  from  left  to  right,  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment,  Eleventh 
Eegiment,  Forty-seventh  Eegiment,  and  Fifty-second  Eegi- 
ment, each  under  the  command  of  its  respective  Colonel. 

Advancing  in  line  of  battle,  the  brigade  was  halted  to 
await  orders.  Let  us  turn  now  to  see  what  the  Federals  were 
doing. 

On  the  night  of  30  June,  1863,  General  Buford,  in  com- 
mand of  the  advance  division  of  cavalry  of  the  Federal  army, 
bivouacked  his  division  on  the  western  side  of  McPherson's 
ridge,  which  slopes  down  by  a  gentle  descent  to  Willoughby's 
Eun  at  the  bottom.  This  ridge  ran  north  and  south,  and 
about  400  yards  to  the  west  of  the '  Seminary,  which  is  about 
one-quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  west  of  Gettysburg.  About  11  a. 
m.  on  30  June,  General  Buford  had  entered  Gettysburg  by 
the  Emmetsburg  road,  just  as  the  head  of  Pettigrew's  brigade 
was  coming  up  on  the  Chambersburg  turnpike,  and  as  here- 
tofore stated,  there  was  a  skirmish,  and  General  Pettigrew 
withdrew,  not  wishing  to  bring  on  an  engagement.  At  10  :30 
that  night,  General  Buford  telegraphed  General  Meade  "he 
is  satisfied  that  A.  P.  Hill's  Corps  is  massed  just  back  of 
Cashtown."  As  Archer's  Brigade  advanced,  it  met  Bviford's 
pickets  stretching  along  Willoughby  run.  Driving  them  in 
and  rapidly  advancing  across  the  run,  he  struck  Buford's  main 
line — Gamble's  Brigade  composed  of  the  Eighth  New  York, 
Eighth  Illinois,  two  squadrons  Twelfth  Illinois,  three  squad- 
rons Third  Indiana  Cavalry  and  Calif's  Horse  Artillery  of 
six  3-inch  rifle  guns,  now  dismounted  and  acting  as  infantry, 
and  posted  along  McPherson's  ridge  and  in  McPherson's 
woods.  These  troops  Archer  was  steadily  driving  back  up 
the  slope,  when  he  suddenly  found  himself  enveloped  between 
the  extended  lines  of  Meredith's  (Iron)  Brigade,  of  Wads- 
worth's  Division  of  the  First  Army  Corps  just  arrived  on 
the  scene  at  double  quick.  Major-General  A.  Doubleday  in 
his  report  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  thus  describes  this  ac- 
tion. 


TWKNTY-SlXTH   Regiment.  345 

"The  enemy  (Archer's  Brigade)  were  already  in  the  woods 
and  advancing  at  double  quick  to  seize  this  central  important 
position  (McPherson's  woods).  The  Iron  Brigade  led  by 
the  Second  Wisconsin,  in  line  followed  by  the  other  regi- 
ments, deployed  en  echelon,  and  without  a  moment's  hesita- 
tion charged  with  the  utmost  steadiness  and  fury  and  hurled 
the  enemy  back  into  the  run,  and  captured,  after  a  sharp  and 
desperate  conflict,  nearly  one  thousand  prisoners,  including 
General  Archer.  (General  Heth  places  the  number  captured 
at  60  or  70.)  General  Archer  was  captured  by  Private  Pat- 
rick Maloney,  Company  G,  of  the  Second  Wisconsin.  Malo- 
ney  was  subsequently  killed."  "On  the  left,"  says  General 
Heth,  "Davis'  Brigade  advanced  driving  the  enemy  and  cap- 
turing his  batteries,  but  was  unable  to  hold  the  position,  the 
enemy  concentrating  on  his  front  and  flank  an  overwhelming 
force.  The  Brigade  held  its  position  until  every  field  ofiicer 
save  two  was  shot  down."  By  reference  to  General  Wads- 
worth's  report,  it  is  seen  that  it  was  Cutler's  Brigade,  assisted 
by  Second  Maine  Battery  that  was  attacked  by  Davis'  Bri- 
gade. General  Wadsworth  says :  "The  right  became  sharply 
engaged  before  the  line  was  formed.  At  this  time,  10:15  a. 
m.,  our  gallant  leader  (General  John  F.  Reynolds,  command- 
ing the  First  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac)  fell  mortally 
wounded.  The  regiments  encountered  heavy  force,  were  out- 
numbered, outflanked  and  after  a  resolute  contest,  fell  back 
in  good  order  to  Seminary  Ridge  near  town.  As  they  fell 
back,  followed  by  the  enemy,  the  Fourteenth  ISTew  York  State 
Militia,  Sixth  Wisconsin  and  Ninety-fifth  Wew  York  Volun- 
teers, gallantly  charged  on  the  advancing  enemy  and  captured 
a  large  number  of  prisoners,  including  two  entire  regiments 
with  their  fiags."  Lieutenant-Colonel  Rufus  R.  Dawes,  com- 
manding the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  says  in  his  report:  "Major 
John  A.  Blair,  commanding  the  Second  Mississippi  Volun- 
teers, upon  my  demand,  surrendered  his  sword  and  regiment 
to  me,  7  officers  and  225  men." 

From  this  severe  round,  to  use  a  pugilist's  expression,  both 
sides  took  a  breathing  spell  and  reformed  to  renew  the  at- 
tack. Says  General  Heth :  "The  enemy  had  now  been  felt 
and  the  division  now  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right 


346  North  Caroijna  Troops,  1861-'65. 

of  the  road  as  follows.  Archer's,  now  commanded  by  Colonel 
B.  D.  Fry,  of  the  Thirteenth  Alabama,  on  the  right;  Petti- 
grew  in  the  centre,  and  Brockenborough  on  the  left.  Davis 
Brigade  was  kept  oh  the  left  of  the  road  to  collect  its  strag- 
glers ;  from  its  shattered  condition  it  was  not  deemed  advisable 
to  bring  it  into  action  again  on  that  day."  It  did,  however,  par- 
ticipate later  in  the  action.  After  resting  in  line  for  an  hour 
or  more,  orders  came  to  attack  the  enemy  in  my  front  with 
the  notification  that  Pender's  Division  would  support  me." 
Let  us  glance  a  moment  at  the  character,  numbers  and  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy  which  General  Heth  was  now  to  assault 
with  his  two  sound  and  one  crippled  brigade,  and  make,  con- 
sidering the  fierceness  with  which  it  was  made,  the  obstinacy 
with  which  it  was  met  and  the  fearful  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  sustained  on  both  sides,  the  most  notable  charge  in 
all  the  battles  of  the  war  between  the  States. 

A  recent  writer,  John  M.  Vanderslice,  author  of  a  work 
called  "Gettysburg.  Then  and  ISTow,"  a  gallant  Union  sol- 
dier, places  the  relative  positions  of  the  opposing  forces  at  11 
a.  m.,  1  July,  1863,  as  follows:  Heth's  division  occupied  the 
extreme  right,  with  Archer's  Brigade  on  the  right ;  next  Pet- 
tigrew's,  then  Brockenborough's,  then  Davis'.  Facing  these 
Confederate  troops,  there  was  Meredith's  Iron  Brigade,  occu- 
pying McPherson's  woods.  On  the  left  of  the  woods  was 
placed  Biddle's  Brigade  and  on  the  right  of  the  woods  was 
Stone's  Brigade.  The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Penn- 
sylvania Regiment  of  Biddle's  Brigade  was  in  reserve,  so 
there  were  three  regiments  of  that  Brigade  with  Cooper's 
Battery  in  the  action  at  the  beginning.  These  several  bri- 
gades were  organized  as  follows:  Meredith's  Iron  Brigade, 
Nineteenth  Indiana,  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  Second,  Sixth 
and  Seventh  Wisconsin  Regiments 

Biddle's  Brigade,  Eightieth  New  York,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  and  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania  Regiments. 

Stone's  Brigade,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-ninth  and  One  Himdred  and  Fiftieth  Penn- 
sylvania Regiments. 

These  regiments  in  these  brigades  were  posted  as  follows : 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  347 

Counting  from  left  to  right.  Biddle's  extreme  left  regi- 
ment One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Pennsylvania.  Next  on 
right  Eightieth  New  York,  then  Cooper's  Battery,  then  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-second  Pennsylvania.  Meredith's  Iron 
Brigade,  extreme  left  regiment  Nineteenth  Indiana;  next 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  next  Seventh  Wisconsin,  and  on 
the  extreme  right  Second  Wisconsin.  The  Sixth  Wisconsin 
was  in  reserve.  Stone's  Brigade  was  not  engaged  with  any  of 
Pettigrew's  men,  but  confronted  the  remnants  of  Davis'  Bri- 
gade and  the  Forty-seventh  and  Fifty-fifth  Virginia  Regi- 
ments of  Brockenborough's.  Archer's  Brigade  on  the  Con- 
federate extreme  right  overlapped  Biddle's  Brigade  on  the 
Fedeiral  extreme  left,  but  Pettigrew's  Brigade  of  four  regi- 
ments, being  in  full  ranks,  and  Biddle's  three  regiments  not 
large,  the  two  left  regiments  of  Pettigrew's  lapped  over  and 
confronted  the  left  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  bringing  the  Twen- 
ty-sixth North  Carolina  Regiment  with  its  800  muskets  in 
front  of  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Mich- 
igan, numbering  together  784,  rank  and  file. 

The  position  of  the  Iron  Brigade  in  McPherson's  woods 
was  not  a  straight  line ;  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  Twenty- 
foixrth  Michigan  formed  nearly  a  straight  line  parallel  with 
Willoughby  Run,  but  its  next  regiment,  the  Seventh  Wiscon- 
sin, on  the  right  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  was  formed 
obliquely  to  the  rear  to  confront  an  enemy  attacking  from  its 
right  flank,  and  also  so  as  not  to  get  outside  of  the  protection 
of  the  woods,  which  General  Doiibleday  says  in  his  report 
"possessed  all  the  advantages  of  a  redoubt."  Then  on  the 
right  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin,  the  Second  Wisconsin  was 
formed  connecting  with  the  left  of  Stone's  Brigade.  Thus  it 
appears  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  regiment  faced  the 
front  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  which  consisted  of  the  two  regi- 
ments, the  Nineteenth  Indiana  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Mich- 
igan, but  the  Confederate  troops  charging  these  two  regi- 
ments in  the  woods  were  subjected  to  the  fire  from  the  men  of 
Biddle's  Brigade  and  of  Cooper's  battery  on  their  right ;  and 
it  was  from  the  fire  of  this  battery,  one  of  the  best  batteries  of 
the  Federal  forces,  that  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment  suffered 


348  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

severely,  especially  while  charging  across  Willoughby  Eun, 
and  reforming  thereafter. 

The  situation  then  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  1  July,  1863,  is 
this:  The  Iron  Brigade  in  line  of  battle  in  McPherson's 
woods  is  waiting  the  assault  of  Pettigrew's  brigade,  with  the 
Twenty-sixth  JSTorth  Carolina  Eegiment  of  said  brigade 
directly  in  their  front,  separated  by  Willoughby  Run  and 
disant  about  300  yards. 

The  regiments  of  Pettigrew's  Brigade  were  in  line  by 
echelon,  the  Twenty-sixth  being  in  the  advance  and  the  Elev- 
enth on  its  right  some  distance  in  the  rear ;  the  Forty-seventh 
regiment  in  rear  of  the  Eleventh,  and  the  Fifty-second  in 
rear  of  the  Forty-seventh.  This  made  the  Confederate  troops 
appear  to  the  enemy's  vision,  as  in  several  lines  of  battle, 
whereas  there  was  only  one  line  of  battle,  and  as  the  fight 
progressed,  these  regiments  came  up  successively  and  formed 
one  single  line  in  the  attack.  They  had,  however,  as  their 
support  Pender's  division,  some  distance  in  the  rear. 

THE  lEON"  BEIGADE. AEMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

The  author  of  the  History  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan 
Regiment  of  this  Brigade,  thus  accounts  for  its  name  and 
gives  its  record.  Its  cognomen,  "Iron  Brigade,"  was  given 
them  by  General  McClellan  for  intrepidity  in  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain,  15  September,  1862.  In  proportion  to  its 
numbers  it  sustained  the  heaviest  loss  of  any  brigade  in  the 
Union  army.  Its  loss  at  Gettysburg,  first  day's  fight,  was 
1,153  out  of  1,883  engaged,  or  61  per  cent.  The  Second  Wis- 
consin sustained  the  greatest  percentage  of  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  of  all  the  2,000  regiments  in  the  Union  army.  Its 
loss  at  Gettysburg  was  77  per  cent,  of  those  engaged. 

The  Sixth  Wisconsin  had  a  total  loss  of  867  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  war,  and  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
Second  Mississippi  Regiment  of  Davis'  Brigade  with  232  of 
his  regiment  and  its  colors,  surrendered  to  this  regiment  in 
the  early  part  of  the  first  day's  fight. 

The  Seventh  Wisconsin  met  with  the  greatest  loss  of  any 
regiment  in  the  Union  army  at  the  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, and  had  1,016  men  killed  and  wounded  during  the  war. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  349 

The  Nineteenth  Indiana  in  its  first  battle  at  Manassas,  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  61  per  cent.,  259  out  of  423  engaged,  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  sustained  the  greatest  loss  of  any 
regiment  in  the  Union  army  at  Gettysburg,  80  per  cent,  viz. 
397  out  of  496. 

m'pheeson's  woods. 

General  Doubleday  says :  "On  the  most  westerly  of  these 
ridges  (McPherson's)  General  Reynolds  had  directed  his  line 
to  be  formed.  A  small  piece  of  woods  (in  the  shape  of  a  rec- 
tangular parallelogram)  cut  the  line  of  battle  in  about  two 
equal  parts.  These  woods  possessed  all  the  advantage  of  a 
redoubt  strengthening  the  centre  of  the  line  and  enfilading 
the  enemy's  columns  should  they  advance  in  the  open  spaces 
on  either  side.  I  deemed  the  extremity  of  the  woods  which 
extended  to  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  to  be  the  key  of  the 
position,  and  urged  that  portion  of  Meredith's  (Iron)  Bri- 
gade— the  western  men  assigned  to  its  defense — to  hold  it  to 
the  last  extremity.  Full  of  the  memory  of  their  past  achieve- 
ments, they  replied  cheerfully  and  proudly :  'If  we  can't  hold 
it,  where  will  you  find  the  men  who  can  ?'  " 

Major  John  T.  Jones,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  who  commanded  Pettigrew's  Brigade  after  the 
third  day's  fight,  and  made  the  ofiicial  report  for  the  brigade, 
dated  9  Axigust,  1863,  thus  describes  the  field: 

"In  our  front  was  a  wheat  field  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
wide,  then  came  a  branch  (Willoughby  Run)  with  thick  un- 
derbrush and  briers  skirting  the  banks.  Beyond  this  again 
was  an  open  field  with  the  exception  of  a  wooded  hill  (Mc- 
Pherson's woods)  directly  in  front  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, and  about  covering  its  front.  Skirmishers  being 
thrown  out,  we  remained  in  line  of  battle  until  2  p.  m.,  when 
orders  to  advance  were  given." 

THE    CHAEGE. 

The  Twenty-sixth  was  the  extreme  left  regiment  of  Petti- 
grew's Brigade.     It  directly  faced  McPherson's  woods  and 
its  front  about  covered  the  width  of  the  woods.     The  Iron 
■  Brigade  occupied  these  woods ;  the  open  space  on  the  left  of 


350  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

the  woods  (Confederate  right)  was  defended  by  Biddle's 
Pennsylvania  Brigade  of  four  regiments  with  Cooper's  Bat- 
tery in  the  centre,  the  open  space  on  the  right  of  the  woods 
(Confederate  left)  was  defended  by  Stone's  Pennsylvania 
Brigade  with  three  regiments.  Stewart's  Battery  B,  Fourth 
United  States  Artillery  attached  to  the  Iron  Brigade,  was 
posted  on  the  right  and  rear  supporting  Stone's  Brigade,  but 
in  a  position  to  sweep  any  part  of  the  iield.  A  ITorthern 
writer  says :  "There  is  no  doubt,  more  men  fell  at  Stewart's 
guns  than  in  any  other  battery  in  the  Union  armies."  Com- 
pany F,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  was  on  the  left  of  the 
colors.  Company  E  on  the  right  and  Companies  A  and  G 
near  the  centre.  The  position  of  these  companies  nearest  the 
flag  accounts  for  their  disproportionate  losses  in  the  battle. 

A  member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment  thus  describes 
the  situation :  "While  we  were  still  lying  down  impatiently 
waiting  to  begin  the  engagement,  the  right  of  the  regiment 
was  greatly  annoyed  by  some  sharpshooters  stationed  on  the 
top  of  a  large  old  farm  house  to  our  right.  Colonel  Burgwyn 
ordered  a  man  sent  forward  to  take  them  down,  when  Lieuten- 
ant J.  A.  Lowe,  of  Company  G,  volunteered.  Creeping  for- 
ward along  a  fence  until  he  got  a  position  from  whence  he 
could  see  the  men  behind  the  chimney  who  were  doing  the 
shooting,  he  soon  silenced  them. 

During  all  this  time.  Hill  was  bringing  up  his  Corps  and 
placing  it  in  position.  Colonel  Burgwyn  became  quite  impa- 
tient to  engage  the  enemy,  saying  we  were  losing  precious 
time ;  but  Hill  did  not  come,  and  we  had  nothing  to  do  but  to 
wait  for  his  arrival  on  the  field.  However,  we  were  keeping 
our  men  as  quiet  and  comfortable  as  possible,  sending  details 
to  the  rear  for  water,  and  watching  the  movements  of  the  en- 
emy. The  enemy's  shai*pshooters  occasionally  reminded  us 
that  we  had  better  cling  close  to  the  bosom  of  old  mother 
earth. 

Many  words  of  encouragement  were  spoken  and  some  jokes 
were  indulged  in.  Religious  services  were  not  held,  as  they 
should  have  been,  owing  to  the  absence  of  our  Chaplains.  All 
this  time  the  enemy  were  moving  with  great  rapidity. 
Directly  in  our  front  across  the  wheat  field  was  a  wooded  hill 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  351 

(McPherson's  woods).  On  this  hill  the  enemy  placed  what  we 
were  afterwards  informed  was  their  famous  "Iron  Brigade." 
They  wore  tall,  hell-crowned  black  hats,  which  made  them 
conspicuous  in  the  line.  The  sun  was  now  high  in  the  heav- 
ens. General  Ewell's  Corps  had  come  up  on  our  left  and  had 
engaged  the  enemy.  Never  was  a  grander  sight  beheld.  The 
lines  extended  more  than  a  mile,  all  distinctly  visible  to  us. 
When  the  battle  waxed  hot,  now  one  of  the  armies  would  be 
driven,  now  the  other,  while  neither  seemed  to  gain  any  ad- 
vantage. The  roar  of  artillery,  the  crack  of  musketry  and 
the  shouts  of  the  combatants,  added  grandeur  and  solemnity 
to  the  scene.  Suddenly  there  came  down  the  line  the  long 
awaited  command  "Attention."  The  time  of  this  command 
could  not  have  been  more  inopportune ;  for  our  line  had  in- 
spected the  enemy  and  we  well  knew  the  desperateness  of  the 
charge  we  were  to  make ;  but  with  the  greatest  quickness  the 
regiment  obeyed.  All  to  a  man  were  at  once  up  and  ready, 
every  officer  at  his  post,  Colonel  Burgwyn  in  the  center,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Lane  on  the  right.  Major  Jones  on  the  left. 
Our  gallant  standard-bearer,  J.  B.  Mansfield,  at  once  stepped 
to  his  position — four  paces  to  the  front,  and  the  eight  color 
guards  to  their  proper  places.  At  the  command  "Forward, 
march !"  all  to  a  man  stepped  off,  apparently  as  willingly  and 
as  proudly  as  if  they  were  on  review.  The  enemy  at  once 
opened  fire,  killing  and  wounding  some,  but  their  aim  was 
too  high  to  be  very  effective.  All  kept  the  step  and  made  as 
pretty  and  perfect  a  line  as  regiment  ever  made,  every  man 
endeavoring  to  keep  dressed  on  the  colors.  We  opened  fire  on 
the  enemy.  On,  on,  we  went,  our  men  yet  in  perfect  line,  until 
we  reached  the  branch  (Willoughby's  Run)  in  the  ravine. 
Here  the  briers,  reeds  and  underbrush  made  it  difficult  to  pass, 
and  there  was  some  crowding  in  the  centre,  and  the  enemy's 
artillery  (Cooper's  Battery)  on  our  right,  getting  an  enfilade 
fire  upon  us,  our  loss  was  frightful ;  but  our  men  crossed  in 
good  order  and  immediately  were  in  proper  position  again, 
and  up  the  hill  we  went,  firing  now  with  better  execution. 

The  engagement  was  becoming  desperate.  It  seemed  that 
the  bullets  were  as  thick  as  hail  stones  in  a  storm.  At  his 
post  on  the  right  of  the  regiment  and  ignorant  as  to  what  was 


352  North  Carolina  Troops,   ]861-'65. 

taking  place  on  the  left,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane  hurries  to 
the  center.  He  is  met  by  Colonel  Burgwyn,  who  informs 
him  "it  is  all  right  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left;  we  have 
broken  the  first  line  of  the  enemy,"  and  the  reply  comes,  "we 
are  in  line  on  the  right,  Colonel." 

At  this  time  the  colors  have  been  cut  down  ten  times,  the 
color  guard  all  killed  or  wounded.  We  have  now  struck  the 
second  line  of  the  enemy  where  the  fighting  is  the  fiercest  and 
the  killing  the  deadliest.  Suddenly  Captain  W.  W.  Mc- 
Creery,  Assistant  Inspector  General  of  the  Brigade,  rushes 
forward  and  speaks  to  Colonel  Burgwyn.  He  bears  him  a 
message.  "Tell  him,"  says  General  Pettigrew,  "his  regiment 
has  covered  itself  with  glory  today."  Delivering  these  en- 
couraging words  of  his  commander,  Captain  McCreery,  who 
had  always  contended  that  the  Twenty-sixth  would  fight  bet- 
ter than  any  regiment  in  the  brigade,  seizes  the  flag,  waves  it 
aloft  and  advancing  to  the  front,  is  shot  through  the  heart 
and  falls,  bathing  the  flag  in  his  life's  blood.  Lieutenant 
George  Wilcox,  of  Company  H,  now  rushes  forward,  and  pull- 
ing the  flag  from  under  the  dead  hero,  advances  with  it.  In 
a  few  steps  he  also  falls  with  two  wotinds  in  his  body. 

The  lines  hesitates ;  the  crisis  is  reached ;  the  colors  must 
advance.  Telling  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane  of  the  words  of 
praise  from  their  brigade  commander  just  heard,  with  orders 
to  impart  it  to  the  men  for  their  encouragement.  Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn seizes  the  flag  from  the  nerveless  grasp  of  the  gallant 
Wilcox,  and  advances,  giving  the  order  "Dress  on  the  colors." 
Private  Frank  Honeycutt,  of  Company  B,  rushes  fromi  the 
ranks  and  asks  the  honor  to  advance  the  flag.  Turning  to 
hand  the  colors  to  this  brave  young  soldier.  Colonel  Burgwyn 
is  hit  by  a  ball  on  the  left  side,  which,  passing  through  both 
lungs,  the  force  of  it  ttirns  him  around  and,  falling,  he  is 
caught  in  the  folds  of  the  flag  and  carries  it  with  him  to  the 
ground.  The  daring  Honeycut  survives  his  Colonel  but  a 
moment  and  shot  through  the  head,  now  for  the  thirteenth 
time  the  regimental  colors  are  in  the  dust. 

Kneeling  by  his  side,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane  stops  for  a 
moment  to  ask :  "My  dear  Colonel,  are  you  severely  hurt  ?" 
A  bowed  head  and  motion  to  the  left  side  and  a  pressure  of 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  353 

the  hand  is  the  only  response;  but  "he  looked  as  pleasantly  as 
if  victory  was  on  his  brow."  Reluctantly  leaving  his  dying 
commander  to  go  where  duty  calls  him,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lane  hastens  to  the  right,  meets  Captain  McLauchlin,  of 
Company  K,  tells  him  of  General  Pettigrew's  words  of  praise, 
but  not  of  his  Colonel's  fall ;  gives  the  order  "Close  your  men 
quickly  to  the  left.  I  am  going  to  give  them  the  bayonet" ; 
hurries  to  the  left,  he  gives  a  similar  order,  and  returning  to 
the  center  finds  the  colors  still  down.  Colonel  Burgwyn  and 
the  brave  boy  private,  Franklin  Honeycut,  lying  by  them. 
Colonel  Lane  raises  the  colors.  Lieutenant  Blair,  Company 
I,  rushes  out,  saying:  "No  man  can  take  these  colors  and 
live."  Lane  replies :  "It  is  my  time  to  take  them  now"  ;  and 
advancing  with  the  flag,  shouts  at  the  top  of  his  voice: 
"Twenty-sixth,  follow  me."  The  men  answer  with  a  yell  and 
press  forward.  Several  lines  of  the  enemy  have  given  away, 
but  a  most  formidable  line  yet  remains,  which  seems  deter- 
mined to  hold  its  position.  Volleys  of  musketry  are  fast 
thinning  out  those  left  and  only  a  skeleton  line  now  remains. 
To  add  to  the  horrors  of  the  scene,  the  battle  smoke  has  set- 
tled down  over  the  combatants  making  it  almost  as  dark  as 
night.  With  a  cheer  the  men  obey  the  command  to  advance, 
and  rush  on  and  upward  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  when 
the  last  line  of  the  enemy  gives  way  and  sullenly  retires  from 
the  field  through  the  village  of  Gettysburg  to  the  heights  be- 
yond the  cemetery. 

Just  as  the  last  shots  are  firing,  a  sergeant  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Michigan  Regiment  (now  the  President  of  the  Iron 
Brigade  Veteran  Association,  Mr.  Charles  H.  McConnell,  of 
Chicago),  attracted  by  the  commanding  figure  of  Colonel 
Lane  carrying  the  colors,  lingers  to  take  a  farewell  shot,  and 
resting  his  musket  on  a  tree,  he  waits  his  opportunity.  When 
about  thirty  steps  distant,  as  Colonel  Lane  turns  to  see  if  his 
regiment  is  following  him,  a  ball  fired  by  this  brave  and  reso- 
lute adversary,  strikes  him  in  the  back  of  the  neck  just  below 
the  brain,  which  crashes  through  his  jaw  and  mouth,  and  for 
the  fourteenth  and  last  time  the  colors  are  down.     The  red 

23 


354  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

field  was  won,  but  at  what  a  cost  to  the  victor  as  well  as  to 
the  vanquished. 

LOSSES  IN  THE  FIEST  DAY's  FIGHT. 

Pettigrew's  brigade  was  opposed  on  the  first  day  at  Get- 
tysburg to  the  best  troops  in  the  Federal  army,  viz :  Biddle's 
Pennsylvania  and  Meredith's  (Iron)  Brigade  of  Western 
troops.  The  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment  fought  at  one  or  an- 
other period  of  the  charge,  the  Nineteenth  Indiana  and 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  of  the  Iron  Brigade,  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania,  of  Biddle's  Brigade, 
which  came  to  the  support  of  the  Federal  second  line.  Says 
the  author  of  "Gettysburg,  Then  and  Now,"  published  in 
1899  :  "While  the  fighting  had  been  going  on  upon  the  Fed- 
eral right  Pettigrew  also  made  a  desperate  attack  on  Biddle's 
Brigade.  The  Fifty-second  North  Carolina  overlapping  the 
line  had  attacked  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Penn- 
sylvania on  the  left  fiank,  compelling  it  to  change  front  and 
the  Forty-seventh  and  Eleventh  North  Carolina  encountered 
the  Twentieth  New  York  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sec- 
ond Pennsylvania,  while  at  the  same  time  the  Twenty-sixth 
North  Carolina  fighting  its  way  up  the  woods,  was  penetrat- 
ing a  gap  between  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  Nineteenth  Indiana,  of  Meredith's  (Iron) 
Brigade,  the  left  of  which  had  been  forced  back. 

At  this  juncture  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Penn- 
sylvania which  was  in  reserve  near  the  Seminary,  rushed  to 
the  front  and  met  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  in  one  of 
the  bloodiest  struggles  that  took  place  on  the  field,  as  will  be 
noticed  when  the  losses  of  these  regiments  are  stated." 

Quoting  again  from  Major  Jones'  official  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  Pettigrew's  Brigade  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  he 
says: 

"The  Brigade  moved  forward  in  beautiful  style,  in  quick 
time,  on  a  line  with  the  brigade  on  our  left  commanded  by 
Colonel  Brockenborough.  When  nearing  the  branch  (Wil- 
loughby  Kun)  the  enemy  poured  a  galling  fire  into  the  left 
of  the  brigade  from  the  opposite  bank  where  they  had  massed 
in  heavy  force,  while  we  were  in  line  of  battle  awaiting  the 


Twenty-Sixth  Kegiment.  355 

order  to  advance.  The  Forty-seventh  and  Fifty-second  North 
Carolina,  although  exposed  to  a  hot  fire  from  artillery  and 
infantry,  lost  but  few  men  in  comparison  with  the  Eleventh 
and  Twenty-sixth.  On  went  the  command  across  the  branch 
and  up  the  opposite  slope,  driving  the  enemy  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet  back  upon- their  second  line. 

"The  second  line  was  encountered  by  the  Twenty-sixth  reg- 
iment, while  the  other  regiments  vs^ere  exposed  to  a  heavy  ar- 
tillery shelling.  The  enemy's  single  line  in  the  field  on  our 
right,  was  engaged  principally  with  the  right  of  the  Eleventh 
jSTorth  Carolina  and  the  Forty-seventh  Worth  Carolina.  The 
enemy  did  not  perceive  the  Fifty-second  North  Carolina, 
which  flanked  their  left  until  the  Fifty-second  discovered 
themselves  by  a  raking  and  destructive  fire  by  which  the  en- 
emy's line  was  broken. 

"On  the  second  line  the  fighting  was  terrible,  our  men  ad- 
vancing, the  enemy  stubbornly  resisting,  until  the  two  lines 
were  pouring  volleys  into  each  other  at  a  distance  not  greater 
than  twenty  paces.  At  last  the  enemy  were  compelled  to  give 
way.  They  again  made  a  stand  in  the  woods,  and  the  third 
time  they  were  driven  from  their  positions  losing  a  stand  of 
colors  which  was  taken  by  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment,  but 
owing  to  some  carelessness,  they  were  left  behind  and  were 
picked  up  by  some  one  else." 

Let  us  quote  now  from  the  other  side  in  obedience  to  the 
maxim  "Fas  est  ah  hoste  docen."  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow, 
Twenty -fourth  Michigan,  a  native  of  Warren  ton,  Va.,  who  as 
a  young  man  moved  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  was  a  City  Judge 
there  in  1862,  and  raised  the  regiment  of  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  says :  "I 
gave  directions  to  the  men  to  withhold  their  fire  until  the  en- 
emy should  come  within  short  range  of  our  guns.  This  was 
done.  Their  advance  was  not  checked  and  they  came  on  with 
rapid  strides  yelling  like  demons.  The  Nineteenth  Indiana, 
on  our  left,  fought  most  gallantly,  but  was  forced  back.  The 
left  of  my  regiment  was  now  exposed  to  an  enfilade  fire  and 
orders  were  given  for  this  portion  of  the  line  to  swing  back  so 
as  to  face  the  enemy  now  on  our  flank.     Pending  the  execu- 


356  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

tion  of  this  movement,  the  enemy  compelled  me  to  fall  back 
and  take  a  new  position  a  short  distance  in  the  rear. 

"The  second  line  was  promptly  formed  and  we  made  a  des- 
perate resistance,  but  we  were  forced  to  fall  back  and  take  up 
a  third  position  beyond  a  slight  ravine.  My  third  color- 
bearer  was  killed  on  this  line.  Augustus  Ernst,  Company  K. 

"By  this  time  the  ranks  were  so  diminished  that  scarcely  a 
fourth  of  the  force  taken  into  action  could  be  rallied.  Cap- 
tain Andrew  Wagner,  Company  F,  one  of  the  color  guard, 
took  the  colors  and  was  ordered  by  me  to  plant  them  in  a  po- 
sition to  which  I  designed  to  rally  the  men.  He  was  wounded 
in  the  breast  and  left  the  field.  I  now  took  the  flag  from  the 
ground  where  it  had  fallen  and  was  rallying  the  remnant  of 
my  regiment,  when  Private  William  Kelly,  of  Company  E, 
took  the  colors  from  my  hands,  remarking  as  he  did  so,  'The 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  shall  never  carry  the 
colors  while  I  am  alive.'  He  was  killed  instantly.  Private 
Lilburn  A.  Spaulding,  Company  K,  seized  the  colors  and 
bore  them  for  a  time.  Subsequently  I  took  them  from  him  to 
rally  the  men  and  kept  them  until  I  was  wounded. 

"We  had  inflicted  severe  loss  on  the  enemy,  but  jve  were  un- 
able to  maintain  our  position,  and  were  forced  back  step  by 
step,  contesting  every  foot  of  the  ground  to  the  barricade  west 
of  the  Seminary  building.  The  field  over  which  we  fought 
from  our  first  line  of  battle  in  McPherson's  woods  to  the 
barricade  near  the  Seminary,  was  strewn  with  the  killed  and 
wounded. 

"Our  losses  were  very  large,  exceeding  perhaps  the  losses 
sustained  by  any  regiment  of  equal  size  in  a  single  engage- 
ment of  this  or  any  other  war.  The  strength  of  the  regi- 
ment on  1  July,  1863,  was  28  officers  and  468  rank  and 
file,  total  496.  We  lost,  killed  8  officers  and  59  men. 
Wounded,  13  officers  and  197  men.  Missing  or  captured,  3 
officers  and  83  men.  ISTearly  all  our  wounded,  myself  among 
them,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  flag  of  the  regi- 
ment was  carried  by  no  less  than  nine  persons,  four  of  the 
number  were  killed  and  three  wounded.  All  the  color  guard 
were  killed  or  wounded." 

Returning  to  Confederate  sources  for  accounts  of  the  he- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  357 

roic  conduct  of  the  Twenty-sixtli  North  Carolina  Regiment, 
I  quote  from  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  made  by  Major- 
General  Heth,  commanding  the  division : 

"PettigreVs  Brigade  under  the  leadership  of  that  gallant 
officer  and  accomplished  scholar,  Brigadier-General  J.  John- 
ston Pettigrew  (now  lost  to  his  country),  fought  as  well  and 
displayed  as  heroic  courage,  as  it  was  ever  my  fortune  to  wit- 
ness on  a  battlefield.  The  number  of  its  own  gallant  dead 
and  wounded  as  well  as  the  large  number  of  the  enemy's  dead 
and  wounded  left  on  the  field  over  which  it  fought,  attests  bet- 
ter than  any  communication  of  mine,  the  gallant  part  it 
played  on  1  July.  In  one  instance,  when  the  Twenty-sixth 
North  Carolina  Regiment  encountered  the  second  line  of  the 
enemy,  its  (Twenty-sixth  Regiment's)  dead  marked  its  line 
of  battle  with  the  accuracy  of  a  line  at  dress  parade." 

Under  date  of  9  July,  1863,  less  than  a  week  before  his 
fatal  wounding  at  Falling  Waters  (14  July,  1863),  General 
Pettigrew  writes  Governor  Vance  as  follows:  "Knowing 
that  you  would  be  anxious  to  hear  from  your  old  regiment,  the 
Twenty-sixth,  I  embrace  an  opportunity  to  write  you  a  hasty 
note.  It  cavered  itself  with  glory.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  to  charge  one  of  the  strongest  positions  possible. 
They  drove  three,  and  we  have  every  reason  to  believe,  five 
regiments  out  of  the  woods  with  a  gallantry  unsurpassed. 
Their  loss  has  been  heavy,  very  heavy,  but  the  missing  are  on 
the  battlefield  and  in  the  hospital.  Both  on  the  first  and 
third  days  yoiir  old  command  did  honor  to  your  associa- 
tion with  them  and  to  the  State  they  represent." 

Captain  J.  J.  Yoimg,  regimental  Quartermaster  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  regiment,  under  date  of  4  July,  1863,  writes 
Governor  Vance  as  follows : 

"The  heaviest  conflict  of  the  war  has  taken  place  in  this 
vicinity.  It  commenced  July  1st,  and  raged  furiously  until 
late  last  night.  Heth's  Division,  A.  P.  Hill's  Corps,  opened 
the  ball  and  Pettigrew's  Brigade  was  the  advance.  We  went 
in  with  over  800  men  in  the  regiment.  There  came  out  of 
the  first  day's  fight  216  all  told,  unhurt.  Yesterday  they 
were  again  engaged,  and  now  have  only  about  80  men  for 
duty.     To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  frightful  loss  in  officers, 


358  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Heth  being  wounded,  Pettigrew  commanded  the  division 
(Pettigrew  had  the  bones  of  his  left  hand  crushed  by  a  grape 
shot,  but  remained  on  the  iield  with  his  hand  in  splints),  and 
Major  Jones  our  brigade.  (Jones  was  also  slightly  wounded, 
but  refused  to  leave  the  field).  Eleven  men  were  shot  down 
the  first  day  with  the  colors  (afterwards  ascertained  to  te 
fourteen).  Yesterday  they  were- lost.  Poor  Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn  was  shot  through  both  lungs  and  died  shortly  after- 
ward. His  loss  is  great,  for  he  had  few  equals  of  his  age. 
Captain  W.  W.  McCreery,  Inspector  on  General  Pettigrew's 
staff,  was  shot  through  the  heart  and  instantly  killed.  As- 
sistant Adjutant-General  IST.  Collins  Hughes  mortally 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Walter  M.  Eobertson,  Brigade  Ord- 
nance Officer,  severely  wounded ;  with  them,  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Lane  through  the  neck,  jaw  and  mouth,  I  fear  mortally; 
Adjutant  James  B.  Jordan  in  the  hip,  severely;  Captain  J. 
T.  Adams,  shoxilder,  seriously ;  Stokes  McRae,  thigh  broken ; 
Captain  William  Wilson,  killed;  Lieutenants  W.  W.  Rich- 
ardson and  J.  B.  HoUoway  have  died  of  their  wounds.  It  is 
thought  Lieutenant  M.  McLeod  and  Captain  ]^f.  G.  Bradford 
will  die;  Captain  J.  A.  Jarrett,  wounded  in  face  and  hand. 
Yesterday  Captain  S.  P.  Wagg  was  shot  through  by  grape, 
and  instantly  killed.  Alex.  Saunders  was  wounded  and  J. 
R.  Emerson  left  on  the  field  dead.  Captain  H.  C.  Albright  is 
the  only  Captain  left  in  the  regiment.  Lieutenants  J.  A. 
Lowe,  M.  B.  Blair,  T.  J.  Cureton  (this  ofiicer  was  wounded 
in  shoulder),  and  C.  M.  Sudderth  are  the  only  officers  not 
WQunded.  Major  Jones  was  struck  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell 
on  the  1st  and  knocked  down  and  stunned  on  the  3rd,  but  re- 
fused to  leave  the  field. 

"Our  whole  division  numbers  only  1,500  or  1,600  effective 
men  as  officially  reported,  but,  of  course,  a  good  many  will 
still  come  in.  The  division  at  the  beginning  niunbered  about 
8,000  effective  men.  Yesterday  in  falling  back  we  had  to 
leave  the  wounded,  hence  the  uncertainty  of  a  good  many 
being  killed  yesterday  evening." 

Going  into  particulars  of  losses :  Company  F,  from  Cald- 
well County,  commanded  by  Captain  R.  M.  Tuttle  (now  a 
Presbyterian  minister  at  Collierstown,  Va.),  went  into  the 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  359 

battle  with  three  officers  and  88  muskets.  Thirty-one  were 
killed  or  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle.  Sixty  were 
wounded,  fifty-nine  of  whom  were  disabled  for  duty.  Ser- 
geant Robert  Hudspeth  was  the  only  man  able  to  report  for 
duty  after  the  fight,  and  he  had  been  knocked  down  and 
stunned  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  In  this  company  were 
three  sets  of  twin  brothers,  at  the  close  of  the  battle,  five  of 
the  six  lay  dead  on  the  field. 

Companies  I  and  F  of  this  regiment  were  from  Caldwell 
County.  The  men  composing  these  companies  had  been 
reared  along  the  slopes  of  the  Great  Grandfather  Mountain. 
They  had  been  accustomed  from  boyhood  to  hunt  deer,  the 
bear,  and  the  wolf  in  the  lonely  forests  surrounding  their 
homes.  They  were  enured  to  hardship,  self-reliant,  indefat- 
igable and  insensible  to  danger.  Company  F  was  on  the  left 
of  the  colors,  and  Company  E  on  the  right.  This  latter  com- 
pany (Company  E)  suffered  nearly  as  badly  as  Company  F, 
It  carried  82  officers  and  men  into  the  fi^ht,  and  brought  out 
only  two  untouched. 

Going  into  the  particxilars  of  the  loss  of  Company  E,  18 
men  were  Icilled  or  mortally  wotinded,  and  52  wounded  on 
the  first  day,  and  on  the  third  day  only  two  escaped.  Every 
officer  in  the  company  was  wounded. 

Company  G  lost  12  men  killed  and  58  wounded  and  miss- 
ing, but  the  losses  on  each  day  are  not  given  by  Captain  Al- 
bright. 

Company  H  had  17  Idlled  and  55  wounded  in  the  two  days 
battles.  ^ 

The  men  composing  these  three  companies  were  from  the 
historic  counties  of  Chatham  and  Moore.  Their  ancestors 
had  fought  at  Alamance  and  Moore's  Bridge  and  Guilford 
Court  House,  and  from  their  youth  up  they  had  handled  the 
rifle  in  hunting  the  deer  and  wild  turkey,  and  as  General 
Pettigrew  said  of  them,  "they  shot  as  if  they  were  shooting  at 
squirrels." 

Company  A,  from  Ashe  County,  the  same  class  of  moim- 
taineers  of  whom  we  have  spoken  above  in  referring  to  Com- 
panies F  and  I,  took  into  action  92,  rank  and  file.  Eleven 
were  killed  and  66  wounded  in  the  first  day's  fight,  and  on  the 


360  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

third  day,  its  Captain  (Wagg)  was  killed,  and  ten  wounded 
and  missing  out  of  fourteen  taken  into  the  fight.  Lieutenant 
J.  A.  Polk,  commanding  Company  K  when  the  muster  roll 
was  signed  31  August,  1863,  states  every  officer  was  wounded 
at  Gettysburg,  16  men  killed  and  50  wounded  and  missing. 
He  does  not  give  the  number  taken  into  action. 

As  to  the  loss  sustained  by  the  regiment  as  a  whole,  we  may 
rely  upon  the  statements  of  Northern  writers  who  have  com- 
piled them  from  the  official  records  in  the  War  Department 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  Colonel  William  F.  Fox,  of  Albany, 
H.  Y.,  in  his  book,  "Regimental  Losses  in  the  Civil  War,"  a 
work  of  recognized  authority — places  the  loss  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Eegiment  in  the  first  day's  fight  at  86  killed  and  502 
wounded,  out  of  800  taken  into  action.  He  says:  "On  the 
third  day's  fight  in  Pickett's  charge,  they  lost  120,  recorded 
as  missing."  In  a  letter  to  the  writer  dated  30  September, 
1889,  Colonel  Fox  says:  "My  figures  for  the  loss  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  at  Grettysburg,  are  taken  from 
the  official  report  of  Surgeon-General  Lafayette  Guild,  C.  S. 
A.,  who  obtained  his  figures  from  the  nominal  lists  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  made  out  in  the  field  hospitals.  In  my 
opinion,  the  120  missing  should  also  be  included  in  the  killed 
and  wounded;  but  as  they  were  not  so  reported  officially,  I 
cannot  substitute  my  opinion  for  official  statistics.  In  a  sec- 
ond edition,  which  is  now  going  through  the  press,  I  added  the 
losses  for  Bristoe  Station,  having  obtained  them  from  the  War 
Department  since  the  publication  of  the  first  edition.  In 
these  losses  for  Bristoe,  I  was  surprised  to  see  that  the  Twen- 
ty-sixth North  Carolina  again  heads  the  list.  I  took  great  pains 
to  verify  the  loss  of  the  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  at  Get- 
tysburg, for  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  in  time  this  regi- 
ment will  become  as  well  known  in  history  as  the  Light  Bri- 
gade at  Balaklava." 

Colonel  Fox  further  states  in  his  book  that  this  loss  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  the  greatest  in  numbers  and 
greatest  in  per  cent,  of  those  taken  into  action  of  all  the  regi- 
ments on  either  side  in  the  Civil  War  in  any  one  battle.  Mr. 
John  M.  Vanderslice,  Director  of  the  Gettysburg  Memorial 
Association,  who  was  a  private  in  Company  D,  Eighth  Penn- 
sylvania, was  gazetted  for  distinguished  services  in  action  at 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment. 


361 


Hatcher's  Enin,  6  February,  1865,  in  his  book,  "Gettysburg, 
Then  and  Now" — writes  thus:  "The  loss  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment  should  be  584  on  the  first 
day  and  of  the  remaining  216,  130  were  lost  on  the  third,  its 
total  loss  in  the  battle  being  588  killed  and  wounded  and  126 
missing  out  of  800  engaged.  This  brigade  (Pettigrews's) 
lost  over  500  additional  on  the  third  day." 

As  a  matter  of  historical  interest,  I  append  a  list  of  the 
losses  in  the  several  brigades  that  fought  in  and  around  Mc- 
Pherson's  woods  on  the  first  day  at  Gettysburg: 


o 

a 
.2 
'3 


a 


r      Meredith  s  Iron  Brigade- 


2  Wisconsin . 

6  Wisonsin   . 

7  Wisconsin 
19  Indiana, . 
34  Michigan 


Biddle's  Brigade— 


80  New  York 
131  Pennsylvania  . 
143  Pennsylvania. 
151  Pennsylvania  . 


Stone's  Brigade  . . 

Artillery 

L  Gamble's  Cavalry. 


f  Davis'  Mississippi  Brigade 

Archer's  Tennessee  Brigade 

Brockenborough's  Virginia  Brigade 


Pettigrew's  No-th  Carolina  Brigade — 


11  North  Carolina  Regitnent. 
26  North  Carolina  Regiment. 
47  North  Carolina  Regiment. 
52  North  Carolina  Regiment. 


—   O 


182 
146 
126 
160 
272 


146 
118 
141 
362 

574 

105 

83 


695 
160 
148 


r309 
J  588 
]  161 
[147 
1105 


be 

a 


51 
22 
52 
50 
91 


24 
61 
70 

75 

279 


28 


bo 

c 


302 

402 
838 
496 


287 
263 
291 
467 


362  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

THIRD  day's  battle  AT  GETTTSBUEG^  3  JULT,  1863. 

Quoting  again  from  Major  John  T.  Jones'  report:  "The 
night  of  the  first  day's  fight  (1  July,  1863)  the  brigade 
bivouacked  in  the  woods  they  had  occupied  previously  to 
making  the  charge.  We  remained  in  this  position  until  the 
evening  of  the  2nd,  when  we  moved  about  a  mile  to  our  right 
and  took  position  in  rear  of  our  batteries  facing  the  works 
of  the  enemy  on  Cemetery  Hill.  We  remained  here  until 
about  12  o'clock  on  the  3rd,  when  our  batteries  opened  upon 
the  enemy's  works.  About  2  o'clock  we  were  ordered  to  ad- 
vance." 

A  member  of  the  regiment  thus  writes : 

"On  the  second  day,  Pettigrew's  entire  brigade  rested.  Gen- 
eral Pettigrew  showed  great  energy  in  recruiting  his  thinned 
ranks.  He  commanded  that  all  those  not  too  severely  wounded 
shoiild  return  to  active  duty  and  armed  all  the  cooks  and  extra 
duty  men  and  every  other  man  in  any  way  connected  with  the 
regiment.  The  regimental  band  (Captain  Mickey's  band)  was 
ordered  to  play  inspiring  music  to  cheer  the  soldiers,  whose 
spirits  were  depressed  at  the  loss  of  so  many  of  their  com- 
rades, and  in  every  way  the  condition  of  things  was  enliv- 
ened. On  the  evening  of  the  2nd,  General  Pettigrew  marched 
his  command  to  the  place  in  the  line  from  which  the  grand 
charge  was  to  be  made  next  day.  To  the  great  surprise  of 
every  one,  the  brigade  seemed  as  ready  for  the  fray  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day,  as  it  had  been  on  that  of  the 
first." 

PICKETT''s  AND  PETTIGEEw's   CHAEGB. 

Quoting  from  the  author  of  "Gettysburg,  Then  and  ISTow"  : 
"There  were  two  hours  of  comparative  silence  until  1  o'clock 
p.  m.  when  the  signal  gun  was  fired  from  Seminary  Ridge, 
by  the  Washington  Artillery  of  ISTew  Orleans,  and  there  was 
opened  between  the  138  Confederate  and  the  80  Federal  guns 
the  heaviest  and  most  terrible  artillery  fire  ever  witnessed 
upon  any  battle  field  in  this  country,  if  upon  any  in  the  world. 
It  opened  so  suddenly  that  the  men  were  torn  to  pieces  before 
they  could  rise  from  the  ground  upon  which  they  had  been 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  363 

lolling.  Some  were  stricken  down  with  cigars  in  their  mouths. 
One  young  soldier  was  killed  with  the  portrait  of  his  sister  in 
his  hand.  The  earth  was  thrown  up  in  clouds.  Splinters 
flew  from  fences  and  rocks,  and  mingled  with  the  roar  of  the 
artillery  were  the  groans  of  wounded  men  and  the  fierce 
neighing  of  mangled  horses. 

"In  the  meantime  the  fresh  troops  of  Pickett's  Confederate 
division  had  been  massed  under  cover  of  the  slight  ridge  run- 
ning between  Seminary  Ridge  and  the  Emmettsburg  road  in 
rear  of  the  artillery.  While  Pettigrew's  Division  (formerly 
Heth's)  was  massed  to  their  rear  and  left  behind  Seminary 
Ridge.  In  the  rear  of  the  right  of  Pickett  were  the  brigades 
of  Wilcox  and  Perry,  with  that  of  Wright  in  reserve. 

"In  the  rear  of  the  right  of  Pettigrew  were  the  brigades  of 
Scales,  and  Lane,  of  Pender's  Division,  commanded  by 
Trimble.  When  the  artillery  ceased  firing,  these  troops 
moved  from  behind  their  cover  and  advanced  majestically 
across  the  field  towards  Cemetery  Hill.  Pickett's  Division 
on  the  right,  Pettigrew's  on  its  left  and  rear  en  echelon,  sup- 
ported by  Scales'  and  Lane's  brigades.  Pickett's  division 
was  in  line  as  follows :  Kemper's  Brigade  on  the  right,  Gar- 
nett  on  his  left,  while  Armistead  was  in  the  rear.  On  the 
left  of  Pickett  were  the  four  brigades  of  Pettigrew's  division. 
Archer's  Brigade,  commanded  by  Frye,  next  to  Pickett ;  Pet- 
tigrew's, commanded  by  Marshall,  of  the  Fifty-second  ISTorth 
Carolina  Regiment,  next  on  the  left ;  Davis  next,  and  Brock- 
enborough  on  the  extreme  left. 

"In  the  rear  of  Frye  and  Marshall,  there  were  Scales'  Bri- 
gade, commanded  by  Lowrance,  and  Lane's  Brigade,  these 
under  Major-General  Trimble,  from  Maryland.  Together  the 
assaulting  columns  numbered  14,000.  The  point  of  direc- 
tion was  the  small  copse  of  trees  to  the  left  of  Ziegler's  Grove, 
held  by  Gibbon's  Division  of  the  Second  Corps.  After  ad- 
vancing some  distance  the  three  brigades  of  Pickett's  division 
made  a  half  wheel  to  the  left  in  order  to  move  toward  the  ob- 
jective point.  McGilvery's  forty  guns  (Federal  artillery) 
on  the  left,  with  those  of  the  two  batteries  on  Round  Top, 
opened  a  terrible  fire  upon  them.  As  the  division  neared  the 
wall,  it  was  joined  on  its  left  by  Frye's  Brigade,  and  at  the 


364  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

same  time  Lowrance's  North  Carolina  Brigade  rushed  from 
its  rear  and  joined  Frye's  and  Garnett  at  the  angle  of  the 
wall.  The  two  guns  of  Cushing's  battery  at  the  wall  were 
silenced. 

"The  left  of  that  charging  column  under  Pettigrew  and 
Trimble,  suffered  as  severely  as  the  right  under  Pickett. 
Great  injustice  has  been  done  these  troops  by  the  prevailing 
erroneous  impressions  that  they  failed  to  advance  with  those 
of  Pickett. 

"Such  is  not  the  fact,  as  they  were  formed  behind  Seminary 
Kidge  they  had  over  1,300  yards  to  march  under  the  terri- 
ble fire  to  which  they  were  exposed,  while  Pickett's  Division 
being  formed  under  cover  of  the  intermediate  ridge,  had  but 
900  yards  to  march  under  fire.  At  first,  the  assaulting  col- 
umns advanced  en  echelon,  but  when  they  reached  the  Em- 
mettsburg  road,  they  were  on  a  line,  and  together  they  crossed 
the  road.  The  left  of  Pettigrew's  command  becoming  first 
exposed  to  the  fearful  enfilading  fire  upon  their  left  flank 
from  the  Eighth  Ohio,  and  other  regiments  of  Hay's  Division 
and  of  Woodruff's  Battery  and  other  troops,  the  men  on  thp+ 
part  of  the  line  (Brockenborough's  Brigade)  either  broke  to 
the  rear  or  threw  themselves  on  the  ground  for  protection. 

"But  Pettigrew's  other  brigades,  Davis,  Marshall  andFrye, 
with  the  brigades  of  Lowrance  and  Lane,  under  Trimble,  ad- 
vanced with  Pickett  to  the  stone  wall  and  there  fought  desper- 
ately. As  the  assaulting  column  reached  the  wall,  Wilcox's 
Alabama  and  Perry's  Florida  Brigade  to  the  right,  marching 
according  to  order,  but  becoming  separated  from  Pickett, 
had  resumed  the  march  to  the  left,  and  were  now  advancing 
from  the  top  of  the  crest,  from  behind  which  Pickett  had 
emerged,  directly  towards  McGilvery's  batteries  and  the 
Third  Corps,  btit  received  by  a  severe  fire  from  Stannard's 
Vermonters,  who  had  changed  front  again,  and  exposed  to  a 
severe  artillery  fire  and  seeing  the  commands  of  Pickett,  Pet- 
tigrew and  Trimble  repulsed,  they  withdrew  under  cover  of 
the  hill.  Thus  ended  this  reckless  and  ever  renowned  effort 
to  carry  Cemetery  Hill  by  direct  assault  in  the  face  of  100 
cannon  and  the  Federal  Army." 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  365 

Quoting  from  Major  Jones'  report,  he  says: 

"About  2  o'clock  we  were  ordered  to  advance.  It  was  an 
open  field  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  width.  In 
moving  off  there  was  some  confusion  in  the  line,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  it  had  been  ordered  to  close  in  on  the  right  on  Pick- 
ett's division,  while  that  command  gave  way  to  the  left.  This 
was  soon  corrected,  and  the  advance  was  made  in  perfect  or- 
der. When  about  half  across  the  intermediate  space  the  ene- 
my opened  on  us  a  most  destructive  fire  of  grape  and  canister. 
When  within  about  250  or  300  yards  of  the  stone  wall  behind 
which  the  enemy  was  posted,  we  were  met  by  a  perfect  hail 
storm  of  lead  from  their  small  ar'ms.  The  brigade  dashed  on 
and  many  had  reached  the  wall  when  we  received  a  deadly  vol- 
ley from  the  left.  The  whole  line  on  the  left  had  given  way, 
and  we  were  being  rapidly  flanked,  and  with  our  thinned 
ranks  and  in  such  a  position  it  would  have  been  folly  to  stand 
against  such  odds. 

"After  this  day's  fight  but  one  field  officer  was  left  in  the 
brigade,  and  regiments  that  went  in  Avith  Colonels  came  out 
commanded  by  Lieutenants." 

A  member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  thus  describes  the 
charge : 

"As  soon  as  the  fire  of  the  artillery  ceased,  General  Pct- 
tigrew,  his  face  lit  up  with  the  bright  look  it  always  wore 
when  in  battle,  rode  up  to  Colonel  Marshall,  in  command  of 
the  brigade,  and  said:  'Now  Colonel,  for  the  honor  of  tne 
good  Old  JSTorth  State.  Forward.'  Colonel  Marshall  promptly 
repeated  the  command,  which  taken  up  by  the  regimental 
commanders,  the  Twenty-sixth  marched  down  the  hill  into 
the  valley  between  the  two  lines.  As  the  forward  march  con- 
tinued, our  artillery  would  occasionally  fire  a  shot  over  the 
heads  of  the  troops  to  assure  them  that  they  had  friends  in 
the  rear. 

"The  brigade  had  not  advanced  far  when  the  noble  Mar- 
shall fell,  and  the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  on  Major 
Jones,  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  while  that  of  the  regiment  on 
Captain  S.  W.  Brewer,  of  Company  E,  a  man  who  proved  on 


366  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

that  day  as  he  has  often  since,  that  he  was  thoroughly  quali- 
fied to  lead. 

"The  Confederate  line  was  yet  unbroken  and  still  perfect, 
when  about  half  a  mile  from  their  works  the  enemy's  artillery 
opened  fire,  sweeping  the  field  with  grape  and  canister ;  but 
the  line  crossed  the  lane  (Emmettsburg  road)  in  good  order. 
When  about  300  yards  from  their  works  the  musketry  of  the 
enemy  opened  on  us,  but  nothing  daunted  the  brave  men  of 
the  Twenty-sixth  pressed  quickly  forward  and  when  the  regi- 
ment reached  within  about  forty  yards  of  the  enemy's  works, 
it  had  been  reduced  to  a  skirmish  line.  But  the  brave  rem- 
nant still  pressed  ahead  and  the  colors  were  triumphantly 
planted  on  the  works  by  J.  ii .  Brooks  and  Daniel  Thomas,  of 
Company  E,  when  a  cry  came  from  the  left,  and  it  was  seen 
that  the  entire  left  of  the  line  had  been  swept  away. 

"The  Twenty-sixth  now  exposed  to  a  front  and  enfilade  fire, 
there  was  no  alternative  but  to  retreat,  and  the  order  was  ac- 
cordingly given.  Captain  Cureton,  of  Company  B,  and  oth- 
ers, attempted  to  form  the  shattered  remnants  of  the  regiment 
in  the  lane  (Emmettsburg  road)  but  pressed  by  the  enemy, 
the  attempt  was  abandoned. 

General  Pettigrew  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  during  the 
charge,  and  though  woiinded  (bones  of  his  left  hand  shattered 
by  a  grape  shot)  he  was  one  of  the  last  men  of  his  division  to 
leave,  and  was  assisted  off  the  field  by  Captain  Cureton, 
whom  he  ordered  to  rally  and  form  Heth's  division  behind  the 
guns  for  their  siipport.  Pettigrew's  brigade  promptly  re- 
sponded and  formed  when  told  where  to  go. 

"By  night  a  very  good  skirmish  line  had  been  collected  and 
the  gallant  old  Twenty-sixth  had  67  privates  and  3  officers 
present  on  the  night  of  8  July,  1863,  out  of  800  who  went 
into  battle  on  the  morning  of  1  July.  In  this  enumeration 
the  cooks  and  extra  duty  men  and  others  who  had  been  armed 
are  not  counted.  These  70  officers  and  men  remained  to  sup- 
port the  artillery  that  night  and  all  next  day." 

As  of  historical  interest,  I  append  the  losses  of  Pickett's, 
Pettigrew's  and  Trimble's  Division  on  this  third  day's  fight 
at  Gettysburg. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment. 


367 


Pickett's  Division — 
Garnett's  Brigads,  8,  18,  19,  28  and  56  Virginia  Regis . . . 
Armistead's  Brigade,  9,  14,  38,  53  and  57  Virginia  Regts. 
Kemper's  Brigade,  1,  3,  7,  11  and  24  Virginia  Reg^s 


Pettigrew's  Division- 
Archer's  Brigade 

Pettigrew's  JBrigade  . . . 
Davis'  Brigade 


Trimble's  Division- 
Lane's  Brigade 

Scales'  Brigade 


S3 


(D 


—   O 


402 

574 
462 


1438 


330 
300 

244 

874 


264 
125 

389 


be 


539 
648 

317 

1499 


112 
228 
160 

500 


176 
85 

261 


Adding  the  killed  and  wounded  of  Pettigrew's  Brigade  on 
the  third  day's  fight,  viz.,  300 ;  to  its  killed  and  wounded  on 
the  first  day's  fight,  viz.,  1,105 ;  and  it  makes  a  total  loss  of 
1,405  killed  and  wounded  sustained  by  these  four  ITorth  Car- 
olina Regiments,  which  is  within  33  of  the  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  sustained  by  the  fifteen  Virginia  Regiments  of 
Pickett's  Division. 

PICKETT  OB  PETTIGEEW. 

Quoting  again  from  the  author  of  "Gettysburg,  Then  and 
Now" :  "But  why  call  this  Pickett's  charge  ?  In  this  as- 
sault there  were  engaged  forty-two  Confederate  Regiments. 
In  Pickett's  Division  there  were  15  "Virginia  Regiments.  In 
Pettigrew's  and  Trimble's  there  were  15  ISTorth  Carolina  Reg- 
iments, 3  Mississippi,  3  Tennessee,  2  Alabama  and  4  Vir- 
ginia Regiments.  In  addition  to  the  artillery  fire,  they 
(Pettigrew  and  Trimble)  encountered  9  Regiments  of  ITew 
York,  5  of  Pennsylvania,  3  of  Massachusetts,  3  of  Vermont, 
1  Michigan,  1  Maine,  1  Minnesota,  1  New  Jersey,  1  Connect- 
icut, 1  Ohio,  and  1  Delaware,  in  all  27  regiments. 


368  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

"Some  prominent  writers,  even  historians  like  Swinton 
and  Lossing,  have  said  that  the  left  of  the  line  (Pettigrew's 
and  Trimble's  Divisions)  did  not  advance  as  was  expected, 
and  that  it  was  because  these  troops  were  not  of  the  same 
'fine  quality'  as  those  upon  the  right;  that  they  were  raw 
and  undisciplined,  etc.,  etc.  Yet,  but  two  days  before,  these 
same  soldiers  of  Pettigrew  and  Trimble  had  fought  around 
Eeynold's  Grove  (McPherson's  woods)  for  six  hours  in  a 
struggle  with  the  First  Corps  that  is  unsurpassed  for  bravery 
and  endurance,  and  where  so  many  of  their  numbers  had 
fallen.  There  were  in  fact  no  better  troops  in  the  Confed- 
eracy than  they.  Is  history  repeating  herself  ?  If  the  event 
is  correctly  recorded,  there  were  at  Thermopylas  300  Spar- 
tans, YOG  Thespians,  and  300  Thebans.  It  is  said  the  lat- 
ter went  over  to  the  enemy,  but  the  Thespians  died  to  a  man 
at  the  pass  with  the  Spartans.  Yet  for  nearly  twenty-four 
centuries.  Epic  song  and  story  have  well  preserved  the  mem- 
ory of  the  Spartans,  while  the  devoted  Thespians  are  for- 
gotten." 

IJSrCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE. 

On  the  first  day  while  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment  was  in 
line  awaiting  the  order  to  charge  the  enemy  in  McPherson's 
woods,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lane,  who  had  been  up  all  the 
night  previous  in  charge  of  the  division  skirmish  line,  and  had 
eaten  but  little,  but  had  drunken  freely  of  muddy  water,  was 
seized  with  an  intolerable  naiisea  and  vomiting.  Colonel 
Lane  thus  speaks  of  the  incident:  "I  asked  permission  of 
Colonel  Burgwyn  to  go  to  the  rear.  The  latter  replied :  'Oh, 
Colonel,  I  can't,  I  can't,  I  can't  think  of  going  into  this  battle 
without  you ;  here  is  a  little  of  the  best  French  brandy  which 
my  parents  gave  me  to  take  with  me  in  the  battle ;  it  may  do 
you  good.'  I  took  a  little  of  it  under  the  circumstances,  though 
I  had  not  drunk  any  during  the  war,  and  I  may  add,  neither 
had  Colonel  Burgwyn.  In  a  few  minutes  I  was  somewhat 
relieved  and  said:  'Colonel  Burgwyn,  I  can  go  with  you.' 
With  his  usual  politeness,  he  replied :  'Thank  you.  Colonel, 
thank  you.'  Continuing  the  conversation,  he  said:  'Colonel, 
do  you  think  that  we  will  have  to  advance  on  the  enemy  as 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  369 

they  are?  Oh,  what  a  splendid  place  for  artillery.  Why 
don't  they  fire  on  them  ?'  He  saw  and  realized  the  very  de- 
cided advantage  their  position  gave  them  over  us." 

James  D.  Moore,  private  in  Company  F,  was  the  85th  man 
of  his  company  shot  on  the  first  day's  fight.  A  ball  passed 
through  his  leg.  When  taken  to  the  field  hospital  the  sur- 
geon said  he  had  been  fighting  cavalry,  as  the  wound  was, 
made  by  a  carbine  44  calibre,  and  not  by  an  Enfield  rifle,  56- 
calibre.  After  the  war  Moore  went  to  live  in  Indiana  at  a 
place  called  Winnaniac.  He  there  met  a  man  named  Hayes 
who  was  a  member  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan  Regiment 
and  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Hayes  had  lost  his  Enfield 
rifle  on  the  forced  march  of  the  night  before,  and  as  his  regi- 
inent  was  going  into  action  on  the  morning  of  1  July, 
he  picked  up  a  carbine  dropped  by  one  of  Buford's  cavalry, 
and  used  it  during  the  fight.  It  was  the  only  carbine  in  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment  and  just  before  he  retreated,  when 
the  colors  of  the  regiment  charging  him  was  fifteen  or  twenty 
paces  distant,  he  fired  in  their  direction.  Moore  at  the  time 
was  alongside  the  flag  and  received  Hayes'  shot.  They  be- 
came good  friends  and  Hayes  was  of  material  assistance  to 
Moore  so  long  as  the  latter  lived  in  his  town. 

When  taken  from  the  fleld,  Colonel  Lane  was  carried  to 
the  field  hospital,  a  brick  house.  A  wotinded  Georgia  oflicer, 
who  was  lying  near  the  door  of  the  room  in  which  Colonel 
Lane  was,  had  been  delirious  all  the  morning.  He  finally  be- 
came quiet  about  1  p.  m.  and  after  a  silence  of  some  minutes. 
Colonel  Lane  heard  him  say  in  a  perfectly  rational  tone  of 
voice :  "There  now,  there  now.  Vicksburg  has  fallen,  Gen- 
eral Lee  is  retreating  and  the  South  is  whipped.  The  South 
is  whipped."  He  ceased  speaking  and  in  a  few  moments  an 
attendant  passed  by  and  said  he  was  dead.  General  Lee  did 
not  retreat  from  Gettysburg  until  the  evening  of  the  4th  of 
July,  and  Vicksburg  was  not  surrendered  until  the  4th  of 
July. 

It  is  stated  in  Volume  67,  page  514,  Official  Records  Union 
and  Confederate  Armies,  that  on  4  July,  1863,  at  6 :35  a.  m., 
General  Lee  proposed  to  General  Meade  "to  promote  the  com- 
24 


370  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

fort  and  convenience  of  the  officers  and  men  captured  by  the 
opposing  amiies,  that  an  exchange  be  made  at  once."  At 
8  :25  a.  m.,  General  Meade  replied :  "It  is  not  in  my  power  to 
accede  to  the  proposed  arrangement." 

COLONEL  LANE  ESCAPES  CAPTUEE. 

When  the  army  retreated  from  Gettysburg,  the  wounded 
were  sent  off  in  long  trains  chiefly  of  the  wagons  which  Gen- 
eral Stuart  had  captured  in  his  raid  around  Meade's  army. 
These  invited  the  attack  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  many 
wounded  Confederate  officers  and  soldiers  were  in  this  way 
captured  before  the  army  got  across  the  Potomac  river. 

The  wagon  train  in  which  Colonel  Lane  was  carried,  was 
one  of  those  attacked.  He  at  once  got  out  of  the  wagon, 
mounted  his  horse  and  made  his  escape,  though  he  was  at  the 
time  unable  to  speak  or  to  receive  nourishment  in  the  nat- 
ural way.  He  was  unable  to  take  any  nourishment  for  nine 
days,  owing  to  the  swollen  and  inflamed  condition  of  his 
throat  and  mouth,  and  it  was  thought  impossible  for  him 
ever  to  get  well. 

OPFICEES  PRESENT  AT  THE  BATTLE. 

Posterity  will  wish  to  know  as  much  as  possible  of  the  per- 
sonnel of  this  regiment,  and  we  append  a  list  of  the  officers  of 
the  regiment  who  participated  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 
This  we  are  enabled  to  do  from  a  very  remarkable  fact. 

As  stated  above,  the  proximity  of  Meade's  army  was  not 
known  on  30  June,  1863,  and  on  that  day  the  regiment  was 
mustered  as  it  bivouacked  after  the  day's  march.  These  mus- 
ter and  pay  rolls  were  made  out  in  triplicate,  one  to  be  sent  to 
the  Adjutant  General  of  the  army,  one  to  be  kept  by  the  com- 
pany commander,  and  one  by  the  Quartermaster  of  the  regi- 
ment, who  was  also  the  paymaster.  Captain  J.  J.  Young,  the 
regimental  Quartermaster  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 
the  war,  has  preserved  these  muster  and  pay  rolls.  The 
writer  has  had  access  to  the  same,  and  now  copies  from  them 
the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  who  were  present  in 
camp  on  the  afternoon  of  30  June,  1863,  and  the  number  of 


TWENTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT. 


1.    John  Tuttle,  Sergeant,  Co.  F. 

3.    Wm.  N.  SnellinK,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  D. 

3.  L  L.  Polk,  Sergeant  Major 

4.  W.  W.  Edwards,  Private,  Co.  E. 

6.  J.  D.  Moore.  Private,  Co.  F.  (The  85th 
man  in  his  Company  wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863.) 


6.  H    C.  Co£Eey,  Private,  Co.  F.      (The 

86th  man  in  his  Company  wounded 
at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863.) 

7.  Laban  Ellis,  Private,  Co.  E. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  371 

those  present  for  duty  in  each  company  as  shown  hy  its  mus- 
ter and  pay  roll  for  that  day. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Haeey  King  Buegwyn^  Jr.,  Colonel. 
John  Randolph  Lane,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
John  Thomas  Jones,  Major. 
James  B.  Joedan,  Adjutant. 
Llewellyn  P.  Waeeen,  Surgeon. 
William  W.  Gaithee,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Joseph  J.  Young,  Quartermaster. 
Phineas  Hoeton,  Commissary. 
MoNTFOED  S.  McRea,  Sergeant  Major. 
Benjamin  Hind,  Hospital  Steward. 
Abeam  J.  Lane,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
Jesse  F.  Peeguson,  Commissary  Sergeant. 
E.  H.  HoENADAY,  Ordnance  Sergeant. 

COMPANY  OFFIC^ES  PEESENT. 

Company  A — Captain,  Samuel  P.  Wagg;  First  Lieuten- 
ant, A.  B.  Duvall ;  Second  Lieutenant,  J.  B.  Houek ;  Junior 
Second  Lieutenant,  L.  C.  Gentry;  present  for  duty,  97. 

Company  B — ^Captain,  Wm.  Wilson;  First  Lieutenant, 
Thos.  J.  Cureton;  Second  Lieutenant,  W.  W.  Richardson; 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Edward  A.  Breitz;  present  for 
duty,  92. 

Company  C — Captain  J.  A.  Jarrett ;  First  Lieutenant,  W. 
Porter ;  Second  Lieutenant, ;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, R.  D.  Horton ;  present  for  duty,  80. 

Company  D- — Captain,  J.  T.  Adams;  First  Lieutenant, 
Gaston  Broughton;  Second  Lieutenant,  J.  G.  M.  Jones; 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Orren  A.  Hanner;  present  for 
duty,  79. 

Company  E^ — Captain,  S.  W.  Brewer;  First  Lieutenant, 
John  R.  Emerson;  Second  Lieutenant,  W.  J.  Lambert; 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Oran  A.  Hanner;  present  for 
duty,  104. 

Company  F — Captain,  R.  M.  Tuttle ;  First  Lieutenant,  C. 


372  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

M.   Sudderth;   Second  Lieutenant, ;   Jumoi' 

Second  Lieutenant,  J.  B.  HoUoway;  present  for  duty,  91. 

Company  G— Captain,  H.  C.  Albright;  First  Lieutenant, 
J.  A.  Lowe;  Second  Lieutenant, ;  Junior  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Wm.  G.  Lane;  present  for  duty,  91. 

Company  H— Captain, ;  First  Lieutenant, 

M.  McLeod;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  Willcox;  Junior 
Second  Lieutenant,  J.  H.  McGilvery ;  present  for  duty,  78. 

Company  I— Captain,  N.  G.  Bradford ;  First  Lieutenant, 
M.  B.  Blair;  Second  Lieutenant,  J.  C.  Grier;  Junior  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  J.  G.  Sudderth ;  present  for  duty,  74. 

CoMPAifY  K — Captain,  James  G.  McLauchlin ;  First  Lieu- 
tenant,  Thomas  Lilly;   Second  Lieutenant, \ 

Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  J.  L.  Henry ;  present  for  duty,  99. 

The  total  number  present  for  duty  was  885. 

Of  those  absent,  Captain  James  D.  Mclver  of  Company  H, 
Second  Lieutenant  A.  B.  Hays  of  Company  F,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  A.  K.  Jordan  of  Company  G,  were  absent  on  de- 
tached duty,  Second  Lieutenant  Wm.  L.  Ingram  of  Company" 
K,  was  on  sick  furloiigh,  and  Second  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Har- 
ris of  Company  C,  who  was  subsequently  captured  at  Bristoe 
Station  (14  October,  1863)  is  marked  "absent  with  leave." 

Of  the  above  list  those  killed  or  mortally  wounded  in  the 
two  days'  fighting,  were  as  follows :  Colonel,  H.  K.  Burgwyn ; 
Captains  S.  P.  Wagg,  Wm.  Wilson ;  Lieutenants,  John  E. 
Emerson,  W.  W.  Richardson,  J.  B.  HoUoway. 

All  the  other  ofiicers  except  Captain  Albright  and  Lieuten- 
ants J.  A.  Lowe,  C.  M.  Sudderth  and  ii.  B.  Blair,  were 
wounded.  Adjutant  J.  B.  Jordan  and  Sergeant-Major  M. 
S.  McRea,  of  the  Regimental  Staff,  both  severely  wounded. 
Major  Jones  and  Lieutenant  T.  J.  Cureton.  were  wounded,, 
but  refused  to  leave  the  field. 

WOUNDED  OFFICERS  CAPTURED. 

Captains,  Bradford  and  Brewer.  I^ieutenants,  Brietz, 
Broughton,  Hanner,  McLeod,  and  Adjutant  Jordan. 

On  31  August,  1863,  while  the  regiment  was  in  camp  near 
Orange  Court  House,  it  was  again  mustered.     The  writer  has- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  373 

these  rolls  before  him.  In  some  companies  the  record  of 
events  since  30  June,  1863  (last  muster)  is  specific;  in  some, 
no  details  are  given  other  than  vi^hat  appears  opposite  the 
name  of  the  individual. 

Captain  Duval,  of  Company  A,  reports  that  his  company 
went  into  action  at  Gettysburg  with  92  men  and  lost,  killed 
11,  and  wotinded  66,  on  the  first  day,  and  on  the  third  day, 
1  killed.  Captain  Wagg,  and  10  wounded  and  missing; 
total,  88. 

First  Lieutenant  W.  J.  Lambert,  of  Company  E,  says  his 
company  took  into  the  battle  82  men  and  lost,  killed  and  mor- 
tally wounded  18,  and  wounded  52,  on  the  first  day,  and  on 
the  second  day's  fight  only  two  men  escaped. 

Captain  Albright,  of  Company  G,  reports  the  loss  of  his 
company  at  12  killed  and  58  wounded  and  missing. 

Captain  Mclver,  of  Company  H,  reports  17  killed  and  55 
wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

Lieutenant  Polk,  of  Company  K,  says  he  recrossed  the 
Potomac  at  Falling  Waters  with  16  men,  having  crossed  that 
river  in  June  on  the  way  to  Gettysburg,  with  103,  rank  and 
file. 

Captain  Tuttle,  of  Company  F,  declares  that  every  man 
was  killed  or  wounded  in  his  company  that  he  took  into  the 
battle. 

The  following  is  tlie  number  killed  and  wounded  and  miss- 
ing at  Gettysburg,  ascertained  from  the  reports  as  given  on 
the  muster  rolls  of  the  companies,  dated  31  August,  1863 : 
"Killed  and  mortally  wounded,  139.  Wounded  and  miss- 
ing, 535." 

This  enumeration  omits  some  wounded  who  had  returned 
to  duty  prior  to  31  August,  1863,  the  date  of  the  muster. 

The  muster  rolls  for  30  June,  1863,  make  the  aggregate 
present  for  duty,  enlisted  men,  885 ;  allowing  10  per  cent, 
for  extra  duty  and  details,  it  would  leave  about  800  muskets 
taken  into  battle  at  Gettysburg  on  the  first  day.  Of  this 
number  708  were  killed,  wounded  and  missing  as  the  losses 
in  the  first  and  third  day's  fighting  at  Gettysburg.  Over  88 
per  cent — and  of  the  officers,  34  out  of  39  were  killed  or 
wounded.     Over  87  per  cent. 


374  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

coloe  beaeees  at  gettysbueg. 

It  is  possible  at  this  late  day  that  the  name  of  some  gallant 
soldier  who  carried  the  flag  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment 
during  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  may  be  omitted  from  the  list 
below,  but  every  effort  has  been  made  to  include  in  this  hon- 
orable mention  all  entitled,  for  no  one  took  the^flag  in  that 
battle  without  the  certainty  of  being  shot  down,  and  not  one 
escaped. 

The  color  guard  consisted  of  a  Sergeant  and  eight  pri- 
vates. After  these  nine  had  fallen,  the  others  were  volun- 
teers. 

FIEST  day's  I-IGHT^  1  JTJLY^  1863. 

Colonel,  H.  K.  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  killed. 

Captain  Wm.  W.  McCreery,  killed. 

Private  Franklin  Honeycutt,  Company  B,  killed. 

"  John  E..  Marley,  Company  Gr,  killed. 

"         William  Ingram,  Company  K,  killed. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  John  E.  Lane,  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Greorge  Willcox,  wounded. 
Color  Sergeant  J.  Mansfield,  wounded. 
Sergeant  Hiram  Johnson,  Company  Gr,  wounded. 
Private  John  Stamper,  Company  A,  wounded. 

"         G.  W.  Kelly,  Company  D,  wounded. 

"         L.  A.  Thomas,  Company  F,  wounded. 

"         John  Vinson,  Company  G,  wounded. 

thied  day's  fight^  3  JULY^  1863. 

Sergeant  W.  H.  Smith,  Company  K,  killed. 
Private  Thomas  J.  Cozart,  Company  F,  killed. 
Captain  S.  W.  Brewer,  Company  E,  wounded. 
Private  Daniel  Thomas,  Company  E,  wounded. 

As  First  Sergeant  James  M.  Brooks,  Company  E,  and 
Daniel  Thomas,  the  latter  carrying  the  flag,  reached  the  en- 
emy's works,  the  Federals  called  out  to  them,  "Come  over  on 
this  side  of  the  Lord,"  and  took  them  prisoners  rather  than 
fire  at  them. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  375 

LITTEE  BEAEERS  AT  GETTYSBtTEG. 

These  men  kept  right  up  with  the  regiment.     I  have  only 
been  able  to  locate  the  following  name^ : 
Private  Weill  B.  Staton,  Company  B. 

"         Jackson  Baker,  Company  D. 

"         John  A.  Jackson,  Company  H. 

FALLING  WATERS DEATH  OF   GENEEAL  PETTIGEEW. 

On  the  night  of  4  July,  1863,  General  Lee  withdrew  his 
army  from  confronting  Meade  at  Gettysburg,  and  Heth's 
Division  marched  to  Hagerstown,  where  it  entrenched.  "On 
the  evening  of  13  July,"  says  General  Heth  in  his  ofScial  re- 
port, "I  received  orders  to  withdraw  at  dark  and  move  in  the 
direction  of  Falling  Waters.  The  night  was  dark,  roads 
ankle  deep  in  mud  and  raining.  It  took  twelve  hours  to 
march  seven  miles.  On  reaching  an  elevated  and  command- 
ing ridge  of  hills,  one  mile  from  Falling  Waters,  I  was  or- 
dered by  General  A.  P.  Hill  to  put  my  division  in  line  of  bat- 
tle on  either  side  of  the  road  and  to  put  Pender's  Division  in 
rear  of  mine  in  column  of  brigades.  At  this  point  we  halted 
to  let  the  wagons  and  artillery  get  over  the  river.  About  11 
a.  m.  14  July,  1863,  received  orders  to  move  Pender's  divis- 
ion across  the  river  following  Anderson's  Division.  About 
15  or  20  minutes  after  getting  these  orders,  and  while  they 
were  in  execution,  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  numbering  40  or 
45,  made  their  appearance  in  our  front.  They  were  at  once 
observed  by  myself  and  General  Pettigrew,  and  several  mem- 
bers of  my  staff  as  well  as  many  others.  On  emerging  from 
the  woods  the  party  faced  about,  apparently  on  the  defensive. 
Suddenly  facing  about,  they  galloped  up  the  road  and  halted 
some  175  yards  from  my  line  of  battle.  From  their  manoeu- 
vering  and  the  smallness  of  their  numbers,  I  concluded  it  was 
a  party  of  our  own  cavalry  pursued  by  the  enemy.  In  this 
opinion  I  was  sustained  by  all  present.  The  troops  had  been 
restrained  up  to  this  time  from  firing  by  General  Pettigrew 
and  myself.  Examining  them  critically  with  my  glasses,  I 
discovered  they  were  Federal  troops,  and  the  command  was 
given  to  fire.     At  the  same  time  the  Federal  officer  gave  the 


376  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

command  to  charge.  The  squad  passed  through  the  intervals 
separating  the  epaulments  for  the  artillery  and  fired  several 
shots.  In  less  than  three  minutes  all  were  killed  or  captured, 
save  two  or  three  who  are  said  to  have  escaped.  General  Pet- 
tigrew,  who  had  received  a  wound  in  one  of  his  hands  (left) 
at  Gettysburg,  was  unable  to  manage  his  horse  which  reared 
and  fell  with  him.  It  is  probable  when  in  the  act  of  rising 
that  he  was  struck  by  a  pistol  ball  in  the  left  side,  which,  un- 
fortunately for  himself  and  his  country,  proved  fatal.  Thirty- 
three  of  the  enemy's  dead  were  counted,  and  six  prisoners  fell 
into  our  hands  and  a  stand  of  colors." 

The  cavalry  mentioned  above  was  a  portion  of  the  Sixth 
Michigan,  commanded  by  Major  P.  A.  Weber.'  "Seeing  only 
that  portion  of  the  enemy  behind  the  earthwork,"  says  Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick  in  his  report  of  the  affair,  "Major  Weber 
gave  the  order  to  charge." 

General  Kilpatrick  admits  a  loss  of  thirty  killed,  wounded 
and  missing,  including  the  "gallant  Major  P.  A.  Weber, 
killed."  It  would  seem  that  General  Heth  and  the  rest  were 
excusable  for  their  hesitation  as  to  which  side  this  cavalry 
force  belonged.  'Tis  true,  they  were  dressed  in  the  Federal 
uniform,  but  many  Confederate  scouts  wore  the  Federal  uni- 
form. It  was  known  that  General  Lee  was  crossing  his  army 
into  \"irginia,  at  Williamsport  ford  and  at  Falling  Waters  on 
a  pontoon  bridge,  and  that  the  cavalry  had  orders  to  protect 
the  crossing  of  the  infantry  at  these  places.  But  for  an  un- 
fortunate mistake  on  the  cavalry's  part  in  thinking  all  had 
crossed,  whereby  those  who  were  to  intervene  between  the 
enemy  and  Heth's  rear  guard  had  been  withdrawn  and  had, 
themselves,  crossed  at  Williamsport  above,  this  sad  disaster 
could  not  have  occurred. 

A  member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  regiment,  who  witnessed 
the  unfortunate  affair  says :  "Some  (referring  to  the  Fed- 
eral cavalry)  were  knocked  off  their  horses  with  fence  rails. 
General  Pettigrew  after  he  fell,  endeavored  to  shoot  the  Yan- 
kee who  shot  him,  but  his  pistol  missed  fire,  and  IST.  B.  Staton, 
private  of  Company  B,  seized  a  big  stone  and  crushed  the 
Yankee  in  the  breast,  killing  him." 

As   soon   as  the   surgeons   examined   General   Pettigrew's 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  377 

wound  they  saw  the  only  hope  for  his  life  was  to  keep  him 
perfectly  quiet,  and  proposed  to  take  him  into  a  barn  near 
by.  To  allow  this,  General  Pettigrew  obstinately  declined, 
saying  "he  would  die  before  he  would  again  be  taken  pris- 
oner." He  was  then  put  on  a  stretcher,  and  in  hopes  his  life 
by  this  way  might  be  saved,  he  was  carried  by  four  men  who 
were  regularly  relieved  by  fresh  details,  all  the  way  to  Bun- 
ker Hill,  a  distance  of  22  miles,  occupying  parts  of  two 
days.  Frequently  during  the  march  he  would  say  to  the  sol- 
diers as  he  would  notice  their  sympathetic  countenances: 
"Boys,  don't  be  disheartened.  May  be  I  will  fool  the  doc- 
tors yet."  He  lingered  in  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Boyd,  at  Bun- 
ker Hill,  Va.,  vmtil  17  July,  1863,  and  at  about  half  past  six 
in  the  morning,  died  quietly  and  without  pain.  General 
Lee,  riding  by  his  side  as  he  was  carried  on  the  litter  to  Bun- 
ker Hill,  expressed  great  sorrow  at  his  being  wounded.  Gen- 
eral Pettigrew  replied  "tliat  his  fate  was  no  other  than  one 
might  reasonably  anticipate  upon  entering  the  army,  and 
that  he  was  perfectly  willing  to  die  for  his  country." 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilmer,  afterwards  Bishop  Wilmer,  of 
Louisiana,  he  avowed  a  firm  persuasion  of  the  truths  of  the 
Christian  religion  and  said  that  in  accordance  with  his  belief 
he  had,  some  years  before,  made  preparation  for  death. 

On  the  morning  of  Friday,  24  July,  1863,  the  coffin  con- 
taining his  remains,  wrapped  in  the  flag  of  his  country,  and 
hidden  under  wreaths  of  flowers  and  other  tributes  of  femi- 
nine taste  and  tenderness,  lay  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Capitol  at 
Raleigh,  where  within  the  year  had  preceded  him  his  compa- 
triots, Branch  and  Anderson.  From  Raleigh,  he  was  taken 
to  his  old  home,  Bonarva,  Tjake  Scuppernong,  Tyrrell  County, 
and  there  he  is  buried  near  the  beautiful  lake  whose  sandy 
shores  his  youthful  feet  were  wont  to  tread.  We  would  pause 
here  to  remark  how  mysterious  are  the  dispensations  of  Prov- 
idence, that  it  should  be  denied  to  James  Johnston  Pettigrew 
to  die  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  and  be  decreed  that  he  must 
meet  his  end  in  a  petty  skirmish  with  cavalry  two  weeks  later. 

Many  prisoners  were  taken  on  the  retreat  from  Hagers- 
town  to  Falling  Waters,  hecause  of  the  exhausted  condition 
of  the  men  and  the  incessant  pursuit  of  the  Federal  cavalry. 


378  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

The  troops  at  Falling  Waters  had  to  cross  a  pontoon  bridge. 
The  Confederate  cavalry  having  retreated  across  at  Williams- 
port,  there  were  none  to  protect  the  infantry  of  Heth's  divis- 
ion as  it  crossed  at  Falling  Waters.  The  enemy's  cavalry 
pressed  them  on  front  and  flank,  and  there  was  more  or  less 
demoralization  at  the  last. 

Captain  Oureton,  of  Company  B,  witnessed  this  incident. 
A  Federal  cavalryman  took  position  near  the  Maryland  end 
of  the  pontoon  bridge  and  as  the  stragglers  came  along  he 
would  demand  their  surrender.  In  this  way  some  fifty  or 
sixty  men  had  surrendered  to  this  one  cavalryman,  when  a 
member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  passing  along,  was 
halted  and  his  surrender  demanded.  The  Twenty-sixth  Reg- 
iment man  raised  his  gun  and  taking  aim  said :  "Damn  you, 
you  surrender."  The  Federal  said  "all  right,"  and  threw 
dovrai  his  gun.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  with  the  fifty  or 
sixty  who  had  surrendered  to  him,  was  marohel  across  the 
bridge  by  the  Tar  Heel.  Captain  Cureton  was  the  last  man 
to  get  on  the  pontoon  bridge  as  it  was  cut  loose  from  its  Mary- 
land end  and  swung  into  the  river.  From  a  thousand  to  fif- 
teen hundred  stragglers  were  left  on  the  Maryland  side  by  this 
premature  cutting  loose  of  the  bridge,  and  fell  into  the  ene- 
my's hands. 

BBISTOE   STATION,   14   OCTOBEK,   1863. 

After  the  return  to  Virginia  from  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign. General  Lee  stationed  his  army  in  and  around  Orange 
Court  House.  While  here  on  7  September,  1863,  General 
Wm.  W.  Kirkland  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  Petti- 
grew's  Brigade,  and  remained  in  command  until  the  battle  of 
Bristoe  Station,  where  he  was  wounded. 

In  a  letter  from  General  Lee  to  President  Davis,  dated  17 
October,  1863,  he  thus  describes  this  unfortunate  engage- 
ment :  "With  a  view  of  bringing  on  an  engagement  with  the 
army  of  General  Meade,  this  army  marched  on  the  9th  instant 
by  way  of  Madison  Court  House  and  arrived  near  Culpepper 
on  the  11th.  The  enemy  retired  towards  the  Rappahannock. 
We  only  succeeded  in  coming  up  ^  with  a  portion  of  his  rear 
guard  at  this  place   (Bristoe  Station)   on  the  14th  instant, 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  379 

■when  a  severe  engagement  ensued,  but  without  any  decided 
or  satisfactory  results." 

In  his  eagerness  to  attack  the  retiring  enemy  (Third  Army 
Corps)  General  A.  P.  Hill  overlooked  the  presence  of  the 
Second  Corps  posted  behind  the  railroad  embankment  in  a 
cut ;  and  when  the  brigades  of  Cooke  and  Kirkland  made  the 
attack,  they  were  suddenly  confronted  by  the  Second  Corps 
posted  as  above  stated,  and  were  driven  back  with  severe  loss. 
In  his  report  of  the  engagement.  General  A.  P.  Hill  says :  "In 
conclusion  I  am  convinced  I  made  the  attack  too  hastily;  at 
the  same  time  a  delay  of  half  an  hour  and  there  would  have 
been  no  enemy  to  attack.  In  that  event  I  believe  I  should 
equally  have  blamed  myself  for  not  attacking  at  once." 

The  losses  sustained  by  Kirkland's  brigade  in  this  action : 

Regiment.  Killed.  Wounded. 

Eleventh    4  11 

Twenty-sixth 16  83 

Forty-fourth .23  63 

Porty-seventh 5  37 

Fifty-second 2  25 

Total   50  219 

WINTER  OF  1863-'64. — the  snow  ball  battle. 

The  Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  winter-quartered  in  and 
around  Orange  Court  house. 

"At  the  first  heavy  fall  of  snow,  it  was  suggested  that  there 
should  be  a  sham  battle  between  Cooke's  and  Kirkland's  Bri- 
gades, and  snow  balls  be  the  weapons  used.  The  two  brigades 
paraded  facing  each  other  on  opposite  sides  of  a  ravine.  Col- 
onel Wm.  MacRae,  of  the  Fifteenth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment, commanded  Cooke's  Brigade;  as  to  the  name  of  the 
commander  of  Kirkland's,  the  writer  is  not  advised.  At  a 
given  signal  the  battle  began.  At  first  the  men  contented 
themselves  with  using  snow,  and  all  was  fun  and  frolic ;  but 
as  the  contest  waxed  more  animated  and  each  side  struggled 
for  mastery,  the  passions  of  the  combatants  became  aroused 
and  the  excitement  of  actual  battle  seized  them;  hard  sub- 


380  North  Carolina  Troops.   1861-65. 

stances,  frequently  stones,  were  grabbed  up  with  the  snow  and 
made  into  a  ball  that  had  the  stinging  effect  of  the  genuine  ar- 
ticle on  the  one  hit,  and  several  received  injuries  of  a  serious 
nature.  Colonel  MacRae  was  pulled  from  his  horse  and 
roughly  handled,  and  the  combat  only  ended  with  the  exhaus- 
tion of  the  participants,  each  side  agreeing  it  should  be  con- 
sidered a  drawn  battle.  This  affair  caused  some  bitterness 
between  the  brigades,  which  took  time  and  comradeship,  bat- 
tles, privation  and  sufferings  to  destroy." 

About  the  middle  of  November,  1863,  Colonel  Lane  having 
sixty  days  longer  leave  of  absence,  visited  his  regiment.  He 
thus  writes  of  his  visit:  "I  found  the  regiment  so  low  in 
spirits  and  few  in  number  that  the  day  I  reached  camp,  was, 
I  believe,  the  saddest  day  to  me  of  all  the  war.  I  realized 
then,  as  not  before,  the  deaths  of  my  Colonel,  Harry  Bur- 
gAvyn,  of  our  General,  Pettigrew,  and  so  many  other  officers 
and  friends  in  the  regiment. 

"Regretting  so  much  to  see  the  gallant  old  regiment  go 
down,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  I  was  entirely  unable  for 
active  service,  I  reported  myself  for  duty,  when  I  was  com- 
missioned as  full  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  to 
date  from  1  July,  1863.  I  went  to  work  with  all  the  will  I 
could  possibly  bring  to  bear  to  recruit,  drill  and  equip  my 
regiment  and  restore  it  to  something  like  its  former  numbers 
and  efficiency." 

Major  John  T.  Jones  had  been  promoted  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  at  one  time  com- 
manding the  brigade,  had  been  in  command  of  the  regiment 
from  Gettysburg  until  Colonel  Lane's  return.  Captain  Jas. 
T.  Adams,  of  Company  D,  on  his  return  to  the  regiment  after 
his  recovery  from  his  woimd  received  at  Gettysburg  (first 
day)  was  promoted  to  Major.  The  commissions  of  all  bear- 
ing date  1  July,  1863,  in  recognition  of  the  heroic  conduct 
of  the  regiment  on  that  day.  The  captaincy  of  Company  D 
was  held  open  awaiting  the  return  of  First  Jjieutenant  Gas- 
ton H.  Broughton,  wounded  and  captured  in  the  third  day's 
fight  at  Gettysburg.  Orderly  Sergeant  John  A.  Polk,  of 
Company  K,  promoted  Second  Lieutenant  after  Gettysburg, 
where  he  was  wounded,  was  appointed  acting  Adjutant,  vice 


Twenty-Sixth  Rkgiment.  381 

Adjutant  Jordan,  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettysburg. 

Continuing  our  quotations  from  Colonel  Lane's  letter :  "I 
was  informed  by  General  Kirkland  that  if  consolidation  of 
regiments  were  effected,  that  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was 
named  as  one  to  be  consolidated.  I  tised  every  influence  at 
my  command  to  avert  the  threatened  consolidation,  and 
through  the  noble  concert  of  action  of  the  officers  of  the  regi- 
ment, I  had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  seeing  our  efforts 
crowned  with  success. 

"Such  was  the  harmony,  energy  and  regimental  pride  of 
the  officers  and  men,  and  so  well  did  they  work  together  to 
promote  its  interests,  enlivened  by  such  soul-inspiring  music 
as  only  Captain  Mickey's  band  could  furnish,  that  by  the  first 
of  May,  1864,  the  regiment  numbered  760  strong;  and  so 
well  was  it  drilled  that  General  Heth  pronounced  it  to  be 
one  of  the  'best  drilled  regiments  in  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.'  The  improvement  in  the  moral  and  religious  con- 
dition of  the  regiment  that  winter  was  very  remarkable,  more 
good  being  effected  by  the  work  of  the  Chaplains  and  their  as- 
sistants than  during  all  the  previous  years  of  the  war." 

Many  deserters  returned,  gave  themselves  up  and  ever  af- 
terwards made  good  soldiers,  and  by  5  May,  1864,  this 
old  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  that  had  been  bereft  of  so  many 
of  its  best  officers  and  men  at  Gettysburg,  and  Bristoe  Station, 
that  it  came  near  losing  its  separate  existence  by  being  merged 
into  another,  proudly  marched  down  the  plank  road  at  the 
head  of  Heth's  division  to  the 

battles  of  the  wildeeness    and    spottsylvania  coukt 

HOUSE. 

On  4  May,  1864,  General  U.  S.  Grant,  now  in  command  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  with  General  Meade  in  im- 
mediate command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  crossed  the 
Rapidan  at  Ely  and  Germania  fords. 

General  Lee  marched  two  corps  to  oppose  him.  Ewell's 
(Second  Corps)  by  the  old  turnpike,  and  Hill's  (Third 
Corps)  by  the  Orange  plank  road. 

Says  General  Lee  in  his  report  of  the  battle :  "Ewell  and 
Hill  arrived  in  the  morning  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy's 


382  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

line  of  march.  A  strong  attack  was  made  upon  Ewell,  who 
repulsed  it,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  four  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery. The  enemy  subsequently  concentrated  on  Hill,  who, 
with  Heth's  and  Wilcox's  Divisions,  successfully  resisted  re- 
peated and  desperate  assaults.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
6  May,  as  these  divisions  were  being  relieved,  the  enemy  ad- 
vanced and  created  some  confusion.  The  ground  lost  was  re- 
covered so  soon  as  the  fresh  troops  got  into  position  and  the 
enemy  were  driven  back.  Afterward  we  txirned  the  left  of 
his  front  line  and  drove  it  from  the  field.  Lieuten  ant-Gen- 
eral Longstreet  was  severely  wounded." 

A  member  of  the  regiment  thus  writes  of  this  battle : 

"ISTever  did  a  regiment  march  more  proudly  and  deter- 
minedly than  the  Twenty-sixth,  when  it  headed  the  column  of 
Kirkland's  Brigade  for  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  Beach- 
ing the  ground  early  5  May,  1864,  we  passed  General  Lee  and 
his  Staff.  Our  regiment  was  engaged  all  the  first  day,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  back  the  enemy  and  holding  him  in  check ; 
but  informed  we  would  be  relieved  during  the  night  by  men 
of  Longstreet's  Corps,  we  did  not  take  proper  precaution  and 
were  surprised  by  the  enemy,  who  at  daybreak  next  morning 
(6  May)  with  great  vigor,  renewed  the  attack  of  the  previous 
afternoon,  and  our  brigade  came  very  near  being  stampeded. 
And  again  the  regiment  met  with  serious  loss  in  prisoners 
and  killed  and  wounded." 

Colonel  Lane  being  wounded  in  the  thigh  on  the  evening 
before,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  was  now  in  command  of 
the  regiment,  and  while  gallantly  rallying  his  men  and  lead- 
ing them  in  a  charge,  was  mortally  wounded.  He  asked  As- 
sistant Surgeon  W.  W.  Gaither,  if  the  wound  was  mortal. 
When  told  it  was,  with  a  yearning  expression  he  replied: 
"It  must  not  be.  I  was  bom  to  accomplish  more  good  than  I 
have  done."  Later  on  will  be  found  a  sketch  of  this  noble, 
gallant  young  soldier  who  died  ere  his  prime,  but  left  a  projid 
record  behind  him.  Continuing  our  quotation  :  "The  regi- 
ment succeeded  in  holding  the  lines  and  at  the  critical  mo- 
ment, Longstreet  came  up  with  his  magnificent  corps  in  the 
most  perfect  order  I  ever  saw,  marching  his  forces  against 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  383 

Grant  like  boys  going  to  a  frolic.  He  hurled  back  the  enemy 
and  getting  in  their  rear  and  left  flank,  was  driving  them  in 
great  confusion  from  the  field,  when,  like  Stonewall  Jack- 
son, General  Longstreet  fell,  shot  down  by  some  of  his  own 
men  (part  of  Mahone's  Brigade)  and  the  pursuit  was  stopped. 
After  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  was  wounded,  Colonel  Lane 
returned  to  duty,  his  wound  not  proving  very  severe. 

"Lee  and  Grant  noM'  moved  along  on  parallel  lines  fronting 
each  other  like  two  great  monsters,  and  the  night  of  7 
May,  found  Lee's  army  well  in  line,  fronting  Grant,  with 
Longstreet's  Corps,  commanded  by  Anderson  on  the  right, 
Ewell  on  the  left,  and  Hill  in  the  center,  the  Twenty-sixth 
Regiment  being  near  the  centre  bf  Hill's  Corps,  placed  it 
about  the  centre  of  the  army. 

THE  EEBEI-  TELL. 

"About  8  p.  m.,  on  the  night  of  7  May,  it  became  rumored 
that  Grant's  army  was  moving  to  his  left,  and  had  lost  hope 
of  reaching  Richmond  by  the  overland  route.  The  rebel  yell 
was  raised  at  some  point  on  the  right  of  the  line;  at  first, 
heard  like  the  rumbling  of  a  distant  railroad  train,  it  came 
rushing  down  the  lines  like  the  surging  of  the  waves  upon  the 
ocean,  increasing  in  loudness  and  grandeur;  and  passing,  it 
would  be  heard  dying  away  on  the  left  in  the  distance.  Again 
it  was  heard  coming  from  the  right  to  die  away  again  on  the 
distant  left.  It  was  renewed  three  times,  each  time  with 
increased  vigor.  It  was  a  yell  like  the  defiant  tones  of  the 
thunder  storm,  echoing  and  re-echoing.  It  caused  such  dis- 
may among  the  Federals  that  it  is  said  their  pickets  fired  and 
ran  in." 

During  the  night  General  Lee  put  his  army  in  motion  for 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  arrived  just  in  time,  as  the 
enemy  came  in  sight  about  9  a.  m.  next  morning  (8  May). 

The  10th  was  a  day  of  vigorous  battle,  the  enemy  made  in- 
cessant attacks  on  the  First  Corps  (Andersons),  but  were 
continually  repulsed  Avith  great  slaughter.  During  the  night 
of  the  11th,  the  artillery  protecting  Johnstons  Division  at  the 
salient  was  withdrawn  to  be  ready  to  move  to  the  right,  when 
at  dawn  of  the  12th,  Hancock's  Corps  attacked  and  captured 


384  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

it,  and  most  of  Johnston's  Division  and  twenty  guns.  It 
has  been  stated  that  Johnston  was  surprised  by  the  enemy  on 
this  occasion.  This  he  denies.  In  his  report  of  the  affair 
he  says :  "On  the  night  of  11  May,  in  riding  around  my 
lines,  I  found  the  artillery  leaving  the  trenches  and  moving 
to  the  rear.  About  12  p.  m.  I  communicated  to  Lieutenant- 
General  Ewell  my  belief  that  I  would  be  attacked  and  re- 
quested the  return  of  the  artillery.  There  was  no  surprise ; 
my  men  were  up  and  ready  for  the  assault  before  the  enemy 
made  their  appearance." 

A  member  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment  writes : 

"At  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  the  Twenty- 
sixth  was  detached  from  its  regular  place  in  the  line  and  sta- 
tioned about  fifty  yards  from  the  Cotirt  House  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  support  any  point  which  might  be  strongly  assaulted. 
While  we  were  yet  lying  there,  General  Lee  came  riding  by  on 
his  war  horse,  Traveler.  Grant's  artillery  opened  fire  and 
it  seemed  impossible  that  General  Lee  cotild  escape  in  the 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  which  was  centered  iipon  him.  As 
quick  as  a  flash  the  members  of  his  staff  placed  themselves 
around  him  to  protect  him  with  their  own  bodies.  Such  was 
the  sentiment  in  the  entire  army.  Each  one  was  willing  to 
give  up  his  life  to  save  that  of  the  Commander-in-Chief.  The 
troops  were  visibly  affected,  as  General  Lee  with  his  staff, 
still  svirrounding  him,  rode  off.  This  incident  manifested 
the  love,  reverence  and  respect  in  which  General  Lee  was  held 
by  his  soldiers." 

At  a  critical  time  in  the  carapaign  it  was  extremely  diificult 
to  get  com  for  the  artillery  horses.  Three  farmers  living  a 
few  miles  up  the  river  tendered  General  Lee  two  thousand 
bushels  of  corn,  but  the  trouble  was,  how  to  get  it,  as  it  was 
necessary  to  send  a  wagon  train  for  it  and  the  road  lay  for  a 
greater  part  of  the  distance  in  close  proximity  to  the  lines  of 
the  enemy.  As  an  escort  for  this  wagon  train,  General  Lee 
ordered  that  some  regiment  should  be  selected  to  whose  ofiicers 
the  men  yielded  unquestioned  obedience,  and  upon  whom 
they  had  entire  reliance.  The  Twenty-  sixth  Regiment  was 
selected  for  this  hazardous  service;    the    corn    was    safely 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  385 

brought  into  camp  and  the  hungry  artillery  horses  fed, 
making  it  possible  to  move  the  guns,  and  thus  relieving  the 
army  from  a  threatened  disaster. 

BEIGADIEE-GENERAL    WM.    MACKAE. 

On  his  recovery  from  the  wound  received  at  Bristoe  Sta- 
tion, General  Kirkland  was  in  command  of  the  brigade  until 
he  was  again  wounded  on  2  June,  1864,  when  Colonel  Wm. 
MacRae,  of  the  Fifteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  of 
Cooke's  Brigade,  was  made  Brigadier-General,  and  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Kirkland's  Brigade  27  June,  1864.  Gen- 
eral MacRae  is  thus  spoken  of  by  officers  of  the  regiment : 

"General  MacRae  soon  won  the  confidence  and  admiration 
of  the  brigade,  both  officers  and  men.  His  voice  was  like  that 
of  a  Woman ;  he  was  small  in  person,  and  quick  in  action.  To 
him  history  has  never  done  justice.  He  could  place  his  com- 
mand in  position  quicker  and  infiise  more  of  his  fighting 
qualities  into  his  men,  than  any  officer  I  ever  saw.  His 
presence  with  his  troops  seemed  to  dispel  all  fear,  and  to  in- 
spire every  one  with  a  desire  for  the  fray.  The  brigade  re- 
mained under  his  command  until  the  surrender." 

Another  officer  thus  writes : 

"General  MacRae  assigned  to  the  brigade  changed  the 
physical  expression  of  the  whole  command  in  less  than  two 
weeks,  and  gave  the  men  infinite  faith  in  him  and  themselves, 
which  was  never  lost,  not  even  when  they  grounded  arms  at 
Appomattox." 

FEOM  THE  WILDBBITESS  TO  EICHMOITD. 

On  all  the  line  from  the  Wilderness  to  Richmond  and  Pe- 
tersburg, General  Lee  acted  on  the  defensive.  He  suffered  the 
enemy  to  attack  him,  and  in  every  instance  the  result  proved 
the  wisdom  of  his  doing  so.  General  Lee  had  not  a  man  to 
lose  unnecessarily.  There  were  no  reserves  for  him  to  call 
upon  to  fill  his  depleted  ranks.  ISTot  so  his  adversary. 
As  a  matter  of  historical  interest,  I  will  quote  briefly  from 

25 


386  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

some  of  General  Grant's  dispatches  to  General  Halleck  at 
Washington,  D.  0.,  giving  the  losses  in  his  army  on  this 
march  to  Richmond : 

"4  May,  1864:  The  crossing  of  the  Rapidan  effected. 
Forty-eight  hours  will  now  demonstrate  whether  the  enemy 
intend  giving  battle  this  side  of  Richmond."  It  has  been 
shown  that  in  less  than  twelve  hours  from  the  date  of  this  dis- 
patch Lee  had  inflicted  a  severe  repulse  upon  Grant's  army. 

"6  May,  11:30  a.  m. :  We  have  been  engaged  with  the 
enemy  in  full  force  since  early  yesterday.  I  think  all  things 
are  progressing  favorably.  Our  loss  to  this  time  I  do  not 
think  exceeds  eight  thousand. 

"7  May,  10  a.  m. :  Our  losses  to  this  time  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners  will  not  exceed  twelve  thousand. 

"11  May,  1864 :  We  have  lost  up  to  this  time,  eleven  gen- 
eral officers,  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  and  probably 
twenty  thousand  men. 

"26  May,  1864:  Lee's  army  is  really  whipped.  The  pris- 
oners we  now  take  show  it,  and  the  action  of  his  army  shows  it 
unmistakably.  A  battle  with  them  outside  of  their  intrench- 
ments  cannot  be  had.  Our  men  feel  that  they  have  gained 
the  morale  over  the  enemy  and  attack  with  confidence."  A 
few  days  later.  General  Grant's  tone  is  different. 

"5  June,  1864:  Without  a  greater  sacrifice  of  human  life 
than  I  am  willing  to  make,  all  cannot  be  accomplished  that  I 
had  designed.  I  have,  therefore,  resolved  upon  the  follow- 
ing plan :   Move  to  the  south  side  of  James  river." 

It  is  now  well  known  that  so  disheartened  was  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  by  its  fearful  losses  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  from  the  crossing  of  the  Rapidan  to  and  including 
the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  1-3,  1864  (the  official  reports 
make  this  loss  over  forty  thousand),  that  at  the  latter  battle 
the  soldiers  refused  to  obey  the  orders  to  attack  the  Confed- 
erate lines.  (In  this  last  battle  the  Federals  lost  over  ten 
thousand),  and  General  Grant  in  his  testimony  before  the 
Congressional  Committee  investigating  the  cause  of  the  fail- 
tire  at  the  Mine  explosion  (at  Petersburg  30  July,  1864)  gave 
it  as  one  of  the  explanations  for  the  failure,  the  detail  of 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  387 

white  troops  rather  than  Ferrero's  Division  of  negroes,  to 
make  the  assault,  the  white  troops  being  demoralized  from 
their  life  in  the  trenches  and  losses  in  battle. 

From  Spottsylvania  Court  House  to  the  North  Anna,  at 
Hanover  Junction,  Cold  Harbor,  on  the  lines  between  Rich- 
mond and  Petersburg,  the  Twenty-sixth  was  always  prompt  to 
respond  to  all  orders.  General  Grant,  like  Wm.  Taylor's 
snake,  would  "wire  in  and  wire  out,  and  frequently  left  us 
still  in  doubt,  whether  he  was  coming  in  or  going  out." 

INCIDENTS  OF  THIS  CAMPAIGN. 

On  two  occasions  while  on  the  picket  line  between  Spott- 
sylvania Court  House  and  Richmond,  Colonel  Lane's  life  was 
probably  saved  by  the  vigilance  of  his  men. 

On  one  occasion  Private  Laban  Ellis,  of  Company  E,  see- 
ing a  Federal  soldier  taking  aim  at  the  Colonel,  fired  so  quick 
that  his  ball  struck  the  Federal's  gun  as  it  went  off  and 
knocked  it  from  his  shoulder,  whereupon  the  latter  surren- 
dered and  said  to  Colonel  Lane :  "Your  man  saved  you."  On 
another  occasion,  as  Colonel  Lane,  with  Ira  !N'all,  also  of 
Company  E,  were  making  a  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  in 
their  front,  ISTall  spied  a  man  a  few  feet  away  with  his  gun 
leveled  upon  the  Colonel.  Without  taking  time  to  raise  his 
gun  to  his  shoulder,  ISTall  fired  and  brought  the  Federal  down, 
killing  him. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  state  in  detail  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  the  regiment  participated  along  this  line. 
General  Grant  attempted  to  go  around  us,  over  us,  and  under 
us  (explosion  of  the  mine,  30  June,  1864),  but  was  foiled  in 
every  attempt.  Two  of  the  most  brilliant  victories  in  which 
MacRae's  Brigade  played  a  conspicuous  part  were  the  en- 
gagements at  Davis  House,  19  August,  and  Reams  Station, 
25  August,  186J^.  In  General  Lee's  reports  of  these  actions, 
he  thus  writes  20  August,  1864:  "General  Hill  attacked 
the  enemy  (Fifth  Corps)  yesterday  afternoon  at  Davis 
House,  three  miles  from  Petersburg,  on  Weldon  Railroad, 
defeated  him  and  captured  about  2,700  prisoners,  including 
one  Brigadier-General,  and  several  field  officers." 


388  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

26  August,  1864:  "General  A.  P.  Hill  attacked  the  enemy 
in  his  entrenchments  at  Eeams  Station  yesterday  evening  and 
at  the  second  assault,  carried  his  entire  line.  Cooke's,  Mac- 
Rae's  and  Lane's  Brigades  (under  General  Connor),  and 
Pegram's  artillery,  composed  the  assaulting  column.  Hill 
captured  nine  pieces  of  artillery,  twelve  colors,  2,150  prison- 
ers, 3,100  stand  of  small  arms  and  32  horses." 

So  altogether  creditable  was  the  conduct  of  these  three 
North  Carolina  Brigades  as  to  call  forth  from  General  Lee 
a  letter  to  Governor  Vance,  dated  29  August,  1864,  in  which 
he  says:  "I  have  frequently  been  called  upon  to  mention 
the  services  of  the  North  Carolina  soldiers  in  this  army,  but 
their  gallantry  and  conduct  were  never  more  deserving  of 
admiration  than  in  the  engagement  at  Eeams  Station,  on  the 
25th  instant.  The  brigades  of  Generals  Cooke,  MacRae  and 
Lane,  the  last  under  the  command  of  General  Connor,  ad- 
vanced through  a  thick  abatis  of  felled  trees  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  and  carried  the  enemy's  works  ' 
with  a  steady  courage  that  elicited  the  warm  commendation 
of  their  corps  and  division  commanders,  and  the  admiration 
of  the  army.  If  the  men  who  remain  in  North  Carolina 
share  the  spirit  of  those  they  have  sent  to  the  field,  as  I 
doubt  not  they  do,  her  defense  may  be  securely  entrusted  in 
their  hands." 

INCIDENTS  IN   THE  BATTLE MAJOR  GENERAL  HETH  A   JOINT 

COLOR  BEARER. 

The  troops  selected  to  carry  the  enemy's  works  in  the  early 
part  of  the  fight  having  been  repeatedly  driven  back,  Heth's 
Division  was  ordered  to  their  assistance.  The  division  was 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  with  the  skirmishers  in  front. 

Lieutenant  D.  C.  Waddell,  of  Company  G,  Eleventh  North 
Carolina  Regiment,  relates  this  incident  to  the  writer.  Lieu- 
tenant Waddell  was  in  command  of  the  skirmishers  on  that 
part  of  the  line.  Major-General  Heth  walked  out  to  his  line 
and  ordered  him  to  send  a  man  back  to  the  main  line  and 
bring  a  regimental  flag.  The  messenger  returned  with  the 
color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment.  General  Heth 
demanded  the  flag.     The  color-bearer  refused  to  give  it  up, 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  389 

saying:  "General,  tell  me  where  you  want  the  flag  to  go  and 
I  will  take  it.  I  won't  surrender  up  my  colors."  The  Gen- 
eral again  made  the  demand,  and  was  met  by  the  same  refusal, 
when  taking  the  eolor-bearer  by  the  arm,  he  said :  "Come  on 
then,  we  will  carry  the  colors  together."  Then  giving  the 
signal  to  charge  by  waving  the  flag  to  the  right  and  the 
left,  the  whole  line  with  a  yell,  started  for  the  enemy's  works. 
The  abatis  protecting  the  enemy's  lines  was  interlaced  with 
wire  in  places,  but  charging  through  and  over  and  around  it 
all,  the  Confederate  line  rushed  up  to  the  works,  and  Gen- 
eral Heth,  and  his  co-color-bearer,  planted  the  flag  on  the  en- 
trenchments behind  which  lay  the  enemy,  most  of  whom 
thereupon  surrendered.  Thomas  Minton,  of  Company  C, 
from  Wilkes  County,  was  the  name  of  this  gallant  color- 
bearer.  He  was  subsequently  killed  with  his  colors  in  the 
action  near  Burgess  Mill,  27  October,  1864.  This  gallant 
soldier  was  also  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 

This  courageous  assault  was  necessarily  attended  with  con- 
siderable loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  Coloned  Lane  was 
again  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  wounded.  He  was  struck  by  a 
piece  of  shell  in  the  left  breast  just  over  the  heart,  fracturing 
two  ribs  and  breaking  one  and  tearing  open  the  flesh  to  the 
bones,  making  a  fearful  wound  six  inches  long  and  three 
wide,  from  which  it  was  thought  he  would  surely  die.  But 
about  the  first  of  JSTovember  he  Avas  again  back  with  his  com- 
mand ready  for  duty. 

Among  the  other  officers  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment 
killed  in  these  almost  daily  engagements  with  the  enemy,  was 
Captain  Henry  C.  Albright,  of  Company  G.  He  fell  mor- 
tally wounded  at  the  head  of  his  company  in  repulsing  an 
attack  on  the  Vaughn  Roads,  29  September,  1864.  It  would 
seem  he  had  a  presentment  of  his  death.  Captain  Albright 
had  been  in  every  engagement  and  battle  in  which  his  regi- 
ment participated  from  New  Bern,  up  to  that  day,  and  es- 
caped from  even  a  slight  wound.  On  the  day  he  was  wounded 
he  remarked  to  a  friend :  "Oh,  how  I  dread  this  day."  He 
was  carried  to  the  Winder  hospital,  insisting  that  he  be  placed 
in  the  ward  where  his  soldier  boys  were,  rather  than  in  the 
Officer's  hospital.     He  lingered  until  21  October,  1864.     He 


390  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

was  carried  home  and  buried  in  his  family  grave  yard  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  Chatham  County.  A  handsome  monument 
marks  the  spot. 

He  was  succeeded  by  First  Lieutenant  A.  K.  Johnson,  who 
was  such  a  martinet  that  the  boys  called  him  "Bob  Ransom." 
lew  companies  in  the  Confederate  army  had  better  officers 
than  Company  G.  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  T.  Adams  was 
now  in  command  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  and  remained  so  until 
Colonel  Lane  returned  to  duty  as  stated  above. 

Heth's  Division  being  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Confed- 
erate line  defending  Petersburg,  were  among  the  troops  first 
to  be  called  upon  to  resist  any  flank  movement  on  the  part  of 
General  Grant;  and  there  was  fighting  almost  daily  along 
their  front  and  flank. 

At  Burgess  Mills,  27  October,  1864,  where  Hancock  lost 
1,482  in  killed  and  wounded ;  on  Warren's  expedition  with 
the  Fifth  Corps  to  destroy  Weldon  bridge  when  he  was  met 
and  driven  back  at  Belfield  7-1 2  December,  1864 ; in  the  severe 
engagements  at  Hatcher's  Run,  5-6  February,  1865,  with 
Warren's  Corps  (Fifth)  and  Gregg's  Division  of  cavalry,  in 
which  Warren  admits  a  loss  of  1,376  killed  and  wounded  and 
missing ;  in  all  these  actions  MacRae's  Brigade  was  actively 
engaged  and  maintained  its  high  prestige  to  the  end.  Of  the 
suffering  borne  without  murmuring,  and  fortitude  displayed 
by  these  heroic  soldiers,  when  every  one  realized  the  cause 
was  lost  and  the  end  must  soon  come,  I  quote  from  General 
Lee's  report  of  this  Hatcher  Run  fight,  dated  8  February, 
1865 :  "Yesterday,  the  most  inclement  day  of  the  winter, 
the  troops  had  to  be  retained  in  line  of  battle,  having  been  in 
the  same  condition  the  two  previous  days  and  nights.  I  re- 
gret to  be  obliged  to  state  that  under  these  circumstances, 
heightened  by  the  assault  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  some  of 
the  men  were  suffering  from  rediiced  rations  and  scant  cloth- 
ing, exposed  to  battle,  cold,  hail  and  sleet.  I  have  directed 
Colonel  Cole,  chief  commissary,  who  reports  that  he  has  not 
a  pound  of  meal  at  his  disposal,  to  visit  Richmond  and  see  if 
something  cannot  be  done.  If  some  change  is  not  made,  and 
the  Commissary  Department  not  reorganized,  I  apprehend 
dire  results.      The  physical  strength  of  the  men,  their  cour- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  391 

age,  services,  must  fail  under  this  treatment.  Our  cavalry 
has  to  be  dispersed  for  the  want  of  forage.  I  had  to  bring 
Wm.  H.  F.  Lee's  Division  forty  miles  Sunday  night  to  get 
him  in  position."  President  Davis  endorses  this  report  as 
follows:  "This  is  too  sad  to  be  patiently  considered,  and 
cannot  have  occurred  without  criminal  neglect  or  gross  in- 
capacity. Let  supplies  be  had  by  purchase  or  borrowing,  or 
other  possible  mode." 

APPOMATTOX,  9  APRIL,   1865. 

On  28  March,  1863,  General  Fitzhugh  Lee  was  ordered  to 
move  his  division  of  cavalry,  then  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
Confederate  lines  in  front  of  Richmond  on  the  north  side  of 
the  James  river,  to  Sutherland's  Station  on  the  south  side  of 
the  railroad,  19  miles  from  Petersburg,  which  he  reached 
on  the  29th,  and  next  day  marched  towards  Dinwiddle  Court 
House,  via  Five  Forks. 

On  29  March,  1865,  General  Lee  advises  Secretary  of  War, 
General  John  C.  Breckenridge,  that  "the  enemy  have  crossed 
Hatcher's  Run  with  a  large  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry  and 
artillery." 

On  1  April  "that  General  Pickett,  with  three  of  his  own 
and  two  of  General  Johnson's  (Bushrod)  Brigades,  supported 
the  cavalry  under  General  Fitz.  Lee,  at  Five  Forks ;  that  Gen- 
eral Pickett  forced  his  way  to  within  less  than  a  mile  of  Din- 
widdle Court  House,  but  later  a  large  force,  believed  to  be  the 
Fifth  Corps  (Warren's),  with  other  troops,  turned  Pickett's 
left  and  drove  him  back  on  the  White  Oak  Road  and  separa- 
ted him  from  General  Fitz.  Lee,  who  was  compelled  to  fall 
back  across  Hatcher's  Run ;  General  Pickett's  present  position 
not  known." 

On  1  April,  Longstreet  was  ordered  with  two  of  his  divis- 
ions to  the  south  side,  and  General  W.  ~S.  Pendleton,  chief  of 
Artillery,  was  ordered  at  8  p.  m.  to  withdraw  all  his  guns, 
which  he  in  his  report  says,  "was  accomplished  with  great  suc- 
cess, only  sixty-one  gTms  and  thirteen  caisons  of  the  250  field 
pieces  belonging  to  the  army  on  the  lines  near  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  remained  behind." 

On  2  April  (received  at  10:40  a.  m.)  General  Lee  dis- 


392  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

patches  President  Davis :  "I  see  no  prospect  of  doing  more 
than  hjlding  our  position  here  till  night."  Later  on  same 
day  (rjceived  at  7  p.  m.)  :  "It  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
we  should  abandon  our  position  tonight,  or  run  the  risk  of 
being  cut  off  in  the  morning." 

General  E.  S.  Ewell  in  his  report,  says :  "At  10  a.  m.  Sun- 
day (2  April,  1865),  received  message  to  return  to  the  city 
of  Eichmond,  and  on  doing  so  received  the  order  for  the  evac- 
uation and  to  destroy  the  stores  that  could  not  be  moved.  A 
mob  of  both  sexes  and  all  colors  soon  collected,  and  about  3 
a.  m.  (3  April)  they  set  fire  to  some  buildings  on  Gary  street, 
and  began  to  plunder  the  city.  I  then  ordered  all  my  staff 
and  couriers  to  scour  the  streets  and  sent  v?ord  to  General 
Kershaw,  whose  command  was  garrisoning  Fort  Gibner,  on 
the  lines  north  of  Eichmond,  to  hurry  his  leading  regiment 
into  town.  By  daylight  the  riot  was  subdued,  but  many 
buildings  which  I  had  carefully  directed  should  be  spared, 
had  been  fired  by  the  mob.  By  7  a.  m.  the  last  troops  had 
reached  the  south  side,  and  Mayo's  and  the  railroad  bridges 
were  on  fire.  I  am  convinced  the  burning  of  Eichmond  was 
the  work  of  incendiaries." 

On  the  afternoon  of  6  April,  Lieu1i*nant-General  Ewell 
and  Major-General  G.  W.  C.  Lee,  and  their  commands,  were 
captured. 

On  the  night  of  Y  April  General  Grant  sent  a  note  to  Gen- 
eral Lee,  asking  his  surrender,  to  which  General  Lee  replied, 
the  time  for  surrender  had  not  come.  General  Lee  was  still 
in  hopes  he  could  reach  Appomattox  Court  House  and  there 
obtain  supplies,  and  thence  push  on  behind  the  Staunton 
river,  and  eventually  unite  with  General  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston somewhere  in  JSTorth  Carolina.  General  Lee,  with  the 
remnant  of  his  army,  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Appomat- 
tox Court  House  on  the  evening  of  8  April,  but  Sheridan's 
cavalry  had  gotten  there  first,  captured  the  trains  with  the 
supplies,  and  obstructed  Lee's  further  advance. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  General  Lee  sent  a  flag  of  truce 
to  General  Grant,  asking  for  an  interview,  and  the  same 
morning  the  two  Generals  met  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Wilmer 
McLean,  in  the  village  of  Appomattox  Court  House,  and  the 


Twenty-Sixth"  Regiment.  393 

terms  of  tlie  surrender  were  agreed  upon.  Tliese  were  that 
the  men  and  officers  were  to  be  paroled  on  a  pledge  not  to  take 
up  arms  again  until  properly  exchanged.  The  officers  were 
to  retain  their  side  arms,  private  horses  and  baggage.  Those 
enlisted  men  who  owned  the  artillery  and  cavalry  horses  or 
mules  they  were  using,  were  also  allowed  to  retain  them. 
General  Grant  saying  he  supposed  "most  of  the  men  in  the 
ranks  were  small  farmers  who  would  need  their  horses  to  put 
in  a  crop  to  carry  themselves  and  families  through  the  next 
winter."  It  required  several  days  to  parole  those  surren- 
dered, (some  escaped  to  join  Johnston's  army  and  refused  to 
surrender)  and  then,  in  groups  and  squads,  or  one  by  one, 
the  paroled  men  dispersed  to  reach  their  homes  as  best  they 
could.  Thousands  of  them  were  penniless  Many  had  hun- 
dreds of  miles  to  travel,  without  money  or  means  of  transpor- 
tation, but  there  was  no  rioting  or  outrage  as  they  moved 
through  the  land,  everywhere  desolated  and  despoiled,  to  find 
their  homes,  in  many  cases,  laid  waste  and  destroyed.  The 
same  constancy  and  devotion  to  their  country  which  had  sus- 
tained them  amid  battle  and  strife  imparalled,  nerved  them 
to  face  courageously  tljis  dark  time  of  defeat  and  disappoint- 
ment and  to  do  their  -best  to  retrieve  the  widespread  ruin  of 
their  beloved  South." 

In  these  last  days  of  the  war,  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment 
sustained  severe  losses  in  killed  and  wounded.  Lieutenant 
J.  W.  Richardson  was  killed  at  Reams  Station,  and  at  Five 
Forks  (1  April,  1865)  Captain  Thomas  Lilly,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Captain  J.  C.  McLauchlin  as  Captain  of  Company  K, 
and  been  put  in  command  of  the  brigade  sharpshooters,  was 
killed.  He  was  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  regiment.  Col- 
onel Lane,  during  the  winter  of  1864-5,  suffered  much  from 
his  wounds,  especially  the  one  in  the  neck  and  face,  and  about 
the  middle  of  March  went  to  the  hospital  at  Salisbury  for 
treatment.  He  was  there  when  General  Lee  surrendered, 
and  on  2  May,  1865,  was  paroled  at  Greensboro,  IST.  C,  with 
Johnston's  army. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams  took  command  of  the  regi- 
ment after  Colonel  Lane  went  to  the  hospital,  and  except  a 
few  days  on  the  retreat  when  he  was  temporarily  in  command 


394  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

of  the  brigade,  was  with  his  regiment.  In  his  absence  Cap- 
tain T.  J.  Cureton,  of  Company  B,  commanded  the  Twerrty- 
sixth,  and  surrtmdered  the  regiment  at  Appomattox.  Lien- 
tenant-Colonel  Adams,  however,  signing  the  paroles. 

WUMBEES  PAROLED  AT  APPOMATTOX. 

On  1  March,  1865,  the  Brigade  Inspector  reported  the 
strength  of  MacRae's  Brigade,  present  and  effective  for  the 
field: 

Ofiicers ^^ 

Enlisted  men 1,119 

Total   .- 1,1T4 

The  capitulation  rolls  at  Appomattox  showed : 

Enlisted 

Heth's  Division.                                       Ofiicers.  Men. 

Major-General  Harry  Heth  and  Staff 15  ... 

John  E.  Cooke's  Brigade TO  490 

Joseph  R.  Davis'  Brigade 21  54 

Wm.  MacRae's  Brigade 42  400 

Wm.    McCounel's    (formerly  Archer's   and 

Thomas')    " 54  426 

The  rolls  for  the  entire  army  surrendered  by  General  Lee : 

Enlisted 
Officers.       Men. 

General  Headquarters    69  212 

Infantry 2,235        20,114 

Cavalry 134  1,425 

Artillery    184  2,392 

Miscellaneous    159  1,307 

Total   2,781       25,450-28,231 

The  number  surrendered  by  the  several  regiments  of  Mac- 
Rae's  Brigade: 

Eleventh  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Wm.  J.  Mar- 
tin, 74  muskets. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

1  J  D  Mclver,  Captain,  Co.  H.  4.    W.  W.  Gaither,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

2  Thomas  Lilly,  Captain,  Co.  K,  5.    George  Wilcox,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  M. 

3'    Jas  C  McLauchlin,  Captain,  Co.  K         6.    Orran  A.  Hanner,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  E, 
7.    J.  G.  Jones,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  D. 


Twenty-Sixth  Eegiment.  395 

Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
J.  T.  Adams,  120  muskets. 

Forty-fourth  Regiment,  commanded  by  Major  C.  M.  Sted- 
man,  74  muskets. 

Forty-seventh  Regiment,  commanded  by  Captain  J.  H. 
Thorpe,  72  muskets. 

Fifty-second  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
E.  Erson,  60  muskets. 

There  was  but  one  regiment  in  Heth's  division  that  sur- 
rendered more  muskets  than  did  the  Twenty-sixth,  and  that 
was  the  Fifteenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  in  Cooke's  Bri- 
gade, which  surrendered  122  muskets.  In  Major  Moore's 
"Roster  of  JSTorth  Carolina  Troops"  the  aggregate  of  num- 
bers enrolled  in  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  is  put  down  as 
1,898,  which  is  more  than  was  enrolled  in  any  regiment  fur- 
nished the  Confederate  armies  from  North  Carolina,  accord- 
ing to  said  Roster. 

EECAPITULATION    OF    THE    COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    OF    THE 

EEGIMENT. 

(The  field  officers  and  captains  are  mentioned  in  the  order 
of  the  date  of  their  commissions ;  but  the  Lieutenants  alpha- 
betically, and  their  relative  rank  is  not  set  out,  as  it  is  impos- 
sible in  all  cases  to  give. ) 

Colonels — Z.  B.  Vance,  H.  K.  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  John  R. 
Lane. 

Lieutenant  Colonels — LI.  K.  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  John  R. 
Lane,  John  T.  Jones,  James  T.  Adams. 

Majors — Abner  B.  Carmichael,  IST.  P.  Rankin,  James  S. 
Kendall,  John  T.  Jones,  James  T.  Adams. 

Adjutants — James  B.  Jordan.  Acting  at  different  times 
as  Adjutant,  Lieutenants  John  A.  Polk,  A.  R.  Johnson,  Wm. 
N.  Snelling. 

SuEGEONS — Thomas  J.  Boykin,  Llewellyn  P.  Warren. 

Assistant  StEGEONS — Daniel  M.  Shaw,  Wm.  W.  Gaither. 
Acting  at  different  times  as  Assistant  Surgeon,  Captain  W. 
S.  McLean,  Lieutenant  George  C.  Underwood. 

Regimental  Quaeteemastee — Captain  Joseph  J.  Young. 


396  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Eegimental  Gommissaey — Captain  Kobert  W.  Goldston, 
Fhineas  Horton. 

Seegeant  Majoes— L.    L.    Polk,    Montford    S.    McEae, 

John  E.  Moore. 

QuAETEEMASTEE  Seegeant — Abram  J.  Lane. 

Gommissaey  Seegeant — Jesse  F.  Ferguson. 

Oednance  Seegeant — E.  H.  Horhaday. 

Hospital  Stewaed — Benjamin  Hind. 

Chaplains— Kev.  Robert  H.  Marsh,  Eichard  Nye  Price, 
Styring  S.  Moore,  John  Huske  Tillinghast. 

Company  A — Captains,  A.  N.  McMillan,  Samuel  P. 
Wagg,  A.  B.  Duvall.  Lieutenants,  A.  B.  Duvall,  J.  M.  Du- 
vall,  L.  C.  Gentry,  J.  B.  Houck,  James  Porter,  George  E. 
Eeeves,  Jesse  A.  Eeeves. 

Company  B — Captains,  J.  J.  C.  Steele,  William  Wilson, 
Thomas  J.  Cureton.  Lieutenants,  A.  Brietz,  Taylor  G. 
Cureton,  Thos.  J.  Cureton,  Calvin  Dickinson,  Wm.  M.  Es- 
tridge,  John  W.  Eichardson,  Wm.  W.  Eichardson,  Wm.  Wil- 
son. 

Company  C — Captains,  A.  B.  Carmichael,  A.  H.  Horton, 
Thos.  L.  Ferguson,  J.  A.  Jarrett.  Lieutenants,  Wm.  W. 
Hampton,  John  M.  Harris,  A.  H.  Horton,  Eufus  D.  Horton, 
Phineas  Horton,  J.  A.  Jarratt,  Wm.  Porter. 

Company  D — Captains,  Oscar  E.  Eand,  James  T.  Adams, 
Gaston  H.  Broughton.  Lieutenants,  James  T.  Adams,  Gas- 
ton H.  Broughton,  James  G.  M.  Jones,  James  B.  Jordan, 
Wm.  Snelling,  James  W.  Vinson,  M.  J.  Woodall. 

Company  E — Captains,  W.  S.  Webster,  Stephen  W.  Brew- 
er. Lieutenants,  Stephen  W.  Brewer,  Bryant  C.  Dunlap, 
John  E.  Emerson,  Orran  A.  Hanner,  Wm.  J.  Headen,  W.  J. 
Lambert,  E.  H.  McManus. 

Company  F — Captains,  N.  P.  Eankin,  Joseph  E.  Ballew, 
Eomulus  M.  Tuttle.     Lieutenants,  Joseph  E.  Ballew,  Abner 

B.  Hayes,  John  B.  HoUoway,  E.  N.  Hudspeth,  Alfred  T. 
Stuart,  Charles  M.  Sudderth,  E.  M.  Tuttle. 

Company  G — Captains,  W.  S.  McLean,  John  E.  Lane,  H. 

C.  Albright,  A.  E.  Johnson;     Lieutenants,  H.  C.  Albright, 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  397 

A.  R.  Johnson,  Wm.  G.  Lane,  J.  A.  Lowe,  John  E.  Matthews, 
Samuel  E.  Teague,  George  C.  Underwood. 

Company  H — Captains,  Wm.  P.  Martin,  Clement  Dowd, 
J.  D.  Mclver,  M.  McLeod.  Lieutenants,  Clement  Dowd, 
Robert  W.  Qoldston,  J.  H.  McGilvery,  James  D.  Mclver,  M. 
McLeod,  George  Willcox. 

Company  I — Captains,  Wilson  A.  White,  John  T.  Jones, 
N.  G.  Bradford.  Lieutenants,  M.  B.  Blair,  N.  G.  Bradford, 
John  Carson,  Rufus  Deal,  S.  P.  Dula,  J.  C.  Greer,  John  T. 
Jones,  J.  G.  Sudderth. 

Company  K — Captains,  James  C.  Carraway,  John  C.  Mc- 
Lauchlin,  Thomas  Lilly.  Lieutenants,  Wm.  C.  Boggan,  J. 
L.  Henry,  Wm.  L.  Ingram,  James  S.  Kendall,  Thomas 
Lilly,  John  C.  McLauchlin,  J.  A.  Polk. 

The  casualties  in  the  regiment  among  the  above  officers 
from  first  to  last  were  as  follows : 

KIIiLED. 

Colonel  H.  K.  Burgwyn,  Jr.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  T. 
Jones,  Major  Abner  C.  Carmichael,  Captains  Albright,  Lilly, 
Martin,  Wilson  and  Wagg;  Lieutenants  J.  M.  Duvall,  Deal, 
Emerson,  Hayes,  Henry,  HoUoway,  John  W.  Richardson, 
William  W.  Richardson,  C.  M.  Sudderth,  Teague,  Wood- 
all— 19. 

WOUNDED. 

Colonel  John  R.  Lane,  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  T. 
Adams,  Adjutant  James  B.  Jordan;  Captains  Bradford, 
Brewer,  Broughton,  Oureton,  A.  B.  Duvall,  Jarrett,  Mc- 
Lauchlin, McLeod,  McMillan,  Tuttle;  Lieutenants  Brietz, 
Estridge,  Gentry,  Green,  Hanner,  R.  D.  Horton,  Houck, 
Hudspeth,  Ingram,  J.  G.  M.  Jones,  Lambert,  W.  G.  Lane, 
Lowe,  McGilvery,  McManus,  Polk,  Porter,  Snelling,  Will- 
cox— 32. 

Many  of  the  above  were  wounded  more  than  once. 

CHIEF  SAMUEL  T.   MIGKEY^S  BAND. 

A  history  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  would  not  be 
complete  without  an  account  of  its  band,  regarded  as  one  of 


398  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

the  best  in  the  Army  of  JSTorthern  Virginia.  It  was  recruited 
chiefly  from  Salem,  JST.  0.,  and  most  of  its  members  belonged 
to  a  band  in  that  town  prior  to  the  war.  Samuel  Timothy 
Mickey,  of  Salem,  was  the  leader,  and  the  names  of  the  other 
members  are  as  follows:  A.  P.  Gibson,  J.  A.  Lineback,  H. 
A.  Siddell,  W.  H.  Hall,  Julius  A.  Transon,  Charles  Traji- 
son,  A.  L.  Hauser,  A.  Meinung,  W.  A.  Lemly,  D.  T.  Grouse, 
J.  0.  Hall,  W.  A.  Eeich,  D.  J.  Hackney,  Edward  Peterson. 
Only  one  of  them  died  during  the  war,  viz.,  A.  L.  Hauser. 

Captain  Mickey  still  leads  a  band  in  Salem,  and  is  a  pros- 
perous mechanic.  W.  A.  Lemley  is  the  president  of  the 
Wachovia  National  Bank,  of  Winston,  N.  C,  and  J.  D. 
Hackney  is  a  Baptist  Preacher. 

The  band  was  recruited  for  Wheeler's  Battalion,  but  at  the 
capture  of  that  command  at  Roanoke  Island,  Captain 
Mickey  went  to  New  Bern  to  seek  employment.  He  thus  de- 
scribes his  first  meeting  with  Colonel  Vance :  "I  was  sitting 
in  the  lobby  of  the  Gaston  House,  New  Bern,  when  a  man 
wearing  a  Colonel's  uniform  came  in  with  a  loaf  of  bread 
under  each  arm.  This  was  Zeb  Vance.  I  spoke  to  him  and 
told  him  my  errand.  Colonel  Vance  replied:  'You  are  the 
very  man  I  am  looking  for.  You  represent  the  Salem  band. 
Come  to  my  regiment  at  Wood's  brick  yard,  four  miles  below 
New  Bern.'  Next  morning  (March,  1862~),  I  went  down  to 
the  camp,  was  met  by  Captain  Horton,  of  Company  C,  and 
as  the  result  of  my  visit,  the  band  was  engaged  and  at  first  it 
was  paid  by  the  officers."  The  members  being  musicians  of 
unusual  cultivation  and  intelligence,  under  Captain  Mickey's 
indefatigable  labors,  the  band  soon  acquired  great  celebrity 
and  was  in  constant  demand  for  serenades  and  military 
parades.  On  the  Sunday  before  Gettysburg,  at  Fayetteville, 
Pa.,  Chaplain  Wells  preached  before  the  Brigade.  His  text 
was  "The  Harvest  is  past,  and  the  Summer  is  ended  and  we 
are  not  saved."  It  was  an  eloquent  discourse  and  made  a 
great  impression.  After  the  services  were  over,  and  the 
band  returned  to  its  quarters,  the  drummer  (W.  A.  Eeich)  re- 
marked :  "Boys,  I  believe  we  are  going  to  lose  our  Colonel  in 
the  next  fight.  Did  you  notice  his  looks  during  the  ser- 
mon?"    Captain  Mickey  replied:     "Yes,  I  did;  he  looked 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  399 

right  serious."  As  appears  above  in  this  history  their  Colo- 
nel was  lost  to  them  in  the  next  fight. 

Captain  Mickey  thus  writes  of  Gettysburg :  "The  Yankees 
were  in  three  lines  on  the  hill  pouring  volley  after  volley  on 
our  men  as  they  came  through  the  fields.  The  color  guard 
were  all  shot  down,  the  colors  fell  fourteen  times.  Colonel 
Burgwyn  was  shot  down  with  the  colors,  and  Captain  Mc- 
Creery  of  General  Pettigrew's  staff,  was  also  killed  with  the 
colors.  General  Pettigrew  said  the  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
shot  as  if  they  were  shooting  at  squirrels;  that  their  shots 
counted.  After  the  first  day's  battle,  Colonel  Marshall,  com- 
manding the  brigade,  sent  an  order  for  the  bands  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  and  Eleventh  Regiments  to  report  to  his  head- 
quarters, that  the  men  were  anxious  to  hear  some  music.  The 
two  bands  played  numerous  pieces  which  seemed  to  enliven 
and  cheer  the  soldiers.  While  the  bands  were  playing,  they 
were  shelled  by  the  enemy,  and  as  they  left  a  shell  burst  just 
where  they  had  been  standing. 

"On  the  retreat  from  Gettysburg  to  Bunker  Hill,  the  band 
serenaded  General  Lee  and  other  officers.  After  the  serenade 
to  General  Lee,  Colonel  Taylor,  his  Adjutant  General,  came 
out  of  his  tent  and  made  a  little  talk.  Thanked  the  band  for 
the  serenade,  and  said  he  didn't  know  how  they  would  get 
along  without  bands ;  that  they  cheered  up  the  men  so  much ; 
that  he  noticed  the  style  of  our  music  was  different  from  that 
of  the  other  bands  in  the  army."  Mr.  W.  H.  Hall  was  cap- 
tured near  Green  Castle  on  this  retreat. 

Just  before  the  campaign  of  the  Wilderness  opened.  Colo- 
nel Lane  took  his  band  in  a  four-horse  wagon  to  serenade  Gen- 
eral Lee  at  night.  The  Colonel  was  invited  into  General 
Lee's  tent  while  the  music  was  playing.  General  Lee  re- 
marked that  we  would  not  be  idle  many  days  ;•  that  Grant  was 
making  preparations  to  cross ;  and  General  Lee  then  said  if  he 
could  only  strike  him  with  his  center,  he  though  he  would  be 
able  to  make  him  recross  in  a  way  not  so  pleasant  as  was  his 
coming  over.  "I  can  re-enforce  from  each  wing,"  said  Gen- 
eral Lee. 

Later  on  in  the  conversation,  General  Lee  remarked:  "I 
don't  believe  we  can  have  an  army  without  music." 


400  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

During  the  Spring  of  1862-'63,  and  the  winter  of  1863-'64, 
the  band  was  granted  a  furloiagh  and  gave  several  concerts  in 
different  parts  of  the  State,  and  everywhere  met  with  the  most 
enthusiastic  reception.  They  played  at  Governor  Vance's 
first  inauguration. 

The  band  remained  with  the  regiment  to  the  end  and  was 
captured  on  the  retreat  from  Petersburg  and  taken  to  City 
Point,  and  thence  to  Point  Lookout.  They  were  finally  re- 
leased, and  Captain  Mickey  reached  home  (Salem)  on  3 
July,  1865. 

desertions. 

A  few  words  on  this  subject  is  of  historical  interest.  Ex- 
cept in  the  closing  days  of  the  struggle,  there  were  few,  if  any, 
desertions  to  the  enemy.  There  were  numerous  cases  of  ab- 
sence without  leave,  btit  the  parties  did  not  mean  to  desert 
their  colors.  Impelled  by  an  irresistible  yearning  to  see  those 
they  had  left  behind  in  their  humble  homes,  they  would  go 
home  without  leave,  but  when  this  longing  was  gratified,  they 
would  voluntarily  rejoin  their  commands  and  do  as  loyal  ser- 
vice as  any. 

It  became  finally  necessary  to  visit  the  death  penalty  in 
instances,  as  an  example  to  deter  others.  Sergeant  Andrew 
Wyatt,  Company  B,  and  some  ten  others  of  the  regiment  on 
10  December,  1862,  deserted  while  the  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Garysburg,  IST.  C.  They  started  for  their  homes  in 
the  Western  part  of  the  State,  biit  were  arrested  at  a  crossing 
on  the  Koanoke  river.  The  Sergeant  was  court-martialed, 
convicted  and  condemned  to  be  shot.  While  in  camp  near 
Magnolia,  IST.  C,  January  1863,  he  was  taken  out  in  a  wagon 
to  the  place  of  his  execution,  where  the  brigade  was  dravim  up 
in  a  three-quarter  square  to  witness  the  shooting.  The  pris- 
oner was  blindfolded,  ordered  to  Imeel  down  by  the  freshly 
dug  grave,  the  firing  squad  stood  with  their  guns  at  a  "ready" 
and  the  ofiicer  was  reading  the  sentence,  when  an  orderly  rode 
up  with  an  order  from  General  French,  commanding  the  de- 
partment, granting  a  pardon.  Subsequent  to  his  conviction 
the  ofiicers  of  the  regiment  became  satisfied  that  the  Sergeant 
only  intended  to  go  home  and  see  his  family,  and  then  return 


Twenty-Sixth  Eegiment.  401 

to  his  command,  and  on  their  request,  his  life  was  spared. 
Sergeant  Wyatt  was  killed  at  Gettysburg,  bravely  doing  his 
duty  in  that  famous  first  day's  battle. 

While  at  Hanover  Junction  in  June,  1863,  Colonel  Lane 
was  president  of  a  general  court-martial.  Several  of  his  reg- 
iment had  been  tried  for  desertion  and  sentenced  to  be  shot, 
and  were  awaiting  their  execution.  Among  them  was  John 
Vinson,  a  member  of  Colonel  Lane's  old  company  (Company 
G).  When  the  regiment  started  for  Pennsylvania  these  pris- 
oners were  marched  at  the  rear  of  the  regiment  under  guard. 
Riding  by  their  side  one  day,  Colonel  Lane  remarked  to 
them :  "Are  you  in  sympathy  with  the  South,  and  if  permitted 
to  do  so,  will  you  help  us  fight  in  this  next  battle  ?"  They 
said:  "We  will.  We  only  wished  to  go  home  to  see  our 
folks."  General  Lee  informed  of  this,  ordered  them  restored 
to  duty,  and  no  soldiers  fought  better  at  Gettysburg.  John 
Vinson  was  wounded  with  the  colors  of  the  regiment,  having 
volunteered  to  carry  them.  S.  T.  Dula,  of  Company  I,  was 
recommended  by  Major  Jones  for  promotion  for  gallant  con- 
duct at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  wounded. 

After  the  return  to  Virginia,  he  deserted,  but  voluntarily 
returned  to  the  regiment  after  an  absence  of  two  or  three 
weeks.  Major  Jones  sent  for  him  and  said  to  him:  "What 
in  the  world  did  jou  mean  by  doing  this.  Yoti  have  put  me 
in  a  devil  of  a  fix."  Dula  replied  that  "he  heard  his  wife  had 
had  a  little  one,  and  he  could  not  resist  going  home  to  see  it." 
He  was  allowed  to  go  on  duty,  and  was  killed  at  Bristoe  Sta- 
tion, leading  the  charge. 

Governor  Vance  was  most  energetic  in  getting  these  "absent 
without  leave"  men  to  return  to  their  commands.  He  issued 
several  proclamations  on  the  subject.  In  the  proclamation 
dated  27  January,  1863,  he  promised  to  use  his  influence  with 
the  authorities  to  pardon  all  those  who  would  return  to  duty 
voluntarily.  Many  returned  to  their  commands  in  response 
to  this  proclamation,  and  General  Lee  writes  Governor  Vance 
under  date  of  26  March,  1863 :  "I  at  once  remitted  the  pen- 
alties inflicted  by  the  courts,  and  restored  the  men  to  duty.  I 
also  directed  that  no  charges  should  be  preferred  against  sol- 
26 


402  NoETH  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

diers  who  returned  to  duty  under  the  promises  contained  in 
your  proclamation." 

Governor  Vance  ordered  the  militia  officials  to  assist  the 
Confederate  authorities  in  arresting  those  who  continued  to 
remain  away  without  leave.  On  one  occasion  there  was  a 
fight  between  his  militia  officers  and  some  deserters  resisting 
arrest,  in  which  one  of  the  militia  was  killed.  The  deserter 
who  did  the  killing  was  arrested  and  a  habeas  corpus  was  sued 
out  before  Chief  Justice  Pearson,  of  the  State  Supreme 
Court,  who  discharged  the  prisoner  on  the  ground  that  the 
militia  had  no  authority  to  arrest  a  deserter  from  the  Confed- 
erate army.  This  first  proclamation  was  followed  by  two 
others  dated  11  May  and  24  August,  1864.  In  this  last  one, 
Governor  Vance  gives  this  notice :  "Warning  is  hereby  given 
that  in  all  cases  where  either  Civil  Magistrate  or  Militia, 
or  home  guard  officers  refuse  or  neglect  faithfully  to  per- 
form their  duties  in  the  arrest  of  deserters,  upon  proper  evi- 
dence submitted  to  me,  the  Executive  protection  extended 
to  them  under  Acts  of  Congress  (Confederate)  shall  be  with- 
drawn, as  I  cannot  certify  that  officers.  Civil  or  Military,  who 
refuse  to  perform  their  duties  are  necessary  to  the  administra- 
tion of  laws  which  they  will  not  execute." 

MOEALE  OF  THE   COITrEDEEATE  SOLDIEE. 

In  his  Personal  Memoirs,  General  Grant,  writing  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Confederate  troops  as  late  as  6  April,  1865, 
three  days  before  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  uses  these 
words:  "There  was  as  much  gallantry  displayed  by  some  of 
the  Confederates  in  these  little  engagements  as  was  displayed 
at  any  time  during  the  war,  notwithstanding  the  sad  defeats 
of  the  past  week."  On  that  day  (6  April,  1865),  Colonel 
Washburn  with  two  regiments  of  infantry  and  eight  of  cav- 
alry, under  Colonel  Eead,  of  General  Ord's  Staff,  with  or- 
ders to  destroy  the  liigh  Bridge  over  the  Appomattox  river 
near  Farmville,  returning  from  the  expedition,  met  the  ad- 
vance of  a  detachment  of  the  Confederate  army  on  its  retreat 
marching  in  the  same  direction.  Colonel  Washburn  gave  the 
order  to  charge.  It  was  unsuccessful.  Colonels  Washburn 
and  Eead  were  mortally  wounded,  nearly  every  officer  and 


Twenty-Sixth  Eegiment.  403 

most  of  the  rank  and  file  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  the 
balance  were  captured. 

Finally  as  his  reasons  for  surrender,  General  Lee  says: 

"On  the  morning  of  9  April,  1865,  there  were.  7,892  organ- 
ized infantry  Avitb  arms,  6.3  pieces  of  artillery,  and  2,100 
cavalry.  We  had  no  subsistence  for  man  or  horse,  and  it 
could  not  be  gathered  in  the  country,  and  the  men  deprived  of 
food  and  sleep  for  many  days  were  worn  out  and  exhausted." 

A  member  of  the  regiment  thus  writes  under  date  of  3  Au- 
gust, 1900:  "The  morale,  the  elan,  the  physique  of  the 
TAventy-sixth,  has  not  been  equalled.  My  greatest  glory  is 
that  I  was  so  intimately  associated  with  its  history." 

We  will  bring  this  history  to  a  close  by  a  short  biographi- 
cal sketch  of  some  of  those  through  whose  labors  and-  military 
skill  the  regiment  was  brought  to  that  state  of  high  efficiency 
which  enabled  it  to  accomplish  stich  feats  of  arms  as  will  for 
all  time  set  it  apart  as  one  of  the  most  famous  military  com- 
mands in  the  annals  of  war. 

The  youthfulness  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  was  re- 
markable. Colonel  Burgwyn's  class  at  the  Virginia  Military 
Institute  was  not  to  have  graduated  until  June,  1861,  but 
was  graduated  in  April  previous,  to  enable  its  members  to  of- 
fer their  services  in  the  war  then  inevitable  between  the 
United  States  and  the  ]Srew  Confederacy  of  Southern  States, 
organized  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  February,  1861. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  John  T.  Jones  was  to  have  graduated  at 
Chapel  Hill  (University  of  the  State)  in  June,  1861,  but 
volunteered  in  a  company  organized  at  Chapel  Hill  in  the 
Spring  of  1861,  that  became  Company  D,  of  the  Bethel  Reg- 
iment. 

Captains  Wilson,  Albright,  Tuttle,  and  McLaughlin,  also 
left  college  prior  to  their  graduation,  to  join  the  army. 

Colonel  Vance  Avas  thirty-one  years  old  and  Colonel  Lane 
twenty-six  when  they  volunteered.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Adams  had  barely  attained  his  majority  when  he  was  elected 
Third  Lieutenant  in  the  Wake  Guards,  and  Captains  Wilson, 
Lilly,  Broughton,  Cureton,  Duvall,  and  the  company  officers. 


404  ISToETH  Carolina  Troops^  1861-'65. 

almost  withoTit  exception,  were  under  twenty-five  years  of  age 
when  they  volunteered. 

COLONEL  ZEBTJLON   BAIRD  VANCE. 

The  civic  career  of  this  distinguished  citizen  of  JSTorth 
Carolina  appears  in  so  many  publications  we  will  confine  our 
remarks  entirely  to  his  military  record.  A  member  of  the 
regiment  thus  speaks  of  him  as  a  soldier :  "I  remember  well 
the  first  time  I  ever  saw  him.  He  had  no  appearance  in  the 
world  of  a  soldier;  his  hair  was  long  and  flowing  over  his- 
shoulders,  and  he  was  wearing  a  little  seal  skin  coat,  from 
which  I  jiidged  him  to  be  a  Chaplain.  He  had  not  long  been 
absent  from  the  hustings  of  Western  JSTorth  Carolina,  and  had- 
but  little  experience  in  war  as  Captain  in  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment.  When  he  came  to  the  camp  he  soon  began  to  dis- 
play the  same  qualities  which  made  him  so  popular  all  over 
our  State. 

"In  the  first  place  he  had  the  keenest  sympathy  with  hia 
men.  They  soon  came  to  feel  that  Colonel  Vance  loved  them^ 
and  made  their  troubles  his  own.  In  the  next  place,  Colonel 
Vance  was  able  to  inspire  his  men  with  the  belief  that  he  had 
confidence  in  them.  These  two  essentials  to  a  good  com- 
manding officer  were,  perhaps  never  possessed  by  any  man  to- 
a  greater  degree  than  by  Colonel  Vance. 

"In  drill  and  discipline.  Colonel  Vance  was  at  first  defi- 
cient. I  mention  this  not  in  any  way  to  discredit  him,  for' 
his  life  as  a  politician  had  given  him  no  opportunity  to  de-" 
velop  these  essentials  in  the  character  of  an  officer. 

"I  mention  the  fact  to  show  the  wisdom  he  displayed  in 
the  matter,  for  wlien  he  saw  his  regiment  deteriorating,  he 
recognized  his  deficiency  and  set  about  to  correct  it.  He 
turned  to  his  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Harry  King  Burgwyn,  who 
had  been  trained  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  and  was 
a  very  master  of  drill  and  discipline.  He  put  himself  and 
his  subordinates  under  the  tutorship  of  this  brilliant  young 
officer.  The  result  was  most"  satisfactory.  Colonel  Vance 
and  many  of  his  officers  soon  became  well  schooled  in  the 
methods  of  drill  and  discipline,  and  his  regiment  became  al- 
most a  perfect  instrument  of  war,  devoted  to  their  com- 
mander.    In  battle  I  always  marked  him  as  cool  and  coura-- 


J.E.Lane.  H.  K.  Burgwyn.  Z.B.Vance. 

Three  Clolonela  of  the  26th  N.  C.  Regiment. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  405 

geous.  When  duty  called  Vance  from  the  army  to  be  Gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina,  in  the  most  trying  period  of  the  war, 
he  had  gained  much  from  his  career  as  Colonel  of  the  Twen- 
tv-sixth  that  I  believe  he  found  valuable  in  his  future  duties. 
He  had  a  sympahtetic  knowledge  of  the  needs  of  the  Con- 
federate soldier,  the  war  wrought  into  his  sinews;  he  knew 
how  with  all  his  kindness  to  deal  firmly  with  men  and  affairs. 
He  was  a  better  Governor  for  having  been  Colonel." 

COLONEL   IIAEBY   KING  BUEGWYNj   JE. 

A  short  time  after  the  death  of  this  young  officer,  born  3 
October,  1841,  probably  the  youngest  of  his  rank  in  the  Con- 
federate army — obituary  notices  appeared  in  the  Raleigh  pa- 
pers. From  one  of  them  we  copy :  "It  would  be  unjust  to  the 
liAang  no  less  than  to  the  memory  of  the  young  hero  and 
martyr  who  now  sleeps  beneath  the  sod  of  a  distant  and  for- 
eign State,  were  the  death  of  Colonel  Harry  King  Burgwyn, 
Jr.,  permitted  to  pass  with  the  brief  notice  of  his  fall  pub- 
lished in  a  late  number  of  this  paper. 

"The  life,  career  and  death  of  young  Burgwyn,  convey  a 
lesson  to  the  youth  of  this  Confederacy  which  cannot  be  too 
well  studied  and  thoroughly  profited  by.  He  was  the  eld- 
est son  of  Henry  King  Burgwyn,  Esq.,  of  ISTorthampton 
County,  in  this  State,  his  mother  was  Miss  Anna  Greenough, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  had  barely  attained  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  when  he  attested  his  love  for  his  country  by  the  sac- 
rifice of  his  life  on  the  altar  of  its  liberties.  ■  Born  to  the  en- 
joyment of  affluence,  he  might,  as  too  many  of  our  youth  do, 
have  been  content  to  grow  up  in  idleness  and  luxurious  ease. 
But  such  a  life  had  no  charms  for  him.  Blessed  with  a  fine 
capacity  and  docile  disposition,  he  well  availed  himself  of  the 
abundant  means  of  education  afforded  him  by  his  parents. 

"His  education  preparatory  to  his  entrance  into  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  State,  was  partly  from  private  tutors  in  the  family 
and  at  Burlington,  JSTew  Jersey,  and  at  West  Point,  where  he 
was  a  private  pupil  of  Foster, — now  the  Yankee  General  at 
T^ew  Bern.  Leaving  West  Point,  he  entered  the  University 
of  his  State,  and  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  (1S59). 
At  this  period  he  might,  as  the  phrase  goes,  have  been  consid- 


406  ISToRTii  Caeoi.ina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ered  'educated.'  ISTot  so,  however,  thought  his  father.  Fore- 
seeing the  difficulties  which  have  culminated  in  a  war  between 
the  South  and  the  "JSTorth,  and  desirous  that  his  son  should  be 
prepared  for  usefulness  in  every  emergency,  he  placed  him 
in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  where  he  was  when  hos- 
tilities commenced.  Of  the  course  of  young  Burgwyn  in 
that  institution  an  idea  may  be  formed  from  the  following 
letter  from  the  now  lamented  Stonewall  Jackson: 

"Lexington,  Va.,  April  16,  1S61. 
SiE : — The  object  of  this  letter  is  to  recommend  Cadet  H. 
K.  Burgwyn,  of  North  Carolina,  for  a  commission  in  the  ar- 
tillery of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Mr.  B.  is  not  only 
a  high-toned  Southern  gentleman,  but  in  consequence  of  the 
highly  practical  as  well  as  scientific  character  of  his  mind, 
he  possesses  qualities  well  calculated  to  make  him  an  orna- 
ment not  only  to  the  artillery,  biit  to  any  branch  o£  the  mili- 
tary service.  T.  J.  Jackson, 

Prof.  Nat.  Phil,  and  Instr.  Va.  M.  I. 
To  L.  P.  Walker,  Secretary  of  War.' 

"The  discriminating  and  sagacious  judgment  of  the  pro- 
fessor has  been  fully  attested  by  the  career  of  the  pupil  from 
the  moment  he  entered  the  service  to  the  day  on  which  he  met 
a  soldier's  fate  on  the  bloodiest  field  of  the  war,  as  with  colors 
in  hand,  he  was  leading  his  men  on  to  victory.  When  New 
Bern  fell,  he  was  the  last  man  of  his  regiment  to  cross  the 
creek  on  the  retreat — having  refused  to  enter  the  boat  until 
all  were  safely  passed  over.  On  this  occasion  young  Bur- 
gwyn was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment,  the  Colonel 
being  the  present  Governor,  Vance. 

"From  this  State  we  follow  the  subject  of  our  narrative  to 
the  bloody  fields  around  "Richmond,  winding  up  with  the  ter- 
rific fight  at  Malvern'  Hill,  in  which  his  regiment  was  unsur- 
passed for  heroism  by  any  troops  on  the  field. 

"On  the  resignation  of  Colonel  Vance,  when  he  became  Gov- 
ernor-elect of  the  State,  young  BurgAvyn  was  promoted  Colo- 
nel, and  soon  thereafter  we  find  him  again  in  service  in  his 
native  State.  In  the  critical  campaign  in  Martin  County, 
when  the  enemy  were  threatening  disastrous  consequences  to 


Twenty-Sixth  Kegiment.  407 

the  region  of  the  Roanoke  river,  we  find  Colonel  Burgwyn 
performing  signal  services,  especially  in  the  engagement  of 
Eawls'  Mills,  where  he  displayed  a  cool  judgment  and  indom- 
itable courage  of  which  a  veteran  of  many  years  standing 
might  have  been  protid.  In  all  the  course  of  this  career,  so 
well  calculated  "to  turn  the  head"  of  one  so  young.  Colonel 
Burgwyn  displayed  a  modesty  so  commendable  that  he 
silenced  the  tongue  of  envy  and  won  the  confidence  of  his 
brothers  in  arms.  When  on  Governor  Vance's  resignation,  it 
was  suggested  that  he  was  too  young, for  the  Colonelcy,  Gen- 
eral D.  H.  Hill  wrote  of  him:  'Lieutenant-Colonel  Bur- 
gwyn has  shown  the  highest  qualities  of  a  soldier  and  officer, 
in  camp  and  on  the  battle  field,  and  ought  by  all  means  to  be 
promoted.' 

"As  we  have  seen,  Colonel  Burgwyn  did  receive  the  promo- 
tion and  subsequently  was  strongly  recommended  for  the 
higher  command  of  Brigadier-General. 

"We  have  thus  given  a  brief  sketch  of  the  career  of  one 
whose  death  in  the  very  outset  of  manhood  prompts  the  ques- 
tion, 'If  he  was  such  in  the  gristle,  what  would  he  not  have 
been  in  the  bone  ?'  " 

His  last  words  after  sending  a  farewell  to  his  parents  and 
family  were :  "Tell  the  General  my  men  never  failed  me 
at  a  single  point."  "Felix  non  solum  claritate  vitae,  sed 
etiam  opportunitate  mortis." 

In  a  letter  from  Major  George  P.  Collins,  Brigade  Quarter- 
master, written  from  the  battle  field  and  dated  3  July,  1863, 
and  addressed  to  Colonel  Burgwyn's  father  at  Raleigh,  !N".  C, 
he  thus  describes  the  end :  "Captain  J.  J.  Young  (Regimen- 
tal Qiiarterm aster)  has  undertaken  to  give  you  the  sad  news 
of  your  son's  death,  but  I  cannot  let  the  opportunity  pass 
without  expressing  my  deep  sympathy  with  his  bereaved  par- 
ents and  family,  as  well  as  testifying  to  the  gallant  and  sol- 
dierly manner  in  which  he  met  his  death.  He  was  one  of 
eleven  (afterwards  ascertained  to  be  fourteen)  shot  bearing 
the  colors  of  his  regiment,  and  fell  with  his  sword  in  his  hand, 
cheering  his  men  on  to  victory.  The  ball  passed  through  the 
lower  part  of  both  lungs  and  he  lived  about  two  hours.  Among 
his  last  words  he  asked  how  his  men  fought,  and  said  they 


408  NoETH  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

would  never  disgrace  him.  He  died  in  the  arms  of  Lieuten- 
ant Louis  G.  Young  (Aide  de  Camp  to  General  Pettigrew) 
bidding  all  farewell  and  sending  love  to  his  mother,  father, 
sister  and  brothers."  He  was  buried  under  a  walnut  tree  (a 
gun  case  answering  for  a  cofRn)  by  Major  Collins  and  Cap- 
tain J.  J.  Young,  assisted  by  M.  F.  Boyle,  of  Company  B, 
the  regimental  mail  carrier,  and  by  Jesse  T.  Ferguson,  of 
Company  C,  the  regimental  Commissary  Sergeant.  In  the 
Spring  of  1867  his  remains  were  brought  from  Gettysburg, 
and  re-interred  in  the  Soldier's  Cemetery  at  Raleigh,  where 
he  rests  in  the  midst  of  his  comrades  who  wore  the  gray,  and 
who,  like  him,  gave  up  their  lives  in  the  defense  of  a  cause 
they  believed  holy  and  just.  A  handsome  monument  erected 
by  his  parents  marks  the  grave. 

On  20  October,  1897,  a  portrait  of  the  "Three  Colonels  of 
the  TM'enty-sixth  Eegiment,"  on  one  canvass,  was  presented 
to  the  State  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  The  presentation 
took  place  during  Fair  Week,  and  was  held  in  the  Central 
Hall  of  the  main  building  at  the  Fair  grounds. 

COLONEL   JOHlSr  EANDOI.PH  LANE. 

This  battle  scarred  veteran  still  lives  (April,  1901)  in  vig- 
orous manhood.  He  was  born  in  Chatham  County,  4  July, 
1835,  and  is  a  direct  descendant  from  Colonel  Joel  Lane, 
of  Wake  County,  from  whom  the  land  on  which  the  City  of 
Ealeigh  is  located  was  bought.  General  Joe  Lane,  the  Vice- 
Presidential  candidate  in  3860  on  the  Breckinridge  and  Lane 
ticket,  was  his  near  relative. 

Pie  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  G  and  soon  became 
Corporal.      On  the  resignation  of  his  Captain  in  the  Fall  of 

1861,  he  was  elected  over  the  heads  of  all  his  commissioned 
officers,  to  conmiand  the  company.  He  was  re-elected  Cap- 
tain at  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  in  the  Spring  of 

1862.  At  the  battle  of  New  Bern,  Captain  Lane  was  com- 
plimented for  bravery  and  coolness  under  fire,  and  in  the 
night  attack  on  25  June,  1862,  iipon  his  regiment  while  on 
picket,  referred  to  in  the  body  of  this  history,  his  company 
was  one  of  the  three  which  stood  firm  under  such  a  trying 
ordeal. 

On  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burgwyn,  to  the 


Twenty-Sixth  Eegiment.  409 

Colonelcy,  the  position  of  M^ajor  also  being  vacant,  owing  to 
the  death  of  Major  Kendall,  Captain  Lane  was  promoted 
over  several  senior  captains  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel.  After 
Gettysburg,  he  was  made  full  Colonel,  his  commission  bore 
date  of  1  July,  1863,  in  recognition  of  his  heroic  conduct  on 
that  battle  field.  Seeing  his  Colonel  fall,  he  immediately  as- 
sumed command,  and  realizing  that  if  the  death  of  their  Col- 
onel was  known  it  would  have  a  depressing  effect  upon  the 
men,  he  did  not  impart  it  to  the  regiment,  but  inspired  his 
men  with  the  cheering  words  that  fell  from  the  lips  of  his 
stricken  commander,  and  seizing  his  flag,  calls  upon  his  men 
to  follow  him.  All  depended  now  on  Colonel  Lane.  There 
is  a  line  of  the  enemy  yet  to  be  broken,  and  there  is  only  a 
handful  of  his  men  left  to  do  the  work.  We  have  seen  how 
the  crisis  was  met  and  the  glorious  victory  and  its  cost.  Gen- 
eral Pettigrew  anxiously  watching  the  contest,  when  he 
saw  the  enemy  giving  way  on  their  last  line  before  this  des- 
perate charge  of  the  regiment,  with  Colonel  Lane  at  the  head, 
exclaims:  "It  is  the  bravest  act  I  ever  saw."  As  described 
in  the  body  of  this  article.  Colonel  Lane  was  thought  to  be 
mortally  wounded,  but  escaping  capture,  he  returned  to  duty 
in  the  Fall  of  1863.  Wounded  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, 5  May,  1864,  he  refused  a  furlough.  Again  wounded 
in  right  leg  at  Yellow  Tavern,  south  of  Petersburg,  in  sum- 
mer of  1864,  but  refused  to  leave  the  field.  At  Reams'  Sta- 
tion -25  August,  IS 64,  he  was  wounded  in  left  breast,  just 
over  the  heart  by  a  piece  of  shell,  fracturing  two  ribs  and 
breaking  one,  and  tearing  open  the  flesh  to  the  bone.  Sup- 
posed to  be  mortally  wounded,  he  wonderfully  recovered  and 
returned  to  duty  ISTovember,  1864;  remained  in  command 
until  broken  down  by  exposure  and  suffering  from  his 
wounds,  he  went  to  the  hospital  for  treatment,  and  was  at 
Danville,  Va.,  when  the  remnant  of  his  heroic  regiment  sur- 
rendered at  Appomattox.  He  was  paroled  at  Greensboro,  ]^. 
C,  on  2  May,  1865,  and  returned  to  liis  home  to  take  up  the 
struggle  for  a  living  he  had  laid  aside  four  years  before. 

Since  the  war  Colonel  Lane  has  become  a  prosperous  mer- 
chant and  large  land  oWner  in  his  native  county,  all  accumu- 
lated by  his  untiring  energy,  business  ability  and  thrift.     He 


410  XoETii  Caeot.tna  Troops,  18C1-'65. 

is  conspicuous  for  his  liberality  and  devotion  to  the  old  com- 
rades of  his  immortal  regiment. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JOHN  THOMAS  JONES. 

Was  born  in  Caldwell  Coimty,  N.  C,  on  21  January,  1841. 
In  1857  he  entered  the  University  of  ISTorth  Carolina  and 
there  remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  V7ar  between  the 
States.  During  his  senior  year,  and  just  prior  to  his  gradua- 
tion, he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  Orange  Light  In- 
fantry commanded  by  Captain  R.  J.  Ashe,  which  company 
became  Company  D  in  the  "Bethel"  Regiment.  He  was  with 
his  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  and  after  its  term  of 
service  expired,  came  home  to  Caldwell  County  and  engaged 
actively  in  enlisting  that  body  of  men  which  became  known 
to  fame  as  Company  I,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  l^orth  Carolina 
Regiment  of  Infantry.  Was  elected  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
upon  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  for  the  war,  was 
elected  Captain;  was  promoted  to  be  Major  of  the  regiment 
when  the  noble  Harry  Burgwyn  became  Colonel,  and  after  Col- 
onel Bnrgwyn's  glorious  death,  became  Lieutenant-Colonel  in 
place  of  Colonel  Lane,  who  succeeded  the  gallant  Burgwyn. 

He  passed  through  all  the  battles  and  combats  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged,  distinguishing  himself  especially  at 
Rawls'  Mills  and  Gettysburg.  In  the  latter  battle  he  re- 
ceived a  wound,  but  he  declined  to  leave  the  field,  and  com- 
manded the  regiment  after  the  fall  of  Colonels  Burgwyn  and 
Lane,  and  was  in  command  of  the  brigade  at  the  close  of 
the  charge  on  the  third  day.  At  the  great  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness, 6  May,  1864,  after  the  wounding  of  Colonel  Lane,  he 
assumed  command  and  was  mortally  wounded  leading  his  reg- 
iment in  a  charge  against  overwhelming  numbers.  When 
told  by  Assistant  Surgeon  W.  W.  Gaither  that  his  wound  was 
mortal,  says  the  Surgeon :  "With  a  most  yearning  expression 
he  replied,  'It  must  not  be.  I  was  born  to  accomplish  more 
good  than  I  have  done.'  " 

After  the  battle  of  Gettysbiirg,  where  his  younger  brother, 
Walter,  a  private  in  Company  I,  was  killed,  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Jones,  then  Major,  was  for  some  time  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  all  the  other  field  officers  present  at  the  battle  having 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  411 

been  killed  or  wounded.  His  remains,  with  those  of  his 
brother,  rest  in  one  grave  in  the  family  cemetery  in  the  beau- 
tiful "Happy  Valley"  in  Caldwell  County.  The  John  T. 
Jones  Camp,  U.  C.  V.,  of  Lenoir,  N.  C,  is  named  in  honor 
of  this  brave  soldier  and  meritorious  officer.  The  friendship 
between  Colonel  Jones  and  Colonel  Burgwyn  was  so  marked 
that  subsequent  to  their  deaths  one  of  the  officers  of  the  regi- 
ment composed  some  beautiful  lines  on  "Colonels  Harry, 
and  John,"  likening  them  to  Jonathan  and  David. 

DESERVING    OF    SPECIAL    MENTION. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  James  T.  Adams.  This  meritorious 
officer  rose  from  Second  Lieutenant  in  Company  D,  from 
Wake  County,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment,  and 
during  the  last  days  of  the  war  was  in  command  of  the  regi- 
ment and  on  the  retreat  from  Petersburg,  was  at  times  in 
command  of  the  brigade. 

lie  was  wounded  through  the  hip  at  Malyern  Hill  and  seri- 
ously through  tlie  shoulder  at  Gettysburg,  and  except  while  on 
furlougli  from  wounds  was  never  excused  from  duty.  At 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  drive 
the  enemy  from  their  position  which  menaced  General  Lee's 
rear  and  communications  with  Richmond.  "The  enemy  had 
made  a  breastwork  out  of  a  fence  in  a  piney  old  field  and 
chinked  the  cracks  between  the  rails  with  dry  pine  straw.  As 
the  brigade  neared  them,  the  enemy  set  fire  to  the  fence  and 
old  field  which  burnt  rapidly.  Nothing  daunted^  the  Con- 
federates charged  through  the  flames  and  over  the  burning 
fence,  and  drove  their  opponents  in  discomfiture  from  the 
field." 

At  Hancock's  defeat  at  Burgess'  Mill,  on  the  Boydton 
plank  road  south  of  Petersburg,  27  October,  1864,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Adams  in  cornmand  of  the  regiment,  acted  with 
such  conspicuous  gallantry  as  to  call  forth  the  warm  com- 
mendation of  his  brigade  commander.  General  William  Mac- 
Rae.  The  brigade  Avith  other  troops  were  ordered  to  dis- 
lodge Hancock,  who  had  cut  through  the  Confederate  lines. 
The  brigade  charged  the  enemy  in  its  front,  drove  him  from 
his  position,  capturing  a  battery.     The  troops  on  our  left 


412  ]Si'oKTH  Caeolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

failed  to  carry  the  lines  in  their  front  and  the  Federals  closed 
in  behind  MacEae's  Brigade  and  completely  cut  them  off 
from  their  friends.  The  brigade  reformed,  about  faced  and 
charged,  forcing  their  way  through  and  in  a  hand  to  hand 
■fight  captared  a  battery  and  carried  it  out  with  them.  In 
this  action,  the  color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Kegiment  was 
either  shot  down  in  the  charge  or  got  beyond  eyesight  in  the 
dense  swamp  and  undergrowth  through  which  the  men 
charged,  and  after  it  was  oyer,  the  order  was  given  to  fall  in 
on  the  colors  of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment.  Colonel  Adams, 
who  had  lingered  behind  to  see  what  had  become  of  his  color- 
bearer,  ran  oiit  between  the  lines,  and  thinking  his  men  a 
little  downcast  at  losing  their  colors,  he  jumped  up  on  a 
stump  and  called  out,  "Twenty-sixth,  rally  on  your  com- 
mander. He  is  here  if  his  colors  are  lost."  The  men  re- 
sponded with  a  cheer. 

At  the  brilliant  victory  of  Reams'  Station,  after  Colonel 
Lane  was  wounded,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams  took  com- 
mand and  was  ever  thereafter  present  with  his  regiment  until 
its  surrender  at  Appomattox,  where  he  signed  the  paroles  of 
his  command. 

Since  the  war  Colonel  Adams  has  resided  in  Wake  County, 
a  prosperous  man  in  his  business,  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all. 

Dr.  Thomas  J.  Boykin  was  Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  and 
remained  with  it  until  Colonel  Vance's  election  as  Governor, 
when  he  became  Brigade  Surgeon  of  Ransom's  Brigade,  and 
later  was  'appointed  State  agent  and  sent  to  the  Bermuda 
Islands,  to  handle  blockade  supplies  for  the  State. 

Dr.  Boykin  was  born  in  Sampson  Cotmty,  N.  C,  in  1828, 
ed^icated  at  AVake  Forest  College,  and  graduated  at  the  Med- 
ical Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  Kinston  and  Clinton,  but  removed  to 
ISTebraska  Territory  about  the  year  1856.  Was  elected  a 
memlier  of  the  upper  branch  of  the  Territorial  Legislature. 
Immediately  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  (14  April,  1861) 
he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  was  appointed  Surgeon 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment. 

Assistant  Surgeon  William  W.  Gaither.     This  officer  who 


TwKNTY-SlXTH   ReGIMENT.  413 

most  faithfully  and  acceptably  served  with  the  regiment  until 
Uecemter,  1864,  when  he  was  promoted  to  be  Surgeon  of  the 
Twenty-eighth  North  Carolina  Eegiment,  graduated  from 
the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  class  of 
1860.  Enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  "Hibriten  Mountain- 
eers," which  became  the  afterwards  famous  Company  F,  in 
the  Twenty-si-xth  Regiment.  At  first,  serving  as  Hospital 
Steward,  he  was  soon  commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon,  as- 
signed to  the  regiment  and  put  in  charge  of  the  hospital  at 
Carolina  City,  below  New  Bern. 

At  Gettysburg,,  Dr.  Gaither  was  ail  night  getting  the 
wounded  from  the  field  of  the  first  day's  fight  and  worked 
with  them  all  the  next  day  and  night.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  third  day,  went  to  the  regiment  in  line  of  battle.  Under 
date  of  5  September,  1900,  Dr.  Gaither  writes:  "I  was  on 
the  field,  saw  the  futile  charge  on  the  Cemetery  wall,  and  the 
recoil.  I  got  only  three  of  the  slightly  wounded.  When  we 
got  to  Hagerstown,  I  went  to  sleep  and  slept  for  two  entire 
days,  so  utterly  exhausted  I  was." 

Not  one  of  the  wounded  who  crossed  the  Potomac,  but  re- 
turned to  duty  sooner  than  any  who  before  or  after  stopped  in 
hospital.  Fourteen  patients  marched  all  night  in  a  big  rain 
twelve  miles,  sick  from  three  to  twelve  days  with  malarial 
fever,  and  none  reported  sick  next  morning.  The  doctor  nar- 
rates this  incident:  "D.  L.  and  R.  C,  members  of  Company 
I,  from  Caldwell  County,  had  been  fighting  off  and  on  during 
the  day.  About  evening  R.  C.  says  to  D.  L.,  'Demps,  I'll 
hurt  you  directly,'  and  proceeded  to  knock  him  down  and 
pulled  out  his  right  eye  ball.  D.  L.  did  not  even  report  sick. 
Two  days  after  T  found  him  lagging  a  little  in  the  rear  and 
asked  him  what  was  the  matter.  He  said:  'R.  C.  had  pulled 
his  eye  out,  but  it  was  all  right  now."  While  in  camp  at 
Garysburg,  N.  C,  Fall  of  1862,  two  patients  with  smallpox 
in  third  day  of  eruption,  came  to  Surgeon's  call  wanting  to 
know  what  caused  the  breaking  out.  They  were  not  isolated 
and  there  were  no  new  cases  in  the  regiment,  but  more  intense 
inflammation  in  all  vaccinated  arms. 

In  the  winter  of  18 63-' 64,  while  the  army  was  in  winter 
quarters  around  Orange  Court  House,  Va.,  the  number  of 
men  absent  without  leave  at  home  became  a  matter  of  serious 


414  North  Cabolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

consideration,  and  the  best  way  to  put  a  stop  to  it  was  can- 
vassed among  the  officers.  There  were  several  publications 
in  the  newspapers  on  the  subject,  and  Assistant  Surgeon 
Gaither  wrote  a  set  of  resolutions  which  were  passed  by  the 
officers  in  meeting,  which  attracted  general  notice  and  were 
universally  approved  as  the  best  presentation  of  the  situation 
that  appeared. 

Captain  Joseph  J.  Young,  A.  Q.  M.  This  gentleman 
had  an  unique  experience  as  a  soldier.  He  was  the  regimen- 
tal quartermaster  from  the  beginning  to  the  close,  and  no 
command  was  ever  blessed  with  a  better  one.  He  was  wrap- 
ped up  in  his  regiment  and  he  could  not  do  too  much  for 
them.  He  has  kept  copies  of  the  regimental  muster  and  pay 
rolls  of  the  regiment  which  he  treasures  as  among  his  most 
valuable  possessions  to  be  bequeathed  to  his  children.  In 
the  latter  months  of  the  war  when  the  number  of  the  regimen- 
tal quartermasters  was  reduced  to  two  to  a  brigade,  he  and 
Captain  John  Gatlin,  Fifty-second  Regiment,  were  retained 
for  MaoKae's  Brigade,  and  thus  in  addition  to  the  care  of 
his  regiment,  the  brigade  also  received  the  benefit  of  Cap- 
tain Young's  valuable  services  and  experience,  and  he  always 
acted  brigade  quartermaster  in  the  absence  of  Major  Collins. 

It  was  Captain  Young's  timely  information,  carried  to 
Colonel  Vance  at  the  Captain's  great  personal  risk,  during 
the  battle  of  IsTew  Bern,  which  advised  Colonel  Vance  of  the  re- 
treat of  the  other  troops  in  time  to  enable  the  Colonel  to  with- 
draw the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment  from  the  works  and  escape 
capt\ire.  We  have  seen  how  prompt  Captain  Young  is  to 
write  his  old  Colonel  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
of  the  glorious  record  this  regiment  made  on  that  gory  stained 
field  ;  and,  as  he  began  his  military  career  with  them,  so  at  the 
end  he  was  one  of  his  immortal  regiment  to  surrender  at  Ap- 
pomattox,. 

Captain  Young  was  born  in  Wake  County,  1  January, 
1832,  and  in  May,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Captain  O.  R.  Band's 
Company  1),  in  the  Twenty-sixth  Eegiment;  was  appointed 
by  Colonel  A''ance  Quartermaster  of  his  regiment. 

Tn  December,  1864,  Captain  Young  was  sent  to  Eastern 
North  Carolina  to  collect  and  forward  supplies  to  Lee's  army. 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  415 

Adjutant  James  B.  Jordan  was  born  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  8 
June,  ISyO).  He  was  in  business  in  Tennessee  when  on  the 
secession  of  South  Carolina,  he  returned  to  his  native  State 
and  was  elected  First  Lieutenant  in  Company  I),  of  the 
Twenty -sixth  Regiment  and  at  the  organization  he  was  ap- 
pointed Adjutant. 

This  position  he  held  with  honor  and  distinction  until  in 
the  third  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg,  he  was  seriously  wounded, 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  Johnson's  Island,  where  he 
was  detained  as  a  prisoner  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  1888,  he  was  made  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Volu- 
sia County,  Florida,  which  position  he  held  at  his  death,  27 
April,  1899. 

Captain  Samuel  P.  Wagg,  Company  A.  This  gallant 
young  officer  was  killed  in  the  charge  of  Pettigrew  on  the 
third  day  at  Gettysburg,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  enemy's 
works.  When  the  call  for  troops  was  issued  at  the  breaking 
out  of  hostilities,  he  promptly  enlisted  in  the  first  company 
that  was  organized  in  his  county  (Ashe)  and  was  elected  its 
First  Sergeant.  At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  in  the 
Spring  of  1802,  he  was  elected  Captain  and  was  ever  at  his 
post  of  duty.     Captain  Wagg  was  buried  on  the  field. 

Captain  Thom,as  J.  Cureton,  Company  B.  This  officer 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  Company  B  on  the  death  of 
the  gallant  Captain  William  Wilson,  killed  on  the  first  day's 
fight  at  Gettysburg. 

Lieutenant  Cureton  was  himself  wounded  on  the  third  day 
in  the  shoulder,  but  declined  to  leave  the  field,  and  assisted 
in  reforming  the  brigade  as  its  shattered  remnants  recoiled 
from  the  assault  on  Cemetery  Heights. 

Captain  Cureton  was  again  wounded  at  Hanover  Junction 
on  23  May,  1864,  while  in  command  of  the  skirmish  line,  but 
returned  to  dutj  in  December,  1864,  and  remained  with  his 
regiment  until  the  close,  and  much  of  the  time  was  in  com- 
mand of  it  on  the  retreat  to  Appomattox,  when  Colonel 
Adams  was  in  command  of  the  brigade. 

Before  the  war.  Captain  Cureton  was  a  farmer,  living  in 
Union  County,  'N.  C.  His  grandfather  owned  the  property 
in  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  North  Carolina,  where  Andrew 


416  NoKTH  Cal-oi-ina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

Jackson  was  born,  and  where  Captain  Cureton's  father  was 
born.  Since  the  war,  Captain  Cureton  has  resided  in  Char- 
lotte, X.  C,  and  Fort  Mills,  S.  C,  engaged  in  business  as  a 
cotton  merchant,  and  now  lives  at  Windsor,  S.  C. 

Captain  Stephen  W.  Brewer,  Company  E,  was  born  in 
Chatham  County  26  September,  1835;  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  Twenty-sixth  i^orth  Carolina  Regiment;  was  elected 
Third  Lieutenant  when  the  company  was  organized,  and  at 
its  reorganization  in  the  Spring  of  1862,  was  elected  Cap- 
tain. 

After  the  first  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg,  in  which  his  com- 
pany lost  18  killed  and  mortally  wounded,  and  52  wounded, 
he  led  the  twelve  remaining  into  the  third  day's  fight,  that 
historic,  but  disastrous  charge  of  Pickett  and  Pettigrew,  and 
lost  all  but  two  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  Brewer  was 
shot  down,  badly  wounded,  carrying  his  regiment's  flag  and 
fell  near  the  enemy's  line. 

He  was  captured  at  Greencastle,  Md.,  on  the  retreat  from 
Gettysburg,  and  was  confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war  in  differ- 
ent Federal  prisons,  chiefly  at  Johnson's  Island,  Ohio,  until 
March,  1865,  when  he  was  paroled. 

In  1880  Captain  Brewer  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Chatham 
County,  and  re-elected  four  successive  terms.  He  died  1 
March,  1S97. 

Brave  in  battle,  gentle  in  peace,  charitable  and  honorable 
in  all  his  dealings,  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  he  was  a  model  citizen,  and  has  left  a  good  name  that 
his  children  can  justly  claim  as  their  proudest  heritage. 

Captain  Joseph  R.  Balleio,  Company  F,  who  became  Cap- 
tain of  Company  F  on  the  promotion  of  Captain  Kanldn,  as 
Major ;  was  born  20  April,  1832,  in  Burke  County.  In  1852 
he  went  to  California  via  Charleston  and  Panama. 

It  required  130  days  to  make  the  trip.  In  1859  he  re- 
turned to  I^Torth  Carolina,  making  the  return  trip  in  22  days. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  was  elected  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  Company  F,  Twenty-sixth  Regiment. 

Captain  Romulus  Morrison  Tuttle,  Company  F,  famous 
as  having  commanded  a  company  which  at  the  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg, out  of  91  rank  and  file  taken  into  action,  had  every 


Twenty-Sixth  Eegiment.  417 

man  killed  or  wounded,  himself  among  the  number 
(wounded)  ;  was  born  in  Lenoir,  Caldwell  County,  N.  C,  1 
December,  1842,  and  left  school  in  July,  1861,  to  join  the 
army ;  was  successively  Orderly  Sergeant,  First  Lieutenant, 
and  Captain  of  Company  F,  Twenty-sixth  JSTorth  Carolina 
Regiment. 

Was  wounded  four  times  in  the  four  years  service,  viz :  At 
Gettysburg,  1  July,  1863,  right  limb  seriously  fractured  be- 
low the  knee,  which  has  never  gotten  entirely  well;  at  the 
Wilderness,  5  May,  1864,  centrally  in  the  breast  by  minie 
ball,  a  flesh  wound  only — here  his  company  lost  19  out  of  26 
men' taken  into  action;  Avest  of  Petersburg  by  a  four-ounce 
canister  ball  in  left  breast,  causing  an  ugly  contusion  and 
great  suffering;  and  on  30  September,  1864,  on  the  Squirrel 
Level  road,  south  of  Petersburg,  in  left  forearm  by  minie 
ball,  shattering  the  larger  bone  and  necessitating  a  resection 
of  three  or  four  inches. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  for  the  war,  April, 
1862,  Orderly  Sergeant  Tuttle  was  elected  First  Lieutenant, 
and  on  the  resignation  of  his  Captain,  Jos.  R.  Ballew,  in  the 
Fall  of  the  same  year,  he  was  promoted  to  the  Captaincy. 

After  the  war  this  battle  scarred  veteran,  but  mere  youth 
in  years,  returned  to  college  to  complete  his  education,  and  in 
June,  1869,  graduated  at  Davidson  College,  IST.  C. 

He  now  (April,  1901)  has  charge  of  the  Collierstown  Pres- 
byterian Church,  near  Lexington,  Ya. 

Captain  Henry  Clay  Albright,  Company  G.  This  gal- 
lant young  officer,  born  12  July,  1842,  left  college  to  enter  the 
army  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  G,  Twenty-sixth 
Sorth  Carolina  Regiment,  and  on  Captain  John  R.  Lane's 
promotion  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment,  Lieuten- 
ant Albright  was  made  Captain  of  the  company. 

He  was  a  "wonderfully  good  officer"  is  the  testimony  of  his 
regimental  commaiider.  He  passed  unscathed  through  all 
engagements  and  battles,  though  present  with  his  regiment  all 
the  time,  until  the  spirited  engagement  of  29  September, 
1864,  on  the  Vaughan  road,  south  of  Petersburg,  he  was  mor- 


418  XoRTii  Caeoijna  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tally  woimded,  and  on  27  October  he  died  in  the  Winder  hos- 
pital. 

Oapiain  William  Wilson,  Company  B,  was  killed  at  Get- 
tvsbnrg  on  the  first  day's  fight  gallantly  leading  his  men  up 
the  hill  and  through  McPherson's  woods.  Left  school  to 
join  the  army,  and  in  June,  1861,  was  elected  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  Company  B,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment. 
At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  in  April,  1862,  he  was 
elected  Captain.  lie  would  have  achieved  higher  command 
had  he  survived  the  fateful  battle  of  Grettysburg.  He  was 
buried  on  the  field  by  the  side  of  his  Colonel.  They  were 
stricken  about  the.  same  tiiue  and  fell  within  a  few  feet  of 
each  other. 

Captain  William  Pinckney  Martin,  Com,pany  li,  was  born 
4  October,  1817.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  proposed 
Constitutional  Convention  28  February,  1861;  but  as  the 
calling  of  the  Convention  was  defeated,  he  did  not  take  his 
seat.  His  was  the  first  company  that  vokmteered  from  his 
county.  It  became  Company  H,  Twenty-sixth  Regiment. 
He  was  shot  in  the  head  at  the  battle  of  New  Bern  just  be- 
fore the  regiment  had  orders  to  retreat,  and  was  buried  on  the 
field. 

Captain  James  D.  Mclver,  Company  II,  was  born  in 
Moore  County,  N.  C,  14  December,  1833;  graduated  from 
Davidson  College  in  J\me,  1859 ;  volunteered  in  the  first 
company  raised  in  his  county,  and  was  elected  Second  Lieu- 
tenant in  July,  1861.  This  company  became  Company  H, 
in  the  Twenty-sixth  ISTorth  Carolina  Regiment. 

On  the  resignation  of  Captain  Clement  Dowd  in  the  Spring 
of  1862,  Lieutenant  llclver  succeeded  him  as  Captain  of  the 
company  and  remained  in  the  regiment  until  the  Fall  of 
1863;  was  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  en- 
gaged up  to  that  time,  except  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  at 
which  time  he  was  absent  on  furlough.  Captain  McTver  was 
a  most  gallant  and  competent  officer,  and  his  leaving  the  regi- 
ment was  much  regretted.  After  the  war  he  was  Coimty  So- 
licitor, member  of  the  Legislature  in  1876,  Solicitor  of  his 
District  in  1878-1886,  Judge  Superior  Court  1890-1898. 

Captain  James  C.  McLauchlin,  Company  K.     This  ac- 


Twenty-Sixth  Regiment.  419 

couiplished  officer  became  Captain  of  his  company  in  the  re- 
organization for  the  war,  April,  1862.  He  was  wounded  at 
Malvern  Hill  and  again  at  Gettysburg,  this  last  time  so 
severely  that  it  disabled  him  for  service  in  the  field,  and  he 
resigned  from  the  regiment  to  accept  lighter  duty.  Since  the 
war  for  more  than  twenty  years  and  at  the  present  (April, 
1901)  Captain  McLauchlin  has  been  Clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court  for  Anson,  his  native  county. 

Captain  Thomas  Lilly,  Company  K,  who  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  his  Company,  K,  on  the  resignation  of  Cap- 
tain McLauchlin,  was  also  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  He  rose 
from  Corporal  and  became  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  of- 
ficers in  the  brigade.  He  had  command  of  the  sharpshooters 
of  the  brigade,  and  fell  mortally  wounded  25  March,  on  the 
lines  at  Petersburg. 

Lieutenant  Orren  Alston  Manner,  Company  E,  enlisted 
38  May,  1861,  at  the  age  of  18  as  a  private, in  Company  E, 
Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment;  was  wounded  at 
Malvern  Hill  1  July,  1862 ;  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
of  the  company  in  October,  1862 ;  severely  wounded  at  Get- 
tysburg 1  July,  1863,  and  captured  on  the  retreat  of  the 
Confederate  army ;  carried  first  to  hospital  at  David's  Island, 
New  York,  then  to  prison  at  Johnson's  Island,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  paroled  in  March,  1865.  Has  been  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  18Y2,  1874,  and  1880. 

Lieutenant  Hanner  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  best  subal- 
tern officers  of  the  regiment.  He  and  his  Captain  (S.  W. 
Brewer)  were  both  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettysburg,  and 
the  First  Lieutenant,  John  B.  Emerson,  was  mortally 
wounded  at  the  same  time.  Captain  Brewer's  and  Lieuten- 
ant Hanner's  imprisonment  prevented  their  being  promoted 
to  the  positions  of  Major  and  First  Lieutenant  respectively. 

First  Lieutenant  Gaston  H.  Broughton,  Company  D,  was 
born  in  Wake  County,  1838,  enlisted  in  Company  D,  1861, 
was  promoted  First  Lieutenant  28  April,  1862,  was  wounded 
at  the  foot  of  the  stone  wall  in  the  third  day's  charge  at  Get- 
tysburg and  remained  a  prisoner  till  the  end  of  the  war.  He 
has  been  a  farmer  and  a  goad  citizen  since  the  war  and  is 
now  custodian  of  the  Supreme  Coujrt  building  in  Raleigh. 


420  jSToeth  Cakolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

Lieutenant  James  0.  M.  Jones,  Company  D,  was  born 
near  Holly  Springs,  Wake  County,  on  19  July,  1839. 
He  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Twenty-sixth  Kegiment.  At 
first  a  Sergeant,  at  the  reorganization  in  April,  1862,  he  was 
elected  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  company. 

At  Gettysburg,  Lieutenant  Jones  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  hip.  Through  the  kindness  of  Captain  Young,  Lieuten- 
ant Jones  and  his  Captain  (Adams)  managed  to  get  on  a 
four-horse  wagon  loaded  with  wheat,  and  got  safely  to  the 
Potomac  river,  and  thence  to  the  hospital  at  Eichmond.  He 
returned  to  duty  19  December,  1863,  at  Orange  Court  House, 
and  took  command  of  the  company,  his  senior  (Brough- 
ton)  being  prisoner  of  war,  wounded  and  captured  at  Get- 
tysburg. On  10  May,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
Lieutenant  Jones  was  again  wounded  in  the  left  breast,  and 
would  have  been  killed  but  for  a  daguerrotype  of  his  sweet- 
heart in  his  left  breast  pocket  which  deflected  the  ball.  This 
lady  he  subsequently  married.  He  returned  to  duty  in  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  and  remained  in  command  of  his  company 
until  in  the  action  at  Biirgess  Mill,  south  of  Petersburg,  on 
2Y  October,  1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  at  Fort 
Delaware  until  Jime,  1865,  when  he  was  liberated. 

Lieutenant  George  Willcox,  Company  H,  was  born  17 
June,  1835.  He  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Twenty-sixth 
]^orth  Carolina  Regiment.  At  the  reorganization  of  the  reg- 
iment for  the  war  in  the  Spring  of  1862,  he  was  elected  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  of  the  company  and  remained  as  such  until 
the  Fall  of  1864,  Avhen  he  was  appointed  Captain  of  Com- 
pany H,  in  the  Forty-sixth  Worth  Carolina  Regiment,  of 
Cooke's  Brigade,  in  the  same  (Heth's)  Division. 

Captain  Willcox  was  in  all  the  battles  and  actions  in  which 
his  command  was  engaged  during  the  war,  except  at  Malvern 
Hill,  and  when  he  was  absent  on  wounded  furlough.  In  the 
first  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg,  he  was  badly  wounded  while 
carrying  the  flag  of  his  regiment  (see  account  of  the  battle  in 
this  sketch) ;  was  captured,  but  resciied  on  the  retreat  and 
returned  to  his  command  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  in  which  battle  he  was  again  severely 
wounded,  this  time  through  the  shoulder. 


TwENTT-SlXTH  ReGIMENT.  421 

Returning  to  duty,  he  joined  his  regiment  in  the  trenches 
around  Petersburg,  and  was  captured  in  the  action  at  Bur- 
gess Mill  27  October,  1864,  but  escaped  from  the  enemy  dur- 
ing the  night  and  rejoined  his  command.  He  represented 
Moore  County  in  the  Legislature  of  1885-'86 ;  also  Moore  and 
Randolph  coimties  in  the  Senate  in  1891-'92.  Captain  Will- 
cox  had  three  brothers  in  the  war,  he  being  the  eldest.  The 
next  in  age  to  him,  W.  M.  Willcox,  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Lid- 
dell's  Brigade,  Pat  Cleburne's  Division,  General  Bragg's 
army,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Ohicamauga  (September 
19-20,  1863)  ;  Robert  P.  Willcox,  another  brother,  was  a 
member  of  Company  H,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment, arid  though  several  times  wounded,  survived  the  war 
several  years.  The  youngest  brother  Herman  Husband  Will- 
cox, as  stated  above,  was  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Lieutenant  Wm.  N.  Snelling,  Company  D,  enlisted  on  10 
June,  1861,  in  Company  D,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina 
Regiment.  At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment,  in  the 
Spring  of  1862,  he  was  made  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  after 
Gettysburg,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Third  Lieutenant.  At 
this  battle,  every  one  of  his  company  officers  were  killed  or 
wounded,  and  Third  Lieutenant  Marion  J.  Woodall  being 
killed,  Sergeant  Snelling  was  promoted  Second  Lieutenant, 
to  date  from  5  July,  1863,  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
company. 

Lieutenant  Snelling  was  twice  wounded,  once  in  the  left 
breast  and  once  in  the  leg.  Except  when  recovering  from 
these  wounds,  and  once  on  a  thirty  days'  furlough.  Lieutenant 
Snelling  was  with  his  regiment,  frequently  detailed  to  act  as 
Adjutant,  and  always  ready  for  duty.  He  was  with  his  regi- 
ment when  it  surrendered  at  Appomattox,  and  during  the  last 
few  months  of  the  war  he  was  in  command  of  Companies  A.  C 
and  D,  consolidated.  Lieutenant  Snelling  made  out  the  mus- 
ter and  pay  rolls  of  his  company  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end,  and  would  have  received  higher  promotion,  but  from 
the  fact  that  his  Captain  remained  a  prisoner  of  war  after 
his  capture  at  Gettysburg,  and  there  was  no  vacancy. 

Leonidas  L.  Polk,  Sergeant-Major,  was  born  in  Anson 
County  in  1887,   and  was  of  the  same  family  as  Colonel 


422  NoETH  Caboi-tna  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Thomas  Polk,  President  James  K.  Polk  and  Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral  (Bishop)  Leonidas  Polk.  In  1860  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly.  In  1862  he  en- 
listed in  Company  K,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Troops, 
and  was  soon  appointed  Sergeant-Major.  In  1863  he  was 
promoted  to  a  Lieutenancy  in  the  Forty-third  North  Carolina, 
and  was  severely  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  In  1864  he  re- 
signed upon  being  elected  to  the  Legislature.  In  1889-1892 
he  was  president  of  The  National  Farmers'  Alliance  and  died 
11  June  of  the  latter  year  and  is  buried  in  Oakwood  Ceme- 
tery, Raleigh,  ISF.  C. 

Private  W.  W.  Edivards,  Company  E,  was  born  22  Octo- 
ber, 1841,  was  in  most  of  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged;  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  but  returned  to 
duty  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
1864,  and  the  almost  daily  engagements  with  the  enemy  on 
the  retreat  to  Richmond. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  in  front  of  the  regiment  was  A 
school  house  occupied  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  It  be- 
came necessary  to  drive  them  away  and  Colonel  Lane  called 
for  volunteers  for  the  dangerous  work.  Among  those  who 
responded  was  Private  Edwards.  Taking  a  few  of  his 
comrades  with  him,  he  crept  up  to  the  ho\ise  and  by  a  well 
directed  fire,  drove  the  enemy  out  of  this  house  and  the  men 
were  no  more  annoyed  from  that  part  of  the  line.  After  the 
war  Mr.  Edwards  became  associated  in  the  publication  of  the 
Messenger  at  Siler  City,  and  under  the  nom  de  plume  of 
"Buck,"  became  one  of  the  most  popular  writers  in  the  State, 

THE   END. 

There  is  not  a  statement  contained  in  this  history  that  has 
not  been  obtained  from  official  records,  or  from  those  who 
were  actors  in  the  events  narrated.  The  mere  recital  of  the 
story  without  embellishment  is  glory  enough.  Probably  it 
will  be  vouchsafed  to  no  soldiers  in  the  future  to  suffer  such 
a  loss  in  open  battle  as  the  Twenty-sixth  sustained  at  Gettys- 
burg. There  is  no  record  in  the  past  of  such  sustained  hero- 
ism on  a  field  of  battle.  Such  being  the  case,  it  was  meet 
and  proper  that  the  facts  should  be  set  out  in  detail,  that 


TwENTT-SixTH  Eegiment.  423 

honor  should  be  given  where  honor  was  due.  Such  heroism 
as  the  Confederate  soldier  displayed  cannot  be  in  vain.  Some 
good  to  the  world  must  come  from  such  sacrifice. 

Nothing  less  than  sublime  confidence  in  the  Justice  of  the 
Cause  could  inspire  humanity  to  such  deeds  of  glory,  such 
endurance,  such  patriotism,  and  I  close  this  history,  paying 
this  tribute  to  the  private  Confederate  soldier,  quoting  the 
words  of  another : 

"Let  it  be  remembered  there  are  other  reasons  than  money 
or  patriotism  which  induce  men  to  risk  life  and  limb  in  war. 
There  is  the  love  of  glory  and  the  expectation  of  honorable 
recognition ;  but  the  private  in  the  ranks  expects  neither ;  his 
identity  is  merged  in  that  of  his  regiment;  to  him,  the  regi-. 
ment  and  its  name  is  everything ;  he  does  not  expect  to  see  his 
own  name  appear  upon  the  page  of  history,  and  is  content 
with  the  proper  recognition  of  the  old  command  in  which  he 
fought.  But  he  is  jealous  of  the  record  of  his  regiment  and 
demands  credit  for  every  shot  it  faced  and  every  grave  it 
filled. 

"The  bloody  laurels  for  which  a  regiment  contends  will  al- 
ways be  awarded  to  the  one  with  the  longest  roll  of  honor. 
Scars  are  the  true  evidence  of  wounds,  and  regimental  scars 
can  be  seen  only  in  the  record  of  the  casualties." 

"The  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  would  dress  on 
their  colors  in  spite  of  the  world." 

In  the  preparation  of  this  sketch,  great  assistance  has  been 
furnished  by  many  of  my  surviving  comrades  and  especially 
acknowledgment  is  due  to  Captain  W.  H.  S.  Burgwyn,  Thir- 
ty-fifth North  Carolina  Troops,  the  brother  of  our  lamented 
Colonel  Harry  Burgwyn.  Captain  Btirgwyn  is  the  historian 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  in  which  he  served  with  great 
honor,  and  also  of  Clingman's  Brigade,  in  which  he  later 
served  with  distinction  as  a  staff  ofiicer.  In  the  late  Spanish 
War  (1898)  he  showed  he  retained  the  military  instincts  of 
his  family  by  again  entering  the  service  as  Colonel  of  the  Sec- 
ond North  Carolina  Regiment. 

Geoege  C.  Undeewood. 

MaKLBy'B  MiLLB,   N.   0., 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  John  R.  Cooke,  Colonel.  4.    Jas.  A.  Graham,  Captain,  Co.  G. 

2.  Geo.  F.  Whitfield,  Colonel.  5.    Robert  D.  Patterson,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  G. 

3.  Jos.  C.  Webb,  Lieut. -Colonel.  6.    John  B.  Baker,  Sergeant,  Co.  X. 

7.    Jas.  L.  Cooley,  Corporal.  Co.  G. 


TWENTY- SEVEflTH  REQIMEfiT. 


By  JAMES  A.  GRAHAM,  Captain  Company  G. 


The  regiment  afterwards  known  as  the  Twenty-seventh 
ITorth  Carolina  Infantry,  was  first  organized  as  the  Ninth 
North  Carolina  Volunteers  with  the  following  companies, 
viz. : 

Company  A — Orange  OuardSj  Orange  County — Captain, 
Pride  Jones. 

Company  ^-—Guilford  Grays,  Guilford  County — Captain^ 
John  Sloan. 

Company  C — Goldsboro  Rifles,  Wayne  County — Captain, 
M.  D.  Craton. 

Company  D — Goldsboro  Volunteers,  Wayne  County — 
Captain,  J.  B.  Whitaker. 

Company  E — Wilson  Light  In,fantry,  Wilson  County — 
Captain,  Jesse  S.  Barnes. 

Company  F — Pitt  Volunteers,  Pitt  County — Captain,  G. 
B. .  Singletary. 

Company  G — Marlboro  Guards,  Pitt  County — Captain, 
W.  H.  Morrill. 

Company  H — Dixie  Rifles,  Wayne  County — Captain, 
Strong. 

Comi'any  I — North  Carolina  Guards,  Lenoir  County — 
Captain,  G.  F.  Whitfield. 

Company-  K — Tuckahoe  Braves,  Lenoir  County — Captain, 
W.  F.  Wooten. 

The  officers  of  this  regiment  were  ordered  to  meet  in  ISTew 
Bern  on  22  June,  1861 — I  think  it  was — to  elect  field  officers. 
On  9  June  Companies  A,  B  and  C  were  taken  from  the  regi- 
ment and  other  companies  substituted  in  their  places,  viz. : 
Captain  K.  H.  Drysdale's  Company,  from  Greene  County; 


426  JSTojjTH  Caeolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

Captain  R.  T.  Barden's  Company,  from  Wayne  County,  and 
Captain  W.  P.  Ward's  Company,  from  Jones  County.  On 
22  June  the  regiment  organized  by  electing  Captain  G.  B. 
Singletary,  Company  F,  Colonel ;  Captain  Pride  Jones,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel;  Captain  Strong,  Company  H,  Major.  Im- 
mediately after  this  organization.  Companies  D,  E  and  H, 
and  Captain  Drysdale's  company,  volunteered  for  the  war — 
the  regiment  being  only  twelve  months  volunteers^ — and  were 
assigned  to  some  of  the  regiments  of  State  Troops,  the  Third 
and  Fourth,  I  think. 

This  left  a  battalion  of  only  six  companies,  of  which  Col- 
onel G.  B.  Singletary  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel.  Soon 
afterwards,  the  "Perquimans  Beauregards,"  Captain  Wm. 
JSTixon,  was  added  to  it,  and  some  time  in  September,  1861, 
the  Orange  Guards,  Guilford  Greys  and  Goldsboro  Rifles 
were  again  assigned  to  this  regiment,  which  was  then  called 
the  Seventeenth  ISTorth  Carolina  Volunteers,  and  was  consti- 
tuted as  foUoAvs: 

Company  A — Goldshoro  Rifles — Captain,  M.  D.  Craton. 

Company  B — Guilford  Greys — Captain,  John  Sloan. 

Company  C — North  Carolina  Guards — Captain,  G.  F. 
Whitfield. 

Company  D — Tuckahoe  Braves — Captain,  W.  F.  Wooten. 

Company  E — Marlboro  Guards — Captain,  Wm.  H.  Mor- 
rill. 

Company  F — Perquimans  Beauregards — Captain,  Wm. 
JSTixon. 

Company  G — Orange  Guards — Captain,  Joseph  C.  Webb. 

Company  H — Pitt  Volunteers — Captain,  R.  W.  Single- 
tary. 

Company  I — Captain,  W.  P.  Ward,  from  Jones  County. 

Company  K — Captain,  B.  T.  Barden,  from  Wayne 
County. 

At  the  organization  of  this  regiment  in  September,  1861, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  B.  Singletary  was  elected  Colonel; 
Captain  John  Sloan,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Lieutenant 
Thomas  C.  Singletary,  of  Company  E,  Major.  Seven  com- 
panies of  the  regiment  were  then  camped  at  ISTew  Bern,  and 


Twenty-Seventh  Kegiment.  427 

the  other  three — Companies  A,  B  and  G — ^were  on  detached 
service  at  Fort  Macon,  where  they  remained  until  28  Feb- 
niary,  1862.  Colonel  G.  B.  Singletary  having  resigned,  an 
election  was  ordered  in  December,  1861,  when  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  John  Sloan  was  elected  Colonel;  Major  T.  C.  Sin- 
gletary, Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Adjutant  John  A.  Gilmer, 
Jr.,  Major.  February  28,  1862,  the  three  companies  from 
Fort  Macon  joined  the  remainder  of  the  regiment,  then 
camped  at  lort  Lane  on  the  ISTeuse  river,  beloAV  New  Bern. 
The  regiment  remained  in  camp  at  this  place  till  14  March, 
1862,  when  it  took  part  in  the  battle  of  E"ew  Bern,  occupying 
the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  with  its  left  resting  on  Weuse 
river.  As  the  fighting  was  principally  upon  the  right  and 
right-centre  we  were  not  much  engaged,  having  only  some 
skirmishing  and  sharpshooting.  I  deem  it  due  to  the  regi- 
ment, however,  to  state  that  twenty-seven  of  the  men  who 
worked  Latham's  battery,  which  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
fight  and  gained  great  credit,  were  from  this  regiment,  having 
'been  detailed  for  that  service  by  order  of  Brigadier-General 
L.  O'B.  Branch,  then  commanding  at  ISTew  Bern.  These  men 
were  detailed  by  me,  as  Adjutant  of  the  regiment,  by  order 
of  General  Branch,  and  were  from  Companies  D,  C,  E,  F  and 
H.  A  certain  number  of  men  in  each  company  had  been 
ordered  to  be  drilled  in  light  artillery,  and  Lieutenant  Brown, 
of  the  artillery,  was  attached  to  the  regiment  for  that  pur- 
pose. How  well  these  detailed  artillerists  did  their  duty 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  about  two-thirds  of  them  were 
either  killed  or  woimded.  Upon  the  retreat,  we  were  or- 
dered to  fall  back  to  the  railroad  depot  in  New  Bern.  There 
we  reformed,  and,  .after  the  last  train  had  left,  and  when  the 
enemy  Avere  landing  in  the  Fair  Grounds  from  their  gun- 
boats, we  continued  our  retreat  up  the  railroad,  being  the  last 
regiment  to  leave  New  Bern,  so  far  as  I  saw,  and  reached 
Kinston  late  at  night.  Here  we  remained  in  camp  until  31 
May,  1862.  Lieiitenant-Colonel  Thos.  C.  Singletary  having 
resigned,  Captain  B.  W.  Singletary,  of  Company  H,  was 
elected  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment,  16  April,   1862, 
Major  John  Ti.  Cooke,  Chief  of  Artillery  on  General  Holmes' 


428  N"oRTH  Cakolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

stafi,  was  elected  Colonel ;  E.  W.  Singletary,  re-elected  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and  John  A.  Gilmer,  Jr.,  re-elected  Major. 
About  the  same  time,  or  a  little  before,  Brigadier-General 
Eobert  Kansom  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Kinston,  and  we  were 
placed  in  his  brigade.  31  May,  1862,  we  took  the  train  for 
Virginia,  and  about  noon  of  1  June,  reached  Richmond.  As 
we  neared  the  city  the  guns  of  the  battle  at  Seven  Pines 
could  be  distinctly  heard.  Immediately  on  reaching  the 
depot  we  were  ordered  double-quick  to  the  battlefield,  and 
passing  rapidly  through  Richmond  we  pressed  on  towards  the 
firing,  anxious  to  take  part  in  the  fray,  as  the  old  saying  is, 
"spiling  for  a  fight."  Before  we  reached  the  battlefield,  how- 
ever, the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  was  over. 

We  were  assigned  to  J.  G.  Wallcer's  Brigade  and  moved 
to  Drewry's  Bluff,  where  we  remained  throwing  up  breast- 
works, drilling,  etc.,  until  26  June,  when  we  took  up  the  line 
of  march  for  the  seven  days  fight  around  Richmond.  We- 
formed  a  part  of  the  reserve  under  General  Holmes  and  were 
not  actively  engaged  in  any  of  those  memorable  battles, 
though  often  near  enough  to  the  combatants  to  hear  every 
word  of  command,  and  to  feel  the  force  of  the  enemy's  fire. 

On  Monday,  during  the  battle  at  Frazier's  Farm,  we  were 
moved  to  near  Malvern  Hill,  and  it  was  generally  understood 
among  us  that  we  were  to  attack  that  stronghold.  For  some 
reason  this  was  not  done,  and  ^ve  lay  nearly  the  whole  after- 
noon in  a  piece  of  woods,  subjected  to  a  very  severe  shell- 
ing from  seven  gunboats  and  l^hirty-four  pieces  of  light 
artillery.  As  the  enemy  did  not  know  our  exact  position, 
and  had  to  send  their  shot  and  shell  at  random,  our  loss 
was  not  very  heavy.  About  sundown  a  large  force  was 
landed  from  the  ,gunbo?its,  and  as  soon  as  it ,  was  dark  we 
were  withdrawn  and  placed  in  position  a  few  miles  up  the 
road.  The  next  evening  we  were  moved  to  Malvern  Hill 
and  placed  in  position  in  a  skirt  of  woods  just  on  the  edge 
of  the  battlefield.  Here  we  reniained  until  the  battle  was 
over.  Though  not  actively  engaged,  yet  we  were  in>a  posi- 
tion equally  trying,  as  we  got  the  benefit  of  the  shells  of 
the  enemy  which  passed  over  the  heads  of  the  troops  en- 


Twenty-Seventh  Kegiment.  429 

gaged,  and  burst  among  the  trees  under  which  we  were  lying, 
and  we  were  expecting  every  mimite  to  be  ordered  forward 
to  take  our  part  in  the  dreadful  carnage.  The  next  night 
it  being  reported  that  the  enemy  were  crossing  the  James, 
we  were  ordered  back  to  our  camp  near  Drewry's  Bluff.  It 
had  now  been  raining  for  nearly  forty-eight  hours  and  the 
roads,  cut  up  by  the  wagons  and  ambulances,  were  nearly 
impassable.  Broken  down  as  we  were  by  continuous  march- 
ing and  loss  of  sleep,  the  march  was  a  hard  one.  When  we 
were  within  a  mile  or  two  of  camp  our  Colonel — the  gal- 
lant Cooke — ever  mindfuUof  the  welfare  of  his  men,  direct- 
ing us  to  make  our  way  to  camp,  dashed  ahead  and  aroused 
the  men  who  had  been  left  there,  and  when  we  came  up  had 
a  roaring  log  fire  in  front  of  almost  every  tent,  which  was 
very  consoling  to  us,  muddy,  wet  and  tired  as  we  were.  By 
siich  little  acts  of  kindness  as  this,  as  well  as  by  his  gallantry 
and  daring,  it  was  that  he  endeared  himself  to  his  men  and 
made  them  ready  and  willing  to  go  wherever  he  would  say 
Avithout  a  murmur  or  complaint. 

Kemaiuing  at  Drewry's  Bluff  till  G  <Tuly,  1862,  we  were 
then  moved,  with  the  Second  Georgia  Battalion  of  our  bri- 
gade, to  Petersburg,  and  then  on  the  8th  to  Fort  Powhatan, 
on  the  James  river  below  City  Point.  At  daylight  on  the 
morning  of  11  July,  five  companies  of  the  Twenty-seventh, 
with  two  companies  of  the  Georgia  Battalion,  and  Brem's 
and  French's  Tjight  Batteries,  were  placed  in  ambush  on 
the  high  bltifi"  on  the  James  river,  with  orders  to  fire  upon  any 
boat  that  might  pass.  About  8  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  "Daniel 
Webster,"  a  river  steamer,  was  seen  approaching.  As  she 
passed  a  Federal  gunboat  stationed  ioxir  or  five  hundred  yards 
below  us,  her  captain  inquired,  "Any  danger  ahead?"  The 
reply  came  from  the  gunboat,  "No  danger,  go  ahead." 
Hardly  was  this  answer  given  when  the  boom  of  our  artil- 
lery gave  a  different  aspect  to  affairs.  The  first  gun,  fired 
by  Colonel  Cooke,  disabled  the  bow  gun  of  the  gunboat  and 
kept  her  from  doing  miich  damage,  as  she  had  to  turn  around 
every  time  she  fired.  Four  pieces  of  out  artillery  played 
upon  the  gunboat,  and  the  other  six,  with  the  infantry,  upon 
the  steamer,  riddling  her  cabin  and  hull.      She,  however, 


430  North  Carolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

putting  on  all  steam  made  her  escape,  and  we  never  knew, 
certainly,  the  amount  of  damage  done  or  the  number  killed 
or  wounded  on  the  boat.  Very  soon  the  gunboats  from  Har- 
rison's Landing  came  down,  and  the  woods  were  really  alive 
with  shot  and  shell  for  a  mile  along  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Before  they  reached  that  point,  however,  we  had  drawn  off 
our  artillery,  which  we  had  put  in  position  by  hand,  and 
were  safe  on  our  way  to  camp.  The  next  day  the  other  five 
companies  of  the  Twenty-seventh  and  the  rest  of  the  Greorgia 
Battalion  tried  the  same  game.  A  day  or  two  afterwards 
the  enemy  threw  a  force  across  the»river  to  prevent  any  more 
raids  of  this  sort. 

We  spent  the  remainder  of  the  summer  around  Petersburg 
and  picketing  up  and  down  the  James  river,  and  formed 
part  of  the  support  of  the  artillery  which  shelled  McClellan 
out  of  his  camp  at  Harrison's  Landing  on  the  night  of  15 
August,  1862.  Reaching  this  point  on  the  evening  of  the 
14-th  we  were  unable  to  get  the  artillery  into  position  that 
night,  and  were  compelled  to  keep  concealed  during  the  next 
day,  as  the  enemy  had'  their  balloons  and  other  appliances 
for  observing  our  position,  in  full  play.  On  the  night  of  the 
15  th  forty-nine  pieces  of  artillery,  out  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  that  we  bad  with  us,  were  placed  in  position  along  the 
banks  of  the  James  river,  and  at  1  o'clock  a.  m.,  opened 
fire  on  McClellan's  camp  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river. 
Erom  what  I  learned  from  an  artillery  officer  engaged  in  this 
shelling — the  infantry  being  held  in  reserve  about  a  mile 
from  the  river — it  looked  like  a  grand  city ;  the  lights  of  the 
shipping  and  the  camps  forming  one  brilliant  panorama.  Be- 
fore twenty  shots  were  fired  these  lights  had  disappeared  and 
"darkness  reigned  supreme."  After  firing  for  about  an  hour 
the  artillery  was  withdrawn,  and  was  soon  rumbling  past  us 
on  its  way  back  to  Petersburg.  About  daylight  the  last  gun 
passed  us,  and  we  took  up  the  line  of  march.  When  we  had 
gone  about  five  miles — it  being  then  about  8  o'clock  a.  m. — 
the  enemy  fired  their  first  gun,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it 
sounded  as  if  the  whole  thunders  of  the  heavens  had  broken 
loose  at  that  point,  but  we  were  far  out  of  range.  We  re- 
mained at  Petersburg — with  the  exception  of  a  few  days  pick- 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  431 

eting  at  "Merchant's  Hope"  church,  where  we  had  a  slight 
skirmish  with  the  enemy — until  26  August,  1862,  when  we 
moved,  via  Richmond  to  Rapidan  Station,  Va. 

Here  we  remained  till  1  September,  1862,  when  we  started 
on  the  first  Maryland  campaign — General  Robert  Ransom's 
Brigade  having  been  previously  assigned  to  our  division,  and 
our  Brigadier,  J.  G.  Walker,  having  command  of  the  division, 
while  Colonel  Manning,  of  the  Third  Arkansas  Regiment, 
commanded  our  brigade — and  formed  the  rear  guard  of  the 
Array  of  [Northern  Virginia.  Our  provost  guard,  with  Lieii- 
tenant  Coleman,  of  the  Thirtieth  Virginia,  as  Provost  Mar- 
shal, and  Lieutenants  J.  A.  Graham,  Twenty-seventh  !North 
Carolina;  Lowe,  Third  Arkansas,  and  Temple,  Thirteenth 
Virginia,  as  assistants,  were  charged  with  keeping  up  strag- 
glers of  the  whole  army.  Acting  thus  as  rear  guard  we  were 
not  engaged  in  any  of  the  battles  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  in 
that  campaign.  We  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Nolan's  Ferry, 
near  Leesburg,  Va.,  8  September,  1862,,  and  joined  the  main 
army  near  Frederick  City,  Md.,  the  next  day,  and  were  at- 
tached to  liongstreet's  Corps.  We  camped  near  Bucket 
Town,  Md.,  and  remained  there  all  day  of  the  9th.  On  the 
night  of  9  September,  1862,  our  division  was  sent  to  the 
mouth  of  Mouocacy  river  to  destroy  the  aqueduct  where  the 
canal  crosses.  This  we  were  unable  to  do  for  want  of  proper 
tools,  and,  from  after  events,  it  appeared  that  the  movement 
was  but  a  feint  to  draw  off  the  attention  of  the  enemy  while 
the  corps  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson  and  the  division  of  Mc- 
Laws  started  on  their  march  to  surroimd  Harper's  Ferry. 
About  daylight  on  the  morning  of  10  September  we  were 
drawn  off  and  placed  in  line  of  battle  some  four  or  five  miles 
distant,  in  front  and  in  full  view  of  another  portion  of  the 
Federal  army  posted  in  a  strong  position  upon  a  range  of 
hills,  or  little  mountains,  to  the  east  of  Bucket  Town. 

Here  we  remained  in  line  of  battle  all  day.  As  soon  as 
night  came  we  started  in  the  direction  of  Frederick  City,  but 
after  going  about  two  miles  we  countermarched  and  took  the 
road  for  "Point  of  Rocks."  Just  as  we  were  countermarching 
a  squad  of  Federal  cavalry  dashed  up  to  us  and  immediately 


432  jSToeth  Caeolina  Tboops,  1861-'65. 

wheeled  and  retired  before  we  could  fire.     They  were  evi- 
dently scouting,  and  came  upon  us  before  they  knew  it. 

As  the  portion  of  our  column  which  they  struck  was 
moving  in  the  direction  of  Frederick  City,  they  were  no  doubt 
deceived  as  to  our  movements  which,  I  think,  accounts  for  our 
not  being  pursued  during  the  night. 

After  a  rapid  march  and  very  few  halts  we  reached  and 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  "Point  of  Rocks"  just  as  day  was 
breaking  on  the  morning  of  11  September. 

ISIo  one,  except  our  division  commander,  knew  whither 
we  were  bound,  and  many  an  inquiry  was  made  as  to  where 
our  course  would-  lead.  After  a  short  halt  to  cook  rations, 
we  again  started,  and  by  inquiry  of  a  citizen  learned  that 
we  were  on  the  road  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  some  twenty 
miles  distant  from  it.  In  reply  to  another  inquiry,  made 
an  hour  after,  we  learned  that  we  were  on  the  road  to  Lees- 
burg  and  a  mile  further  from  Harper's  Ferry  than  when  we 
last  asked.  Several  times  during  the  day  our  course  was 
repeatedly  changed  and  we  would  first  approach  and  then 
move  oft'  from  Harper's  Ferry. 

That  night  we  camped  near  Hillsboro,  in  Loudon  County, 
Va.,  and  next  morning,  the  12th,  passed  throtigh  the  village 
noted  for  the  number  of  its  pretty  girls,  if  for  nothing  else ; 
and  about  12  o'clock  the  division,  with  the  exception  of  three 
regiments,  went  into  camp  at  the  foot  of  Loudon  Heights, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain.  Of  these  three  regi- 
ments the  Forty-sixth  North  Carolina  was  sent  to  guard  a 
pass  around  the  base  of  the  moimtain  on  the  bank  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina  and  Thirtieth 
Virginia  began  the  ascent  of  the  mountain. 

Tired  as  we  were  this  ascent  was  very  difficult,  as  we  had 
several  times  to  leave  the  road  to  avoid  being  seen  by  the  Fed- 
eral troops  in  and  around  Harper's  Ferry,  and  make  our  way 
through  the  thick  mountain  undergrowth,  oftentimes  having 
to  clear  a  way  with  hatchets  or  knives.  About  5  p.  m.,  we 
took  possession  of  Loudon  Heights.  McLaws'  Division  had 
by  this  time  taken  possession  of  Maryland  Heights,  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  river,  and  "Stonewall"  Jackson's  Corps 
already  occupied  Bolivar  Heights,  a  range  of  low  hills  run- 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  433 

aing  from  the  Shenandoah  to  the  Potomac,  to  the  west  and 
southwest  of  the  town ;  so  it  was  completely  encircled.  We 
immediately  endeavored  to  open  communication  with  Jack- 
son and  McLaws  by  means  of  our  Signal  Corps.  Very  soon  we 
were  answered  by  McLaws,  but  being  unable  to  get  any  answer 
from  Jackson  a  courier  on  horseback  was  dispatched  to  him, 
who,  on  returning,  about  9  p.  m.,  informed  us  that  he  was  in 
position.  Soon  after  we  had  gained  possession  of  the  heights 
the  enemy  opened  fire  upon  us  from  their  batteries  on  the 
hills  beyond  the  town.  One  shell  burst  immediately  over  our 
heads,  but  did  no  damage;  and  another  passing  clear  over 
the  mountain  fell  in  our  division  camp,  some  three  miles  dis- 
tant. About  10  o'clock  p.  m.  we  were  relieved  by  the  Forty- 
sixth  and  Forty-eighth  North  Carolina  Regiments  and  re- 
turned to  camp,  taking  a  short  cut  down  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain instead  of  the  circuitous  but  more  even,  route  by  which 
we  ascended. 

Next  day  the  batteries  attached  to  our  division  were  carried 
up  by  hand  and  placed  in  position  upon  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain and  did  good  work  in  the  battle  of  the  15th,  when  the 
garrison  was  compelled  to  surrender.  As  soon  as  the  surren- 
der was  known  we  crossed  the  mountain  and  started  for 
Sharpsburg,  camped  near  Hall  Town  that  night,  and  starting 
before  day  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th  and  went  into  camp  near  where  the  bat- 
tle of  the  next  day  was  fought.  Before  day  on  the  morning 
of  17  September,  1862,  we  were  moved  and  placed  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Confederate  lines,  our  left 
resting  upon  the  yard  of  a  man  whose  name  I  did  not  learn, 
who,  to  prevent  our  getting  water,  broke  off  his  pump-handle 
and  destroyed  his  pump,  so  that  we  were  compelled  to  fill  our 
canteens  from  a  mud  hole  in  his  stable  lot  or  do  without 
water.  Most  of  us  filled  from  this  mud-hole,  and  I  can 
testify  that,  while  not  as  fresh  and  sweet  as  some  I  have  seen, 
yet  in  the  heat  and  strife  of  that  day  its  filth  was  almost  for- 
gotten and  it  served  very  well  to  quench  thirst.  We  re- 
mained in  this  position  till  about  8  :30  o'clock  a.  m.,  when 
we  were  ordered  to  the  left  centre.     After  double-quick- 

28 


434  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

ing  one  and  a  half  or  two  miles  we  were  placed  in  line  about 
one  mile  to  the  left  of  the  town  of  Sharpsburg. 

The  Twenty-seventh  JSTorth  Carolina  infantry,  Colonel 
John  K.  Cooke,  and  the  Third  Arkansas,  Captain  Eeady  com- 
manding, were  detached  from  the  rest  of  the  division  and 
fought  as  a  little  brigade  by  themselves  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Cooke  of  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina; 
Colquitt's  Georgia  Brigade  being  some  500  yards  to  our  right, 
and  the  rest  of  our  division  about  the  saoue  distance  to  our 
left.  Forming  in  a  corn  field  we  advanced  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  grape  and  canister  at  a  quick  step,  up  a  little  rise,  and 
halted  at  a  rail  fence,  our  right  considerably  advanced.  Cap- 
tain Greenough's  battery,  attached  to  General  Kershaw's  Bri- 
gade was  placed  on  our  left,  but  was  soon  withdrawn.  After 
holding  this  position  for  half  an  hour  or  more  our  front  was 
changed ;  the  left  retiring  about  ten  steps  and  the  right  thrown 
back  considerably,  so  as  to  be  upon  a  line  with  the  other 
troops.  In  the  meantime  we  had  suffered  heavily  and,  I 
think  inflicted  equally  as  much  damage  upon  the  enemy.  The 
Yankees  getting  possession  of  a  piece  of  woods  upon  our  left, 
Companies  F,  K,  and  G,  the  three  left  companies  of  the 
Twenty-seventh,  were  directed  to  center  their  fire  upon  that 
point ;  and  right  well  did  they  do  their  work,  as  it  appeared 
upon  an  examination  of  the  field  next  day  that  the  enemy 
were  piled  two  or  three  deep  in  some  places.  About  1  o'clock 
p.  m.,  the  enemy  having  retired  behind  the  hill  upon  which 
they  were  posted,  and  none  appearing  within  range  in  our 
front.  Colonel  Cooke  ordered  us  to  fall  back  some  twenty 
steps  in  the  corn  field  and  lie  down,  so  as  to  draw  them  on ;  he 
in  the  meantime,  regardless  of  personal  danger  from  sharp- 
shooters, remained  at  the  fence  beside  a  small  hickory  tree. 
After  remaining  there  some  twenty  minutes  the  enemy  at- 
tempted to  sneak  up  a  section  of  artillery  to  the  little  woods 
on  our  left.  Colonel  Cooke,  watching  the  movement,  or- 
dered the  four  left  companies  of  the  Twenty-seventh  North 
Carolina  up  to  the  fence  and  directed  them  to  fire  upon  this 
artillery.  At  the  first  fire,  before  they  had  gotten  into 
position,  nearly  every  horse  and  more  than  half  the  men  fell, 
and  the  infantry  line  which  had  moved  up  to  support  them 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  435 

showed  evident  signs  of  wavering.  Colonel  Cooke  seeing 
this,  and  having  received  orders  to  charge  if  opportunity  of- 
fered, ordered  a  charge.  Without  waiting  a  second  word  of 
command  both  regiments  leaped  the  fence  and  "went  at  them" 
and  soon  we  had  captured  these  guns  and  had  the  troops  in 
front  of  us  in  full  retreat.  A  battery  posted  near  a  little 
brick  church  upon  a  hill  (the  Dunkard  church,  so  often  re- 
ferred to  in  accounts  of  this  battle,  which  was  situated  on  the 
"Hagerstown  Pike"  and  just  to  our  left  and  front),  was  play- 
ing sad  havoc  with  us,  but  thinking  that  would  be  taken  by 
the  troops  upon  our  left,  who  we  supposed  were  charging  with 
us,  we  still  pursued  the  flying  foe'.  !N"umbers  of  them  sur- 
rendered to  us  and  they  were  ordered  to  the  rear.  Two  or 
three  hundred  took  shelter  behind  a  lot  of  haystacks,  and  fast- 
ening white  handkerchiefs  to  their  muskets  and  bayonets,  held 
them  out  offering  to  su.rrender.  We  pushed  on,  and  soon 
wheeling  to  the  right  drove  down  their  line,  giving  them  an 
enfilade  fire,  and  succeeded  in  breaking  six  regiments,  which 
fled  in  confusion.  Only  one  Federal  regiment,  that  I  saw, 
left  the  field  in  anything  like  good  order.  After  pushing  on 
in  this  way,  we  found  ourselves  opposed  by  a  body  of  the  en- 
emy behind  a  stone  wall  in  a  com  field.  Stopping  to  con- 
tend with  these  we  found  that  we  were  almost  out  of  ammu- 
nition ;  the  cartridges  which  we  had  captured  on  the  field,  and 
of  these  there  was  a  large  quantity,  not  fitting  our  guns. 

Colonel  Cooke,  learning  this  fact,  and  seeing  that  we  were 
not  supported  in  our  charge,  ordered  us  to  fall  back  to  our 
original  position.  This,  of  course,  was  done  at  double-quick. 
As  we  returned  we  experienced  the  perfidy  of  those  who  had 
previously  surrendered  to  us  and  whom  we  had  not  taken 
time  to  disarm.  They,  seeing  that  we  were  not  supported,  at- 
tempted to  form  a  line  in  our  rear  and  in  a  few  minutes 
would  have  done  so.  As  it  was,  we  had  to  pass  between  two 
fires,  a  part  of  the  troops  having  been  thrown  back  to  oppose 
our  movement  on  their  flank  and  these  supposed  prisoners 
having  formed  on  the  other  side.  A  bloody  lane  indeed  it 
proved  to  us.  Many  a  brave  man  lost  his  life  in  that  retreat. 
At  some  points  the  lines  were  not  sixty  yards  distant  on  either 


436  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

side  of  us.  Arriving  at  our  original  position  both  regiments 
halted  and  were  soon  reformed. 

In  this  retreat  we  were  very  materially  aided  and  protected 
by  Cobb's  Brigade,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  William 
MacRae,  of  the  Fifteenth  North  Carolina  Eegiment. 

I  deem  it  proper  to  state  here  that  the  colors  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Eegiment  in  this  action  were  carried  by  William  H, 
Campbell,  a  private  of  Company  G,  from  Orange  County,  N. 
C,  who  afterwards  fell  at  Bristoe  Station,  and  that  he  was 
for  the  greater  part  of  that  time  the  foremost  man  in  the 
line,  and  when  ordered  by  Colonel  Cooke  to  go  slower,  as  the 
regiment  could  not  keep  up  with  him,  replied,  "Colonel,  I 
can't  let  that  Arkansas  fellow  get  ahead  of  me." 

I  will  also  state  that  soon  after  we  started  the  charge,  some 
drunken  officer  on  horseback,  (who  or  of  what  command  I 
'never  learned),  rode  in  front  of  the  Twenty-seventh  North 
Carolina,  then  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  E,.  W.  Sin- 
gletary,  and  pulling  off  and  waving  his  hat,  yelled  out,  "Come 
on,  boys;  I'm  leading  this  charge."  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sin- 
gletary  immediately  ran  up  to  him  (the  regiment  being  then 
at  double-quick)  and  replied,  "You  are  a  liar,  sir;  we  lead 
our  own  charges." 

As  soon  as  the  regiments  could  reform  behind  their  rail 
fence,  they  opened  fire  with  the  few  cartridges  they  had  left 
and  soon  checked  the  advance  of  the  enemy  who  did  not 
come  beyond  the  line  which  they  had  occupied  in  the  morn-- 
ing.  In  a  short  while  all  our  ammunition  was  exhausted. 
Colonel  Cooke  sent  courier  after  courier  for  ammunition,  but 
still  none  was  sent.  Four  or  five  times  during  the  afternoon 
General  Longstreet  sent  couriers  telling  Colonel  Cooke  to 
hold  the  position  at  all  hazards,  that  "it  was  the  key  to  the 
whole  line."  Colonel  Cooke's  reply  was  always,  "Tell  Gen- 
eral Longstreet  to  send  me  some  ammunition.  I  have  not  a 
cartridge  in  my  command,  but  vrill  hold  my  position  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet." 

The  rail  fence,  which  was  our  only  protection,  was  rid- 
dled with  bullets  and  torn  with  shot  and  shell  and  our  men 
were  falling  fast,  but  still  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  437 

and  the  Third  Arkansas  flinched  not.  Imbued  with  the  cour- 
age of  their  commander,  they  stood  firm  to  their  post. 

For  about  two  hours  and  a  half  they  held  the  position  lit- 
erally without  a  cartridge.  This  fact  is  mentioned  in  Gen- 
eral E,.  E.  Lee's  report  of  the  first  Maryland  campaign,  and 
also  in  Dabney's  Life  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson.  In  all  the 
trying  times  of  that  day  the  Third  Arkansas  Regiment  was 
side  by  side  with  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina,  and 
yet,  I  never  see  them  mentioned  in  accounts  of  the  battle. 
Even  Longstreet  fails  to  mention  them  in  a  late  article,  in 
which  he  pays  a  great  compliment  to  the  Twenty-seventh 
North  Carolina.  It  was  a  gallant  regiment,  commanded  in 
that  fight  by  Captain  J.  W.  Eeady,  and  was  with  the  Twenty- 
seventh  in  every  move.  Between  4  and  5  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon we  were  relieved  (I  think  by  the  Third  North  Car- 
olina and  a  Louisiana  regiment),  and  were  moved  about  a 
mile  to  the  rear  to  get  ammunition  and  fresh  water.  After 
resting  about  half  an  hour  we  were  marched  again  to  the  front 
and  placed  in  position  just  behind  and  in  support  of  the 
troops  who  had  relieved  us.  Here  we  were  subjected  to  a 
severe  shelling,  but  had  no  chance  to  return  the  fire.  The 
day  had  been  a  long  one,  but  the  evening  seemed  longer ;  the 
sun  seemed  almost  to  go  backwards,  and  it  appeared  as  if 
-night  would  never  come.  As  soon  as  it  became  dark  we  were 
moved  to  the  left,  rejoined  our  division,  and  with  them  biv- 
ouacked upon  the  battlefield. 

The  regiment  entered  the  battle  with  325  officers  and  men 
and  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  203,  about  63  per  cent.  One 
company  (G)  went  in  30  strong  and  had  but  five  left  at  the 
end  of  the  day.  Another  (Company  E),  with  an  average 
company  and  a  full  complement  of  officers,  lost  its  Captain, 
First  Lieutenant  and  Second  Lieutenant  killed,  and  two- 
thirds  of  its  men  killed  or  wounded.  This  regiment  re- 
mained with  its  division  on  the  battlefield  all  day  of  the  18th 
and  retreated  with  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  on  the 
night  of  the  18th,  crossing  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown 
about  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  marched  from 
there  to  Martinsburg,  Va.,  where  it  remained  till  the  last  of 
September,  and  then  moved  via  Bunker  Hill  to  Winchester. 


438  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Eemaining  there  till  the  latter  part  of  October  we  then 
moved  via  Millwood  to  Paris  and  Upperville  on  the  Bine 
Eidge  mountains.  After  spending  several  days  at  these 
places,  and  making  a  raid  to  near  Aldie  and  capturing  a  lot 
of  beef  cattle  and  flour  we  moved  via  Salem,  Va.,  to  Culpep' 
per  Court  House,  thence  to  Cedar  Eun  and  then  to  Madison 
Court  House,  Va.  After  leaving  Madison  Court  House,  we 
moved  via  Orange  Court  House  to  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
reaching  the  latter  place  about  the  end  of  ISTovember,  1862. 

The  march  to  Fredericksburg  was  a  hard  one,  as  in  conse- 
quence of  the  change  of  position  from  the  extreme  left  to  the 
centre  at  Sharpsburg  we  lost  our  knapsacks  and  blankets, 
having  piled  them  up  by  companies  as  we  entered  the  fight 
and  being  unable,  on  acount  of  the  change  of  position,  to  get 
them,  as  we  intended,  on  18  September,  and  many  of  our 
men,  besides  being  short  of  clothing,  were  also  barefooted. 

During  the  month  of  ISTovember,  and  before  we  reached 
Fredericksburg,  our  Colonel,  John  E.  Cooke,  though  the 
junior  Colonel  of  the  brigade,  was,  for  gallantry,  promoted 
to  Brigadier-General,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  our 
brigade  in  place  of  General  J.  G.  Walker,  who  had  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department.  The  brigade 
was  also  changed ;  the  regiments  from  other  States  being  as- 
signed to  brigades  from  their  respective  States,  viz. :  the 
Thirtieth  Virginia  to  Corse's  Brigade,  the  Third  Arkansas  to 
Eobertson's  Texas  Brigade,  and  the  Second  Georgia  Battal- 
ion to  Wright's  Brigade.  The  Fift-eenth  North  Carolina, 
formerly  belonging  to  Cobb's  Brigade,  was  assigned  to  our 
brigade,  which  then  comprised  the  Fifteenth,  Twenty-sev- 
enth, Forty-sixth  and  Forty-eighth  North  Carolina  Eegi- 
ments. 

Upon  the  promotion  of  Colonel  Cooke,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Singletary  having  resigned  on  account  of  wounds.  Major 
John  A.  Gilmer,  Jr.,  was  promoted  to  Colonel;  Captain  G, 
F.  Whitfield,  Company  C,  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Cap- 
tain Joseph  C.  Webb,  Company  G,  to  Major, 

We  were  engaged  in  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
Va.,  13  December,  1862,  and  fought  behind  the  rock  wall  at 
Marye's  Heights,  on  the  telegraph  road,  just  opposite  the 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  439 

town.  On  account  of  the  protection  afforded  by  this  wall 
our  loss  was  slight,  while  the  damage  done  the  enemy  in  our 
front  was  terrible. 

There  seems  to  be  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  all  writers  to 
put  Cooke's  North  Carolina  Brigade  in  reserve,  and  not  at 
the  rock  wall,  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  and  even  Long- 
street,  who  commanded  that  part  of  the  line,  says,  in  a  late 
magazine  article,  that  Cooke  was  in  reserve. 

Yet,  I  know  the  fact  to  be  that  Cooke  was  wounded  while 
talking  to  General  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  who  was  killed  at  the 
rock  wall;  that  Colonel  Saunders,  Forty-sixth  !N"orth  Caro- 
lina, was  shot  in  the  mouth  while  charging  down  the  hill  to 
the  ivall,  and  that  Lieutenant  S.  P.  Wier,  Forty-sixth  North 
Carolina,  was  killed  and  Colonel  John  A.  Gilmer,  Twenty- 
seventh  North  Carolina,  was  wounded  at  the  roch  wall. 

These  oflGlcers  were  with  their  commands  and  at  the  rock 
wall. 

January  3,  1863,  we  were  ordered  South,  and  after  stop- 
ping for  some  time  at  Petersburg,  Ya.,  Goldsboro,  Burgaw 
and  Wilmington,  N.  C,  reached  Charleston,  S.  C,  22  Feb- 
ruary, 1863.  The  next  day  we  proceeded  to  Pocataligo,  S. 
C,  and  in  a  few  days  afterwards  to  Coosahatchie.  Here 
we  remained  till  26  April,  1863,  when  we  were  ordered  to  re- 
turn to  North  Carolina.  After  halting  a  few  days  at  Wil- 
mington and  Magnolia  we  proceeded  via  Goldsboro  to  Kin- 
ston,  and  formed  a  part  of  the  troops  that  drove  the  Fed- 
erals back  into  New  Bern  after  their  attack  on  Ransom's 
Brigade  at  Gum  Swamp  in  May,  1863.  We  pursued  them 
within  eight  miles  of  New  Bern;  then,  after  demolishing 
some  of  their  block  houses  with  our  artillery,  returned  to 
camp.  About  the  first  of  June,  1863,  we  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia and  expected  to  go  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign  as  a 
part  of  Heth's  Division,  but  when  we  reached  Richmond  our 
brigade  was,  at  the  request  of  General  Elzey,  then  command- 
ing there,  stopped  at  that  place,  and  Davis'  Mississippi  Brig- 
ade assigned  to  Heth's  Division  in  our  stead. 

We  spent  the  summer  of  1863  at  Richmond  and  Freder- 
icksburg and  points  between  those  places,  being  moved  from 


440  North  Cakolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

place  to  place  to  meet  and  repel  threatened  attacks  of  the  en- 
emy. 

During  this  summer  we  assisted  in  repelling  an  attack 
made  by  the  Federal  General  Getty  with  quite  a  considerable 
force  at  the  bridge  over  the  South  Anna  river  on  the  Eich- 
mond,  Fredericksburg  and  Potomac  Railroad. 

We  were  also  engaged  in  a  severe  skirmish  near  the 
"White  House,"  when  we,  with  Ransom's  ISTorth  Carolina 
Brigade,  met  "Beast  Butler"  and  his  command  and  checked 
one  of  their  many  attempts  to  move  "on  to  Richmond." 

About  the  first  of  October,  1863,  we  moved  to  Gordonsville, 
Va.,  and  on  the  morning  of  8  October,  took  up  the  line  of 
march — having  been  reassigned  to  Heth's  Division — ^with  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  in  the  attempt  to  cut  Meade's 
army  off.  Passing  near  Salem,  Va.,  and  other  towns  in  that 
section,  we  reached  Warren  ton,  Va.,  on  the  evening  of  13  Oc- 
tober, 1863.  Leaving  this  place  next  morning  we  reached  a 
little  place  called  Greenage  about  10  o'clock  a.  m.  Here  we 
found  the  eampfires  of  the  enemy  Still  burning  and  evident 
signs  of  their  departure  in  haste.  Throwing  out  our  skir- 
mishers some  200  yards  ahead  we  proceeded  at  a  rapid  pace, 
almost  double  quick,  in  pursuit  of  the  foe.  Guns,  knap- 
sacks, blankets,  etc.,  strewn  along  the  road  showed  that  the 
enemy  was  moving  in  rapid  retreat,  and  prisoners  sent  in 
every  few  minutes  confirmed  our  opinion  that  they  were  flee- 
ing in  haste.  It  was  almost  like  boys  chasing  a  hare.  Though 
the  march  was  very  rapid  not  a  straggler  left  the  ranks  of  our 
regiment,  every  man  seeming  in  earnest  and  confident  in  the 
belief  that  we  would  soon  overtake  and  capture  a  portion  of 
the  Federal  army  before  us  with  their  wagon  train.  After 
moving  at  this  rapid  rate  for  about  three  hours  or  more  we 
were  filed  to  the  right  and  placed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right 
of  the  road,  Kirkland's  North  Carolina  Brigade  taking  posi- 
tion on  the  left  of  the  road. 

Soon  the  comiuand  'Forward"  was  given.  Advancing 
some  400  or  500  yards  through  a  dense  forest  we  halted  near 
a  little  branch  in  a  hollow  place  in  some  cleared  ground. 
The  Forty-sixth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Hall,  was  on  the  ex- 
treme right  of  our  brigade,  the  Fifteenth  North  Carolina,  Col- 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  441 

onel  William  McRae  next,  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Caroli- 
na, Colonel  Gilmer,  next  and  the  Forty-eighth  North  Caroli- 
na, Colonel  Walkup,  on  the  left,  with  their  left  resting  on  the 
road. 

We  could  then  see  about  two  brigades  of  the  enemy  upon 
a  hill  a  little  to  our  left  and  about  600  or  800  yards  in  front, 
while  their  wagon  train  was  rapidly  moving. off.  About  this 
time  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  by  the  enemy,  in  a  pine  thicket 
upon  our  right  flank.  Just  then  a  courier  came  from  Gen- 
eral Heth  to  General  Cooke,  with  orders  from  General  A.  P. 
Hill,  our  corps  commander,  to  advance.  At  the  same  time  a 
courier  from  Colonel  Hall,  commanding  the  right  regiment 
of  our  brigade,  reported  that  the  enemy  had  driven  in  his  skir- 
mishers on  his  right  flank. 

General  Cooke  immediately  sent  to  General  Heth  and  told 
him  there  was  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  on  his  right  flank 
and  he  must  have  it  protected  before  he  could  advance,  and 
at  the  same  time  directed  the  courier  from  Colonel  Hall  to 
tell  him  to  throw  out  two  companies  on  the  right  and  feel  the 
force  of  the  enemy.  Very  soon  a  courier  returned  from 
General  Heth  with  orders  for  General  Cooke  to  advance,  and 
about  the  same  time  a  courier  from  Colonel  Hall  reported 
that  he  had  thrown  out  the  two  companies  as  ordered,  who 
were  immediately  driven  in,  and  that  the  enemy  were  in  very 
heavy  force  on  his  right  flank.  About  this  time  Captain  John- 
son, of  the  Engineers,  of  General  Lee's  staff,  rode  up,  and  upon 
seeing  the  situation,  remarked  to  General  Cooke  that  he  would 
go  to  General  Hill  for  him.  Very  soon  after  he  left,  and  be- 
fore he  had  time  to  reach  General  Hill,  a  courier  came  direct 
from  General  Hill  to  General  Cooke  with  the  order:  "Gen- 
eral Cooke,  General  Hill  says  advance  at  once."  General 
Cooke  replied,  "Well,  I  will  advance,  and  if  they  flank  me,  I 
will  face  my  men  about  and  cut  my  way  out,"  and  immedi- 
ately gave  the  command  "Forward !" 

Just  then,  our  artillery,  posted  upon  a  high  hill  on  our  ex- 
treme left,  opened  upon  the  enemy  in  view  and  they  fled  in 
confusion.  At  the  same  time  the  Federals,  driven  up  the 
railroad  by  Early's  Corps,  had  arrived  in  our  front,  and  they 
immediately  formed  line  behind  the  railroad  embankment. 


442  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

We  advanced  at  quick-step  up  a  little  hill,  and,  passing 
through  a  skirt  of  pines  on  its  summit,  came  in  full  view  of 
the  enemy.  They  seemed  to  have  formed  a  trap  for  us,  their  ar- 
tillery being  posted  on  the  opposite  hill  some  twelve  hundred 
yards  distant,  with  some  few  troops  appearing  as  a  support 
for  them,  and  their  skirmishers  being  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  railroad  and  beyond  the  line  of  battle,  which  lay  concealed 
behind  the  embankment  of  the  railroad.  When  we  had  ad- 
vanced some  fifty  yards,  the  Twenty-seventh  JSTorth  Carolina, 
which  had  always  been  drilled  in  the  quick-step,  was  some 
twenty  yards  in  advance  and  was  ordered  to  halt  till  the  other 
regiments  came  up.  Just  then  we  perceived  that  the  line 
of  battle  of  the  enemy  was  behind  the  railroad.  As  they 
fired  up  the  hill  nearly  every  one  of  their  shots  told.  Just 
at  that  moment  General  Cooke,  commanding  brigade,  and 
Colonel  Gilmer,  Twenty-seventh  ISTorth  Carolina,  were  both 
shot  down,  severely  wounded.  The  command  of  the  brigade 
then  developed  upon  Colonel  Hall,  Forty-sixth  JSTorth  Car- 
olina, and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Whitfield  took  command  of  our 
regiment.  We  were  suffering  terribly,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Whitfield  seeing  this,  hurried  down  the  line  to  meet  Colonel 
Hall,  who  was  coming  up  from  the  right,  and  told  him  that 
he  would  lose  all  his  men  if  they  remained  where  they  were, 
and  he  must  either  move  them  back  or  make  a  charge.  Colo- 
nel Hall  replied,  "I  expect  we  had  better  charge."  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Whitfield  understood  this  as  an  Order,  and  gave 
the  command  for  the  Twenty-seventh  to  charge,  and  we  were 
soon  double-quicking  down  the  hill,  our  men  falling  at  al- 
most every  step.  The  point  from  which  we  started  the  charge 
was  distinctly  marked ;  at  least  four,  and  in  some  cases  ten, 
men  from  each  company  lying  dead  or  wounded  in  that  line. 
The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  seeing  us  charging,  ad- 
vanced at  quick-step  to  our  support.  When  we  came  within 
about  forty  yards  of  the  railroad,  the  enemy  arose  and  gave  us 
a  volley  which  cut  down  more  than  half  the  remainder  of  our 
regiment.  Color-bearer  Sumner,  Sergeant  of  Company  F, 
fell  at  this  fire,  but  before  the  colors  touched  the  ground  they 
were  caught  by  Corporal  Barrett,  Company  E,  one  of  the 
color-guard.     Before  he  had  gone  ten  steps  he  was  shot  down. 


Twenty-Seventh   Regiment.  443 

As  he  fell,  Corporal  Story,  Company  B,  and  Eichards,  Com- 
pany G,  both  also  of  the  color-guard,  caught  the  flag.  Cor- 
poral Story  carried  it  during  the  balance  of  the  fight  and, 
for  his  gallantry  upon  this  occasion  was  afterwards  appointed 
Ensign  of  the  regiment,  under  act  of  Congress  authorizing 
color-bearers  of  regiments  to  be  appointed  Ensigns  with  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant.  After  going  within  twenty  steps  of  the 
enemy's  line,  Major  Webb,  who  had  been  thrown  in  command 
of  the  regiment  after  the  wounding  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Whitfield,  seeing  that  we  were  the  only  regiment  charging  in 
our  brigade,  ordered  us  to  fall  back.  A  murderous  trip  in- 
deed it  was  up  that  hill,  and  but  for  the  action  of  the  Fif- 
teenth North  Carolina,  who,  by  orders  of  their  Colonel — the 
gallant  William  MoRae,  afterwards  Brigadier-General — fell 
back  by  companies,  pouring  a  continuous  fire  upon  the  enemy, 
so  as  to  keep  them  down  to  some  extent,  but  few  of  ua  would 
have  escaped.  As  it  was,  our  loss  was  severe.  Out  of  416 
officers  and  men  carried  into  the  action,  290  were  killed  or 
wounded,  leaving  only  126.  Of  36  officers  in  the  fight,  but 
three  remained  unhurt.  It  may  be  well  enough  to  state  here, 
though  not  exactly  connected  with  the  history  of  this  regi- 
ment, that  Cooke's  Brigade  lost  in  that  battle  700  men,  and 
Kirkland's  Brigade  560,  making  1,260  as  the  loss  upon  our 
side,  while  it  was  reported  that  the  enemy's  loss  was  only  35. 
The  battle  only  lasted  about  forty  minutes  of  actual  fight- 
ing, and  I  doubt  if  such  carnage  was  ever  known  in  the  same 
length  of  time. 

We  fell  back  beyond  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  immediately 
reformed.  A  battery  of  artillery,  from  Alabama,  was  or- 
dered into  position  at  the  brow  of  the  hill  in  our  rear  after 
we  began  the  charge ;  but  neither  our  Brigadier  nor  any  other 
officer  in  command  knew  anything  of  it,  and  as  we  closed  in 
to  the  right  in  falling  back  we  saw  nothing  of  it,  and  were 
very  much  surprised  the  next  day  to  learn  that  one  of  our 
batteries  had  been  captured.  Although  our  whole  corps  was 
right  at  hand,  not  a  single  regiment  or  brigade  was  sent  to  our 
assistance,  but  these  two  North  Carolina  brigades  were  left 
to  contend  alone,  with  the  whole  Second  Corps  and  one  divis- 
ion of  the  Fifth  Corps  of  the  Federal  Army.     As  I  passed 


444  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

back,  wounded,  from  the  battlefield  I  met  our  troops  along  the 
road  resting,  while  we  were  fighting  such  fearful  odds.  One 
incident  of  this  fight  I  will  mention,  which  shows  the  cool- 
ness of  some  men  under  all  circumstances.  We  had  just 
drawn  new  clothing — ^gray  jackets  and  blue  pants — and  our 
men,  anxious  to  keep  their  clothing  bright  and  new,  had  most 
of  them  put  on  their  old  clothes  during  the  march  and  had 
them  on  at  this  fight.  As  we  were  falling  back  up  the  hill, 
Private  Laughinghouse,  of  Company  E,  from  Pitt  county, 
finding  his  knapsack  too  heavy,  determined  to  throw  it  away, 
but  as  he  did  not  wish  to  lose  his  new  clothes — ^having  his  old 
ones  on — he  stopped,  changed  clothes  imder  this  heavy  fire, 
and  then  picking  up  his  blanket  and  gun,  made  his  way  up 
the  hill  unhurt.  Another  incident  worth  mentioning  is  this : 
Sergeant  Fleming,  Company  H,  came  to  Major  Webb  the 
morning  after  the  fight  and  told  him  that  his  gun  had  kicked 
so  much  the  evening  before  that  his  shoulder  was  almost  use- 
less. Major  Webb,  looking  at  him,  remarked,  "Why,  ain't 
you  shot  ?  There's  a  hole  in  your  coat."  Upon  examination 
it  proved  that  he  was  indeed  shot  through  the  shoulder  and  in 
the  excitement  of  the  fight  had  not  noticed  it  at  .all. 

The  enemy  retreated  during  that  night  and  the  next  day  we 
buried  our  dead  upon  the  field.  The  day  following,  after 
sending  off  all  oiir  wounded  in  ambulances  and  wagons,  we 
started  back  towards  Pichmond  and  assisted  in  tearing  up  the 
railroad  as  far  down  as  Rappahannock  Station.  Crossing 
the  Rappahannock  river,  we  went  into  camp  and  remained 
until  4  November,  the  enemy,  having  relaid  the  railroad 
track,  advanced  and  we  fell  back  to  Culpepper  Court  House. 

A  few  days  afterwards  we  retired  across  the  Rapidan  and 
picketed  along  that  river  above  Rapidan  Station  until  28  No- 
vember, when  Meade  with  his  army,  having  crossed  below 
the  junction  of  the  Rapidan  and  Rappahannock,  we  were, 
with  the  remainder  of  our  army,  moved  to  meet  him  at  Mine 
run.  We  had  quite  a  skirmish  that  evening,  losing  several 
men.  The  next  day  we  were  held  in  reserve  and  afterwards 
were  moved  from  point  to  point  along  the  line  wherever 
troops  seemed  to  be  needed,  until  the  morning  of  3  December, 
when  the  skirmishers  of  our  brigade  were  ordered  to  feel  the 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  445 

enemy's  position.  As  we  advanced  we  found  that  the  enemy 
had  fled  during  the  night,  leaving  their  bivouac  fires  burning 
and  their  camping  places  filled  with  plunder  which  they  had 
taken  from  houses  of  citizens  living  in  the  vicinity.  A  few 
prisoners  whom  we  captured,  told  us  that  the  retreat  began 
about  2  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  that  then  the  army  was  far  out  of 
our  reach  and  perhaps  across  the  river. 

Returning  to  camp  we'  continued  our  picket  duty  along  the 
Rapidan  until  4  February,  1864,  when  being  relieved  by 
Kirkland's  Brigade,  we  moved  back  to  our  winter  quarters  a 
few  miles  below  Orange  Court  House.  We  had  hardly  got 
settled  in  them  when  it  was  reported  that  the  enemy  were  ad- 
vancing, and  we  were  on  Y  February  ordered  to  return  to  the 
river  to.  resist  their  crossing.  After  spending  two  days  and 
nights  of  bitter  cold  weather  on  the  banks  of  the  Rapidan,  we 
returned  to  camp  and  remained  unmolested,  enjoying  the 
first  winter  quarters  we  had  seen  in  two  years,  until  1  March, 
when  our  rest  was  again  broken  into.  The  enemy  having 
started  some  of  their  cavalry  on  a  raid  through  Madison, 
Green  and  the  adjoining  counties,  threw  a  large  force  of  in- 
fantry across  the  river  to  Madison  Court  House  as  a  support 
for  them. 

Our  corps  was  ordered  to  drive  them  off.  Leaving  camp 
about  an  hour  or  two  before  day  on  the  morning  of  1  March, 
we  reached  Madison  Court  House  in  the  afternoon  after  a 
toilsome  march  over  muddy  roads,  and  found  that  the  enemy 
had  fled  some  two  or  three  hours  before. 

Next  morning  we  returned  to  camp,  and  as  some  of  our 
men  were  barefooted,  their  feet  cut  by  the  sharp  edges  of 
the  frozen  ground,  left  their  bloody  tracks  along  the  route. 
I  had  read  of  our  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war  leaving 
their  tracks  marked  with  blood,  but  had  always  regarded  it  as 
rather  too  highly  painted  a  picture  until  I  saw  the  same  thing 
in  this  instance,  and  then  I  could  realize  it.  After  reaching 
camp  we  remained  in  perfect  quiet  until  4  May,  1864,  when 
we  started  for  the  Wilderness,  where  the  memorable  cam- 
paign of  1864,  commenced.  As  we  left  our  bivouac  on  the 
morning  of  5  May,  near  where  the  battle  of  Mine  Run  had 
been   fought   the   winter   before,    Kirkland's    Brigade   was 


446  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

thrown  in  front  and  we  acted  as  his  support.  About  11 
o'clock  our  brigade  relieved  Kirkland,  he  becoming  our  sup- 
port. We  were  then  driving  the  enemy  down  the  plank  road 
leading  from  Orange  Court  House  to  Fredericksburg — only 
cavalry  as  yet  appearing  in  our  front — and  continued  to 
drive  them  back  till  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.  when,  on  reaching 
Brock  road,  where  it  crosses  the  plank  road,  we  found  the 
main  body  of  the  enemy.  Immediately  our  whole  brigade 
was  thrown  into  line,  the  Fifteenth  and  Forty-sixth  ilSTorth 
Carolina  being  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  the  Twenty-sev- 
enth and  Forty-eighth  North  Carolina  on  the  left.  Very 
soon  the  battle  opened  in  earnest,  and  we  had  to  contend 
against  large  odds  till  near  sundown,  when  we  were  relieved 
by  Kirkland's  Brigade.  The  troops  engaged  on  our  side  up 
to  near  sunset  numbered,  by  actual  calculation,  3,000,  while 
the  enemy  were  said  to  have  brought  forward  40,000.  Our 
loss  was  severe;  I  am  unable  to  give  the  loss  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh,  but  out  of  1,753  in  the  brigade  for  duty,  as  appeared 
by  the  report  of  the  Inspector  General  made  the  day  before, 
about  1,080  were  killed  or  wounded.  After  being  relieved  by 
Kirkland,  we  were  moved  to  the  rear,  and  after  dark  that 
night  were  moved  about  one  and  a  half  or  two  miles  back 
to  a  hill,  where  the  line  of  battle  of  our  army  was  es- 
tablished. 

The  next  morning  (6  May,  1864),  soon  after  sunrise,  the 
enemy  advanced,  and  were  soon  in  full  charge  upon  our  lines. 
The  troops  both  to  the  right  and  left  of  us,  having  no  protec- 
tion, broke  and  fled.  Our  brigade,  thanks  to  the  breastworks 
which  they  had  thrown  up  contrary  to  orders  the  night  be- 
fore, held  their  ground,  as  did  Williams'  Battery  from  ISTorth 
Carolina,  commanded  by  Capt.  Arthur  B.  Williams,  a  gallant 
young  officer  from  Fayetteville,  for  whom  we  were  the  sup- 
port. Just  as  we  were  flanked  on  each  side  and  almost  ready 
to  retreat,  from  force  of  circumstances,  Anderson's  Corps 
came  up  and  the  gallant  charge  of  the  Texas  Brigade  was 
made.  As  they  neared  the  position  held  by  our  brigade.  Gen- 
eral Lee,  our  revered  commander,  rode  to  the  front  and  called 
out  that  he  would  lead  the  charge.  This,  of  course,  was  op- 
posed by  every  true  soldier,  and  when  he  insisted  upon  going 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  447 

to  the  front  his  horse  was  seized  by  the  soldiers  and  officers, 
who  told  him  he  must  go  back  or  they  would  not  go  forward. 
This  fact  was  given  me  by  the  Major  of  our  regiment — a  gal- 
lant officer — who  was  wounded  within  fifteen  steps  of  Gen- 
eral Lee  just  as  his  horse  was  seized  to  prevent  his  going  for- 
ward. 

As  I  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
5  May,  and  did  not  return  to  duty  until  12  September,  I  am 
unable  to  give  any  detailed  account  of  the  movements  of  the 
regiment  during  the  summer  campaign  of  1864. 

I  have  tried  to  supply  this  blank,  but  have  been  unable  to 
get  any  account  of  our  movements  from  officers  and  men  to 
whom  I  have  written  and  I  can  find  no  publications  from 
which  I  can  get  the  desired  information. 

Even  the  "Records  of  the  Rebellion"  gives  a  very  meagre 
account  of  this  memorable  campaign. 

During  this  campaign  this  regiment  took  part  in  many 
battles,  skirmishes,  etc.,  and  I  very  much  regret  that  a  history 
of  them  cannot  be  given. 

We  were  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Wilderness,  Spottsylva- 
nia  Court  House,  Gary's  Farm,  Pole  Green  Ch^irch,  Cold 
Harbor  second,  Weldon  Railroad,  Reams  Station,  and  others. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1864,  we  found  ourselves  in  the 
trenches  before  Petersburg. 

August  24  we  were  moved  from  the  trenches  and  took  up 
the  line  of  march  from  Reams  Station  on  the  railroad  be- 
low Petersburg — having  been  told  before  we  started,  that 
as  we  had  been  in  front  in  nearly  all  the  fights  during  the 
summer,  we  should  simply  be  "lookers-on  in  Venice"  on  this 
occasion.  Soon  after  reaching  Reams  Station  a  charge  was 
made  upon  the  enemy's  works  by  certain  of  our  troops.  They 
failing  to  capture  them,  General  A.  P.  Hill  ordered  for- 
ward Cooke's,  McRae's  and  Lane's  North  Carolina  Brigades. 
A  part  of  our  brigade  (Cooke's)  having  to  pass  through  the 
open  field  and  the  other  through  undergrowth  and  fallen 
trees.  General  Cooke  ordered  his  two  left  regiments,  the 
Twenty-seventh  and  Forty-eighth  JSTorth  Carolina,  forward 
first,  and  when  they  had  gotten  sufficiently  advanced  directed 
the  other  two,  the  Forty-sixth  and  Fifteenth,  to  advance. 


448  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Upon  striking  the  enemy's  works  we  found  they  would  not 
give  way,  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight  across  the  breastworks  en- 
sued for  a  minute  or  two.  Three  times  Captain  Shade 
Wooten,  Company  C,  finding  one  of  the  enemy  poking  his 
gun  up  to  shoot  him,  grabbed  a  handful  of  dirt -from  the  em- 
bankment and  dashed  it  in  the  eyes  of  his  opponent  and  thus 
saved  his  life.  This  state  of  affairs  was  ended  when  the 
Forty-sixth  and  Fifteenth  North  Carolina,  which  charged 
through  an  open  field  at  double-quick,  reached  the  works  when 
the  brigade  went  over  in  line.  I  have  it  from  the  mouth  of 
General  Cooke,  our  Brigadier,  that  the  first  colors  seen  at  the 
works  were  those  of  the  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina,  car- 
ried by  Sergeant  Eoscoe  Richards,  Company  G.  The  enemy 
immediately  fled  in  confusion,  and  turning  their  own  artil- 
lery, which  we  had  captured,  we  endeavored  to  use  it  upon 
them,  but  owing  to  the  want  of  friction  primers,  etc.,  it  was 
useless  to  us.  The  troops  engaged  on  our  side  numbered 
1,750,  and  after  taking  the  enemy's  works  we  found  ourselves 
in  possession  of  over  2,100  prisoners,  besides  thirteen  pieces 
of  artillery,  which  we  forwarded  that  night  to  the  headquar- 
ters of  our  Corps  Commander,  General  A.  P.  Hill. 

In  General  Lee's  dispatch  to  the  War  Department  he  states 
that  the  charge  was  made  by  Coohe's,  McRae's  and  Lane's 
North  Carolina  Brigades.  Our  loss  was  severe  in  proportion 
to  our  numbers.  The  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina  only 
numbered  seventy,  or  about  that,  certainly  not  over,  ^.fter 
this  engagement.  One  company  I  know  had  only  one  cor- 
poral and  two  men  at  the  end  of  that  fight.  This  was,  un- 
doubtedly, the  most  brilliant  dash — for  indeed  it  was  a 
dash — of  the  war ;  and  be  it  remembered  that  North  Caroli- 
nians, alone,  were  engaged  in  it.  After  this  fight  we  re- 
turned to  our  position  in  the  trenches,  where  we  remained 
until  the  latter  part  of  September,  1864,  when  we  were  moved 
further  to  the  right.  20  September,  1864,  leaving  the 
trenches  we  were  moved  to  the  right,  and  on  the  next  day  took 
part  in  a  skirmish — about  half  a  fight — just  below  Bat- 
tery 45. 

After  this  our  brigade  (Cooke's)  occupied  the  extreme 
right  of  our  lines,  being  moved  still  farther  to  the  right  as 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  449 

the  lines  were  extended  to  meet  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
and  other  troops  put  in  to  fill  the  vacancy  until  we  reached 
Hatcher's  Eun  near  Burgess'  Mill  about  1  December,  1864. 
On  15  October,  1864,  "I  saw  a  letter  from  General  R.  H.  Chil- 
ton, Inspector  General  on  General  Lee's  staff,  to  General 
Cooke,  in  which — although  the  letter  was  written  principally 
on  other  matters — he  stated  that  General  Lee  looked  upon 
Cooke's  ISTorth  Carolina  Brigade  as  the  brigade  and  Cooke  as 
the  Brigadier  of  his  army. 

27  October,  1864,  the  enemy  attempting  to  turn  our. right 
flank  again,  we  moved  still  to  the  right,  having  to  march 
two  miles  behind  our  breastworks  half  bent,  in  order  to  keep 
out  of  view  of  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  who  were  within 
seventy-five  yards  of  our  works,  and  made  it  almost  certain 
death  for  any  man  to  show  his  head  above  the  works. 

That  night  we  were  relieved  and  moved  up  the  creek 
(Hatcher's  Run)  to  Burgess'  Mill,  and  were  told  that  next 
morning  at  daylight  we  would  have  to  charge  the  enemy 
across  the  creek.  The  only  means  of  crossing  was  a  narrow 
country  bridge,  about  twelve  feet  wide,  and  it  was  not  at  all 
a  pleasant  prospect  to  think  of  having  to  cross  that  place  in 
front  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  posted  on  a  hill  about  100 
yards  off,  and  their  sharpshooters  and  skirmishers  within 
twenty  steps  of  the  bridge.  Just  at  daylight  on  the  morn- 
ing of  28  October,  our  sharpshooters  were  ordered  forward, 
and  it  was  most  welcome  intelligence  to  us  to  hear  their  shout 
as  they  marched  up  the  hill  and  entered  the  enemy's  works 
which  had  been  abandoned  during  the  night.  Again  Grant 
had  failed  in  his  flank  movement  and  had  returned  to  his 
camp. 

This  was  considered  the  end  of  the  campaign  of  1864. 

Our  brigade  entered  the  campaign  with  1,Y53  muskets  for 
duty,  as  was  shown  by  the  report  of  our  Inspector  General, 
made  4  May,  1864,  and  lost  up  to  this  time  1,Y86  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  Of  course,  in  order  to  make  up  this 
number  some  men  must  have  been  wounded  more  than  once, 
each  time  of  wounding  counting  as  a  separate  loss,  and  others 
who  were  absent,  sick  or  on  furlough  at  the  beginning  of  the 
29 


450  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

campaign,  had  returned.  During  that  time  we  had  only  lost 
thirty-five  prisoners,  everyone  of  whom  were  captured  from 
our  skirmish  line;  not  a  single  prisoner  having  been  taken 
from  our  line  of  battle;  nor  had  we  in 'that  whole  campaign 
yielded  an  inch  of  ground  to  the  enemy,  always  coming  out 
victorious  or,  at  least,  holding  our  own. 

Returning  soon  after  to  our  position  on  the  left  of  Hatch- 
er's Eun,  a  mile  and  a  half  helow  Burgess'  Mill,  we  put  up 
winter  quarters  and  remained  quiet,  performing  picket  duty 
and  drilling,  till  8  December,  1864,  when  the  Second  Corps 
of  the  Federal  army  having  started  on  a  raid  to  Belfield,  on 
the  Petersburg  and  Weldon  Railroad,  our  corps  was  ordered 
to  oppose  them.  Leaving  camp  on  the  evening  of  8  Decem- 
ber we  marched  until  about  2  o'clock  a.  m.,  when  we  bivou- 
acked. The  weather  was  bitter  cold  and  that  night  it  snowed 
and  sleeted,  making  the  marching  very  rough.  When  we 
came  within  a  few  miles  of  Belfield  we  found  that  the  enemy 
had  retreated  and  we  were  ordered  back  to  Jarrett's  Station 
to  try  and  intercept  them.  Just  as  we  reached  this  point  we 
found  the  enemy's  cavalry  passing.  Immediately  throwing 
forward  our  artillery,  under  the  gallant  Pegram,  and  putting 
Cooke's  Brigade  in  line  for  support,  we  prepared  for  action. 
As  we  were  in  the  woods  the  enemy  did  not  see  us  and  charged 
upon  the  artillery  just  as  it  got  into  position;  but  our  skir- 
mishers, posted  about  a  himdred  yards  in  front  of  the  artil- 
lery, soon  showed  them  that  they  were  supported.  The  en- 
emy were  driven  back  without  a  gun  being  fired  from  the  line . 
of  battle,  and  as  they  retreated  we  pursued.  Crossing  the 
railroad  we  pushed  on  for  some  three  miles,  hoping  to  inter- 
cept their  infantry  who  were  going  up  the  Jerusalem  Plank 
Road.  When  we  reached  this  road  we  learned  that  they  had 
passed  about  three  hours  before.  As  it  was  about  dark  we 
bivouacked  for  the  night  and  next  morning  started  on  our  re- 
turn to  camp,  which  we  reached  on  the  afternoon  of  13  De- 
cember. Our  rest  was  not  again  broken  into  until  Sunday, 
5  February,  1865,  when  Grant,  making  another  of  his  for- 
ward movements,  was  within  600  or  800  yards  of  our  works 
before  his  movements  were  seen.     Immediately  the  "long 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  451 

roll"  was  beaten  and  we  were  in  line  in  a  few  minutes  behind 
our  works. 

About  the  middle  of  the  day  Gordon's  Corps  having  been 
brought  to  our  side  of  the  creek,  Davis'  Mississippi  Brigade, 
which  held  a  position  about  a  mile  to  our  left,  was  marched 
down  to  our  position  and  relieved  us.  We  then  started  up 
the  line,  Cooke's  Brigade  being  in  the  lead,  and  after  going 
a  mile  and  a  half  or  two  miles,  crossed  our  works  and  moved 
to  the  front. 

Several  times,  as  we  passed  up  the  lines,  the  question 
was  asked,  "What  brigade  is  that?"  and  when  we  answered 
"Cooke's  North  Carolina,"  the  reply  always  came  back,  "Oh, 
yes !  you  are  the  fellows  that  have  got  up  such  a  reputation 
for  fighting.  You'll  get  enough  of  it  yet  before  you  are  done. 
They'll  keep  you  in  front  until  the  enemy  cuts  you  to  pieces." 

Passing  a  mile  or  more  to  the  front,  we  turned  to  the  right 
and  formed  line  of  battle.  Our  skirmishers  being  immedi- 
ately thrown  out  were  soon  moved  to  the  right  to  protect  the 
flank,  which  left  the  skirmishers  of  some  other  brigade  in  our 
front.  Soon  the  order  to  advance  was  given,  and  after  going 
a  short  distance  we  struck  the  enemy's  skirmish  line.  The 
skirmishers  in  our  front  gave  back  through  our  line,  and  we 
had  to  drive  the  enemy's  skirmishers  with  our  line  of  battle 
for  more  than  half  a  miie.  When  we  struck  the  enemy's  line, 
posted  behind  a  little  earthwork  upon  a  hill  in  a  field  beyond 
the  wood  through  which  we  had  advanced,  the  order  was  given 
to  charge.  As  we  started  up  the  hill  and  were  within  sixty 
yards  of  their  works,  the  command,  "Dress  to  the  left,"  which 
had  been  given  all  the  time,  was  repeated,  and  finding  that 
the  brigade  on  our  left  did  not  come  to  time  we  fell  back  to 
the  edge  of  the  woods  and  took  position  behind  a  fence. 
Again  the  order  to  advance  was  given,  and  again  starting  up 
the  hill  and  getting  near  enough  to  the  enemy  to  see  their 
knapsacks  over  the  small  embankment,  behind  which  they 
were  lying  flat,  flnding  that  our  left  was  unsupported  we  were 
ordered  back.  After  a  short  while,  the  enemy  making  a 
strong  demonstration  on  our  right  flank,  we  were  ordered  to 
fall  back.  When  we  reached  our  reserve  line,  about  half  a 
jnile  to  our  rear,  we  halted,  and  soon  after  fresh  troops  were 


452  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ordered  forward,  Cooke's  Georgia  Brigade  taking  the  place  of 
ours.  As  they  advanced,  the  three  left  companies  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  Worth  Carolina  (Companies  H,  G  and  B) 
thinking  the  command  was  given  by  our  Brigadier,  went  for- 
ward with  them  and  fought  through  the  remainder  of  the  af- 
ternoon, losing  several  men.  After  dark  we  returned  to  our 
breastworks,  and  upon  reaching  them  found  that  we  had  been 
fighting  not  more  than  six  hundred  yards  from  and  directly 
in  front  of  our  camp.  Why  we  were  moved  two  miles  up 
our  line  and  then  to  the  front  to  take  the  lead  in  the  charge 
immediately  in  front  of  our  position,  which  was  then  held 
by  other  troops,  I  never  could  understand.  The  next  morn- 
ing (6  February,  1865),  we  again  moved  to  the  front  and 
passing  quietly,  about  daylight,  along  a  path  on  the  bank  of 
the  creek,  formed  a  line  some  five  hundred  yards  in  front  of 
our  works.  We  lay  here  in  line  of  battle  all  day  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  crossing  the  creek  and  turning  the  flank  of 
Gordon's  Corps,  who  were  driving  them  from  their  side  of 
the  creek.  Although  the  enemy  were  very  near  we  had  no 
engagement  except  a  little  skirmishing  and  picket  firing. 
Returning  to  camp  that  night  we  enjoyed  about  six  weeks  of 
quiet  and  rest. 

On  the  night  of  24  March,  1865,  orders  were  given  for  ua 
to  march.  Leaving  our  sick  and  disabled  to  hold  our  picket 
line  we  took  the  road  for  Petersburg— eight  miles  distant — ■• 
not  knowing  whither  we  were  bound  beyond  that  point. 
Reaching  Petersburg  about  midnight  we  bivouacked  near  the 
Water-works.  Next  morning  about  daylight  the  artillery 
opened  fire  and  soon  it  was  reported  that  our  troops  had 
carried  the  enemy's  line  and  had  possession  of  their  works. 
We  were  hurried  into  the  trenches  to  take  the  place  of  the 
troops  who  had  advanced. 

Soon  after  reaching  the  works  we  saw  large  bodies  of  the 
enemy  moving  up  their  line  from  their  left — our  right — both 
on  foot  and  on  the  railroad,  and  soon  our  troops  who  had 
charged  were  driven  back,  and  we  learned  that  the  attempt  to 
carry  "Hare's  Hill"  had  failed.  Our  position  being  just 
to  the  right  of  the  troops  engaged  we  had,  for  the  first  time 
during  the  war,  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a  fight  in  which  we 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  453 

did  not  take  part.  The  view,  at  a  distance,  looks  worse  ttan 
the  reality  seems  while  you  are  actually  in  it.  -  About  2 
o'clock  p.  m.  we  were  ordered  back  to  camp.  Before  reach- 
ing it,  however,  we  perceived  by  the  firing  that  there  was  a 
fight  going  on  at  that  point,  and  on  arriving  at  our  camp 
found  the  enemy  in  possession  of  our  picket  line.  They 
had  charged  it  in  the  morning  and  captured  it  from  our  sick 
and  disabled.  McOomb's  Alabama  Brigade  was  then  thrown 
into  our  lines  and,  charging,  retook  the  picket  line  and  placed 
a  heavy  force  there.  In  the  afternoon  the  enemy,  charging 
with  a  heavier  force,  retook  it  from  them  just  before  we  ar- 
rived. General  Cooke  calling  out  our  sharpshooters — -100 
men — ordered  them  to  move  quietly  down  the  bank  of  the 
creek,  until  they  reached  the  picket  line  and  then  to  flank  it 
and  charge  down  it.  As  they  raised  the  yell  for  the  charge, 
the  reserve,  or  Second  Corps  of  sharpshooters,  started  from  a 
gap  in  our  works  and  soon  the  whole  of  the  picket  line  of  our 
brigade  was  again  in  our  possession.  Next  morning,  (26 
March)' our  sharpshooters  were  relieved  by  a  regular  picket 
line.  The  enemy  had  in  the  meantime  established  their 
picket  line,  during  the  night,  within  fifty  yards  in  front  of 
the  left  of  our  line,  while  on  our  left  they  were  on  a  line  with 
us,  the  troops  on  our  left  having  failed  to  recapture  their 
picket  line.  The  next  night  our  line  was  thrown  back  a  little 
on  the  left  so  as  to  prevent  any  flank  or  enfilade  fire,  and  thus 
we  remained  until  Thursday,  30  March,  1865,  when  several 
attacks  were  made  upon  our  picket  line,  then  commanded  by 
Captain  John  A.  Sloan,  of  Company  B,  Twenty-seventh 
North  Carolina,  but  we  still  held  our  own.  Next  day,  how- 
ever, after  frequent  attacks  by  a  large  force,  our  pickets  were 
compelled  to  yield  and  fall  back  to  the  main  line. 

The  next  morning,  Saturday,  1  April,  about  two  hours  be- 
fore day,  Companies  G  and  H,  Twenty-seventh  North  Caro- 
lina, with  a  detachment  from  each  of  the  other  regiments  of 
our  brigade,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  Mississippi  Battalion, 
were  ordered  forward  to  drive  the  enemy  out  of  our  picket 
line  and  to  take  possession  of  it  and  hold  it.  A  double  line 
of  skirmishetrs,  from  another  brigade,  was  in  our  front  when 
we  advanced.     When  near  where  our  picket  line  had  been  we 


454  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

found  nothmg  in  our  front  but  the  enemy.  It  was  pitch  dark 
and  seeing  the  men  quietly  around  the  fires,  we  supposed  oui* 
skirmishers  had  captured  them,  when,  all  at  once,  when  we 
were  within  twenty  yards  some  one  near  one  of  the  fires  called 
our  in  regular  Irish  brogue,  "Where  do  you  belong  ?"  "To 
the  Forty-eighth !"  was  the  reply.  "Forty-eighth  what?" 
"Forty-eighth  North  Carolina !"  was  the  answer.  Immedi- 
ately the  poor  fellow  was  shot  down.  The  rest  of  us  at  that 
place  dropped  behind  some  earthworks  or  pits  which  we 
found  there,  thinking  it  was  our  own  men,  who  had  captured 
the  pits  and  were  firing  upon  us  by  mistake.  The  other  troops 
with  us  had  turned  to  the  right  at  a  little  branch,  about  200 
yards  back,  and  only  four  companies  were  here  present.  Soon 
the  fire  from  six  or  eight  pits  to  the  right  and  left  of  us  was 
poured  in  upon  us ;  and  we  saw  that  it  was  enemies  instead 
of  friends  who  were  firing  upon  us ;  but  in  the  dark  they  did 
but  little  damage.  What  became  of  the  skirmishers  in  our 
front  who  were  to  take  the  line  which  we  were  to  occupy  we 
never  knew.  We  found  Yankees  alone  at  any  point  where 
we  struck  the  line.  Finding  we  had  no  support,  and  know- 
ing that  four  companies  could  not  capture  a  picket  line  more 
than  half  a  mile  long,  we  withdrew  quietly  as  soon  as  the 
firing  slackened.  Soon  after  we  returned  to  our  line  Captain 
McKinney  of  the  Forty-sixth  North  Carolina,  commanding 
our  sharpshooters,  who  were  only  ordered  to  protect  the  right 
fiank,  reported,  by  courier,  to  Greneral  Cooke  that  he  had  cap- 
tured four  pits  and  wanted  reinforcements.  Immediately 
our  detachments  were  ordered  forward  again,  but  before  we 
had  proceeded  far,  another  courier  announced  that  Captain 
McKinney  had  been  compelled  to  give  up  the  captured  pits 
and  we  were  not  needed.  All  that  day  (1  April),  we  had  a 
continuous  picket  and  sharpshooter  contest  with  the  enemy, 
losing  several  men  who  seemed  to  think  they  could  not  be  hit 
and  exposed  themselves  unnecessarily.  Just  before  day  we 
were  relieved  by  Davis'  Mississippi  Brigade,  and  crossing  the 
creek  took  position  in  Fort  Euliss.  Here  the  enemy  were  on 
three  sides  of  us — our  only  protected  side  being  that  from 
which  we  had  just  moved — and  as  soon  as  day  opened  they 
began  to  fire  upon  us  with  both  infantry  and  artillery.     Our 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  455 

breastworks  were  prepared  in  such  a  way  as,  to  some  extent, 
to  meet  these  flank  fires;  but  they  did  not  always  suit,  as 
some  of  our  men  were  killed  during  that  morning  by  shots 
which,  striking  a  limb  above  them,  glanced  directly  down- 
ward inflicting  death  wounds. 

We  could  distinctly  hear  the  shouts  of  the  troops  fighting 
between  us  and  Petersburg,  and  our  feelings  would  rise  or 
fall  in  proportion  as  we  would  hear  the  Confederate  "yell"  or 
the  Yankee  "huzza"  in  the  ascendency.  After  a  while  the 
"huzza"  seemed  to  prevail,  and  soon  a  courier.  Private  W.  A. 
Hayes,  Company  G,  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina,  came 
rushing  into  our  fort.  Very  shortly  afterwards  we  were  or- 
dered out  of  our  works  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  on  the  re- 
treat from  Petersburg. 

After  moving  some  four  or  five  miles  we  threw  out  first  one 
regiment  and  then  another  as  skirmishers  to  retard  the  en- 
emy, who  were  pressing  us  hard,  and  on  arriving  at  Suther- 
land's Tavern,  a  station  on  the  Southside  road,  about  ten 
miles  from  Petersburg,  we  formed  line  of  battle  and  threw  up 
breastworks  of  the  rails  and  other  stuff  we  could  find  near  at 
hand,  adding  such  dirt  as  we  could  dig  up  with  our  bayo- 
nets, tin  cups,  plates,  etc.  Soon  the  enemy  charged  us,  but 
were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and,  as  they  started  back,  our 
sharpshooters,  rushing  forward,  captured  many  prisoners. 
These  prisoners  told  us  that  the  next  charge  would  be  made 
by  the  negro  corps,  supported  by  the  Second,  and  that  they 
would  show  no  quarter.  We  told  them  that,  having  whipped 
the  whites,  we  could  whip  the  negroes. 

The  fighting  was  heavy  till  about  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  when 
the  enemy,  largely  outnumbering  us,  turned  our  left  fiank 
and  we  were  compelled  to  retreat.  Falling  back  about  four 
or,  five  miles  the  Thirteenth,  Twenty-second,  Twenty-seventh 
and  Forty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiments  were  thrown  out 
to  keep  the  enemy  in  check,  while  the  balance  of  our  troops — 
Cooke's,  Scales'  and  McRae's  ISTorth  Carolina  Brigades,  and 
McGowan's  South  Carolina  Brigade,  the  troops  on  the  right 
of  the  break  in  our  lines,  forming  the  corps — endeavored  to 
cross  the  river  so  as  to  join  the  main  army,  from  which  we 
had  been  cut  off  by  the  break.     Finding  that  we  could  not 


456  North  Carolina  Troops,  l861-'65. 

cross,  these  regiments  were  recalled  and  we  pursued  our  way 
up  the  river  until  2  o'clock  that  night,  when  we  halted  for 
rest. 

ISText  morning,  3  April,  we  started  at  sunrise  and,  march- 
ing to  Deep  Creek,  which  point  we  reached  about  9  a.  m.,  we 
stopped  to  let  our  wagon  train  get  far  enough  ahead  for  its 
safety,  and  also  attempted  to  throw  a  temporary  bridge,  upon 
which  we  might  pass  over  the  creek,  which  certainly  deserved 
its  name  "Deep"  at  this  point,  for  though  not  very  wide,  yet 
twenty-nine  feet  would  not  reach  its  bottom.  About  2  o'clock 
the  cavalry,  who  had  been  our  rear  guard,  came  rushing  in 
and  reported  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  rapidly  and 
were  near  at  hand.  McGowan's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  cross 
this  temporary  bridge,  then  but  half  prepared,  and  the 
balance  of  our  troops  took  the  route  which  the  wagons  had 
gone,  and  crossed  at  a  ford  some  three  miles  above.  Before 
we  crossed  the  creek  the  enemy  were  in  full  view,  but  did  not 
approach  near  enough  to  attack  us.  Passing  on,  we  desired  to 
cross  the  Appomattox  river  at  Goode's  Bridge,  but  finding 
that  the  waters  were  very  high,  and  some  200  or  260  yards 
beyond  either  end  of  the  bridge,  we  turned  up  the  river,  and, 
as  night  came  on,  camped  near Ordinary,  at  the  cross- 
roads near  Goode's  Bridge.  As  soon  as  we  went  into  camp 
orders  were  given  us  to  be  prepared  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice,  and  couriers  were  sent  out  to  find  a  place  where  we 
could  cross  the  river  so  as  to  join  General  Lee's  army. 

About  1  o'clock  that  night  we  got  orders  to  march,  and, 
after  passing  through  by-roads  and  open  fields,  about  3  o'clock 
a.  m.,  4  April,  1865,  came  upon  Anderson's  Georgia  Brigade, 
the  leading  brigade  of  General  Lee's  army,  which  had  crossed 
the  Appomattox  upon  a  pontoon  bridge,  where  the  whole 
army  was  then  crossing.  Passing  down  the  line  we  halted 
about  daylight  in  a  grove  in  front  of  the  residence  of  Dr. 
Southall.  Soon  after  sunrise  our  beloved  General-in-Chief, 
P.  E.  Lee,  was  seen  approaching.  Upon  the  suggestion  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  C.  Webb,  commanding  our  regi- 
ment, we  rose  as  he  neared  us,  and  every  man  raised  his  hat 
and  gave  him  three  cheers.  To  rejoin  our  main  army,  after 
having  been  cut  off  for  three  days,  was  indeed  like  getting 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  457 

home  from  a  distant  voyage,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  men 
more  rejoiced  at  anything  than  we  were  at  being  again  with 
our  comrades.  Directly  after  we  had  cooked  a  little  rations 
and  eaten  our  breakfast,  it  was  proposed,  as  we  had  been  so 
badly  cut  up  during  the  fights  before  the  breaking  of  our 
lines,  and  on  the  retreat,  and  numbered  only  about  seventy 
men  for  duty,  that  we  should  reorganize  and  form  a  battalion 
of  two  companies.  This  was  discussed  and  determined  upon 
in  a  full  meeting  of  the  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers 
of  the  regiment.  The  officers  were  to  give  up,  temporarily, 
their  rank,  and  become  non-commissioned  officers,  if  neces- 
sary, and  the  non-commissioned  officers  to  go  into  the  ranks. 
In  accordance  with  this  understanding  the  regiment  was  con- 
solidated into  two  companies,  known  as  the  First  and  Second 
companies.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jos.  0.  Webb  commanded 
the  battalion.  Major  Calvin  Herring  took  command  of  the 
First  Company,  and  Captain  John  A.  Sloan,  Company  B,  the 
senior  Captain,  took  command  of  the  Second  company. 

I  give  a  list  of  the  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  of 
the  two  companies,  and  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  give  a  list 
of  the  privates  also : 

FIEST  COMPANY. 

Captain ;  Calvin  Herring,  Major. 

Lieutenant ;  Shade  Wooten,  Captain  Company  C. 

First  Sergeant;  H.  F.  Price,  Captain  Company  H. 

Second  Sergeant;  G.  W.  Jones,  First  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany D. 

Third  Sergeant;  N".  L.  Whitley,  Second  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany A. 

Fourth  Sergeant;  Jno.  G.  Parker,  Second  Lieutenant 
Company  A. 

SECOND  COMPANY. 

Captain ;  John  A.  Sloan,  Captain  Company  C. 
Lieutenant ;  Robert  W.  Joyner,  Captain  Company  E. 
First  Sergeant;  Jas.  A.  Graham,  Captain  Company  G. 
Second   Sergeant;   McG.   Ernul,   First  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany E. 


458  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Third  Sergeant;  E,  B.  Gibson,  Second  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany B. 

Fourth  Sergeant;  S.  A.  Whitley,  Second  Lieutenant  Com- 
pany H. 

This  organization  was  maintained  until  the  surrender.  A 
requisition  was  immediately  made  upon  the  Ordnance  Ser- 
geant for  guns  to  supply  the  officers  who  had  just  gone  tem- 
porarily into  ranks.  This  is  the  only  instance  that  I  heard 
of  during  the  war  of  a  reorganization  of  this  sort.  It  shows 
a  determination  to  stick  by  anything  they  undertake  that 
is  characteristic  of  North  Carolinians. 

That  night  we  encamped  at  Amelia  Court  House,  Va., 
and  the  next  morning,  just  as  we  were  leaving  camp,  the 
enemy  attacked  and  began  burning  our  wagon  train,  some 
two  miles  distant.  Our  brigade  was  ordered,  with  other 
troops,  to  drive  them  off,  and  going  up  the  road  at  a  quick 
pace  we  soon  passed  burning  ammunition  wagons  with  shells 
bursting,  and  cartridges  popping  continually.  Then  we 
came  to  the  provision  train  where  roasted  hams  and  nicely 
browned  crackers  could  be  seen  among  the  ruins,  but  we  had 
no  time  to  stop  to  taste  these  tempting  morsels. 

Before  we  had  caught  up  with  the  enemy  they  had  given 
up  this  work  of  destruction  and  fled,  our  only  spoils  being 
about  a  dozen  prisoners  who  were  too  drunk  to  stick  to  their 
horses  and  had  fallen  off.  One  of  them  showed  to  what  good 
purpose  a  rock  can  sometimes  be  put,  as  he  was  knocked  off 
his  horse  by  a  rock  thrown  by  one  of  the  teamsters,  and  from 
his  appearance  that  day  I  expect  he  yet  bears  the  scar,  and 
can  testify  that  that  teamster  made  a  "centre-shot." 

We  were  then  moved  back  to  our  position  in  the  main 
army  and  continued  with  it,  fighting  by  day  and  flanking 
and  retreating  by  night. 

On  Thursday,  6  April,  1865,  the  enemy  again  attacked 
our  wagon  train,  some  two  or  three  miles  in  the  rear  of  the 
main  line  of  our  army,  which  was  then  actively  engaged, 
and  our  brigade  having  been  acting  as  reserve  that  day,  the 
Forty-eight  and  Twenty-seventh  North  Carolina  were  or- 
dered to  drive  the  enemy  off.     The  two  regiments  numbered 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  459 

just  ninety-four  muskets.  When  we  reached  the  position  to 
which  we  had  been  ordered  we  found  the  wagon  train  on 
fire,  and  that  we  were  opposed  by  a  brigade  of  cavalry  with  a 
battery  of  artillery.  Forming  line  we  attempted  to  advance, 
but  were  met  by  a  deadly  fire  and  soon  found  ourselves 
flanked  on  both  sides  by  a  portion  of  this  cavalry  who  were 
dismounted  and  fought  as  infantry.  Retreating  to  prevent 
this,  we  were  charged  by  the  mounted  men  before  we  had 
gone  two  hundred  yards.  Knowing  that  it  was  foolish  to 
run  from  men  on  horseback  we  immediately  fell  to  the  ground 
and  taking  advantage  of  any  little  shelter  that  we  could  get, 
gave  them  a  fire.  They  soon  retired  and  the  dismounted  men 
advanced  flanking  us;  the  same  thing  was  repeated  two  or 
three  times  until  we  reached  a  skirt  of  woods  some  five  hun- 
dred yards  from  where  we  first  met  them.  Just  at  this  time 
a  full  regiment  of  cavalry  came  to  our  support,  and  General 
Pendleton,  who  had  come  up,  dismounted  about  half  of  them 
and  ordered  us  forward  again.  The  enemy  having  burned  a 
good  portion  of  our  train,  readily  gave  way  before  us.  Just 
as  we  reached  the  wagon  train,  orders  were  sent  us  to  rejoin 
our  brigade  at  once  and  to  take  care  that  the  enemy  did  not 
cut  us  off.  Throwing  out  some  ten  or  twelve  of  our  men  as 
skirmishers  upon  our  flanks,  we  started  on  our  return,  leaving 
the  cavalry  in  our  rear.  Before  we  had  gone  a  mile  our  own 
cavalry,  closely  followed  by  the  Yankees  came  charging 
through  us,  and  before  we  could  form  the  line  the  Yankees 
were  upon  us.  Taking  to  the  woods,  which  were  quite  dense 
at  that  point  and  full  of  ravines,  so  that  the  cavalry  must 
keep  the  road,  we  opened  fire  upon  them  and  had  quite  a  lit- 
tle guerrilla  fight  for  a  few  minutes.  Wlien  they  retired  we 
rejoined  our  brigade,  and  that  nigbt  when  rations  were  issued 
we  got  a  quart  of  corn  per  man,  instead  of  meal,  as  the  wagons 
burned  were  the  provision  train  of  our  division.  We  soon 
learned  to  fry  corn  with  a  little  fat  meat  so  as  to  make  it  pal- 
atable.    This  fight  was  near  Rice's  Station,  Va. 

The  next  day  we  passed  through  Tarmville,  Va.,  and  our 
brigade,  having  been  for  more  than  a  day  the  rear  guard  of 
the  infantry  of  the  whole  army,  was  here  relieved  by  Scales' 
North  Carolina  Brigade.     It  was  not  much  of  a  relief,  how- 


460  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ever,  as  the  enemy,  having  crossed  the  river  both  above  and 
below  the  town,  pressed  us  closely  and  their  shots  fired  at 
Scales'  line  passed  through  our  ranks.  At  one  time  during 
the  evening  it  seemed  as  though  we  were  almost  completely 
surrounded.  Our  brigade,  and  I  suppose  it  was  the  same 
with  the  other  troops,  was  ordered  from  place  to  place  in 
quick  succession  to  meet  threatened  attacks.  I  saw  one  sight 
that  afternoon  which  showed  what  a  trusted  and  beloved  com- 
mander could  do  with  troops.  Our  wagon  train  was  in  a 
long  lane  in  full  view  of  the  hill  on  which  we  were  then 
posted.  With  it  was  a  large  number  of  sick,  wounded  and 
stragglers  from  all  the  brigades  in  the  army,  not  one  in  ten 
of  them  being  armed.  The  Federal  cavalry  charged  it,  when 
General  Lee  giving  the  command  for  them  to  forward,  a  full 
line  of  battle  as  it  were  started  forward  from  the  wagons, 
teamsters,  sick,  wounded  and  all,  joining  in  it,  and  the  en- 
emy iled.  Those  who  happened  to  be  armed  remained  out  as 
skirmishers  until  they  were  relieved  by  other  troops.  After 
the  enemy  were  driven  off  we  moved  on  and  our  regiment  had 
no  more  fighting  before  the  siirrender.  Saturday  night  (6 
April,  1865)  we  camped  within  about  three  miles  of  Appo- 
mattox Court  House,  Virginia. 

Leaving  camp  an  hour  or  two  before  day  next  morning  we 
were  moved  farther  to  the  front,  and  about  daylight,  a  little 
meal  having  been  issued  to  us  for  the  first  time  in  four  days, 
we  halted  to  cook  rations.  Before  our  bread  was  half  done 
we  were  ordered  forward  again.  Passing  rapidly  up  the 
road,  which  was  filled  with  wagons  and  ambulances,  we  soon 
came  upon  a  Federal  battery,  fully  equipped  and  driven  by 
their  own  men,  in  the  midst  of  our  wagon  train.  We  did  not 
understand  this  at  first,  but  soon  learned  that  it  had  been 
captured  that  morning  by  our  troops  at  the  front  and  sent  in. 
As  we  approached  Appomattox  Court  House  we  could  plainly 
see  the  Federal  line  of  battle  on  the  hill  at  the  Court  House 
and  beyond.  Turning  to  the  right  we  were  placed  in  line  of 
battle  on  a  hill  opposite  them  and  some  eight  hundred  yards 
distant,  and  expected  to  have  to  advance  in  a  few  minutes. 

About  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  it  was  whispered  among  our  men 
that  a  surrender  was  to  be  made.     All  talk  of  this  kind  was 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  461 

soon  hiished  up  by  the  officers.  We  still  could  not  under- 
stand why  we  did  not  charge  until  about  12  o'clock,  when 
we  found  out  that  we  had  indeed  surrendered. 

During  the  afternoon  we  learned  the  terms  of  surrender — 
that  we  would  be  paroled  and  allowed  to  go  home. 

Next  morning  General  Lee's  farewell  address  to  his  troops 
was  read  to  our  regiment. 

We  remained  in  this  position  till  Wednesday,  12  April, 
1865,  when  we  marched  over  near  the  Court  House  and 
stacked  our  arms  in  front  of  the  enemy.  Having  received 
our  paroles  we  started  that  evening  for  home,  the  men  of 
the  different  companies  forming  into  squads  took  the  nearest 
route  to  their  OAvn  sections,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Regi- 
ment of  North  Carolina  Troops  passed  out  of  existence. 

We  had  served  during  the  four  years  of  our  existence 
under  Brigadier-Generals  Robert  Ransom,  R.  C.  Gatlin,  L. 
O'B.  Branch,  J.  G.  Walker,  W.  S.  Walker  and  John  R. 
Cooke;  Major-Generals  D.  H.  Hill,  T.  H.  Holmes,  Elzy,  and 
H.  Heth,  and  were  at  different  times  attached  to  the  corps  of 
"Stonewall"  Jackson,  Longstreet,  Anderson  and  A.  P.  Hill, 
most  of  our  services  being  in  the  corps  of  A.  P.  Hill. 

Appended  is  a  list  of  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  who 
were  present  and  surrendered  with  General  Lee  at  Appomat- 
tox Court  House  on  9  April,  1865 : 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  Joseph  C.  Webb ;  Major,  Calvin  Her- 
ring; Adjutant,  Thaddeus  E.  Pittman;  Surgeon,  E.  Lloyd 
Howard;  Sergeant-Ma j or,  William  E.  Ward;  Ordnance-Ser- 
geant, Andrew  D.  Lindsay. 

Company  A — First  Lieutenant,  John  G.  Parker ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  M.  Lafayette  Whitley;  First  Sergeant,  Richard 
B.  Parker ;  Corporal,  Simon  B.  Kilpatrick ;  Privates,  Larry 
Aycock,  Joseph  Peacock,  George  W.  Steagall,  Richard  Ward, 
John  T.  Roberts  (courier). 

Company  B — Captain,  John  A.  Sloan ;  First  Sergeant, 
Thomas  J.  Rhodes ;  Sergeant,  Joel  J.  Thom ;  Privates,  Peter 
M.  Brown,  Lewis  N.  Isley,  James  H.  Hardin,  Walter  Green 
(courier),  E.  Tonkie  Sharp,  W.  A.  McBride,  George  Lemons, 
Silas  C.  Dobson;  Musician,  Samuel  M.  Lipscomb. 


462  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

Company  C — Musician,  John  H.  Suggs ;  Privates,  L.  H. 
Fields,  Jesse  Grant,  Henry  Grant,  Thomas  Perdue  and  Rich- 
ard Sutton. 

Company  D— First  Lieutenant,  George  W.  Jones ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Cornelius  Harper;  First  Sergeant,  Henry  S. 
ISTunn ;  Sergeant,  J.  E.  Howard ;  Corporal,  J.  E.  Gray ;  Color 
Corporal,  S.  H.  Kornegay;  Privates,  A.  B.  Blizzard,  James 
Quinn,  Samuel  Strowd,  James  H.  Thomas,  Curtis  Worley, 
James  Davis,  Jesse  Hardy. 

Company  E— Captain,  Eobert  W.  Joyner;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, McG.  Ernul;  First  Sergeant,  John  E.  Mxon;  Ser- 
geants, John  E.  Tyer,  Albert  S.  Carr;  Corporals,  Eobert  J. 
Lang,  Frank  M.  Kilpatrick ;  Color  Corporal,  John  Wallston ; 
Privates,  Samuel  E.  Cason,  William  Corbett,  Wm.  Bryant 
Edvs^ards,  Eufus  E.  Grimmer,  William  Gearner,  Eichard 
Harris,  E.  Isley,  Matthew  Jones  (orderly),  Peter  H.  Sum- 
mers. 

Company  F — Private  Eobert  Lanning.  This  company 
was  on  detached  service  in  North  Carolina  and  surrendered 
with  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  army. 

Company  G — Captain,  James  A.  Graham;  Third  Ser- 
geant, R.  Eichards;  Third  Corporal,  M.  Adams;  Musicians, 
W.  H.  H.  Burroughs,  S.  A.  Dickson;  Privates,  J.  Boggs,  W. 
Brown,  J.  IST.  Faucett,  W.  A.  Faucett,  A.  W.  Hedgepeth,  S. 
L.  Nelson,  W.  H.  Nunn,  D.  C.  Parks  (Commissary  Ser- 
geant), C.  M.  Parks  (hospital  steward),  E.  Sharp,  J.  A. 
Smith,  S.  G.  Strayhorn,  J.  F.  Thompson,  William  Thomp- 
son, G.  W.  Waddell,  T.  F.  Ward,  S.  K.  Woods,  W.  D.  Woods, 
W.  A.  Hayes. 

Company  H — Captain,  Henry  F.  Price;  Sergeants,  John 
E.  EoUins,  J.  H.  Little ;  Corporals,  William  C.  Burney,  Eob- 
ert Flemming;  Privates,  A.  Forbes,  William  H.  Humber, 
Matthew  James,  E.  James,  Peter  Lawrence,  T.  Ed.  Ean- 
dolph,  Erastus  Eountree,  A.  Bevil,  William  H.  Stancil,  Gus- 
tavus  H.  Evans  (courier)'. 

Company  I — Privates,  George  Eoberson,  William  Lovitt, 
J.  E.  Miller,  John  Dees,  Julius  Mills,  V.  Oivils. 

Company  K- — Captain  Benjamin  Parks;  Corporal,  Ben- 


Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  463 

jamin  S.  Best;  Privates    William   Bardin,  E.    M.    Sauls, 
Stephen  W.  Pate,  Willie  Thompson. 

SuTLEB — Joseph  J.  Burgess.     Total,  117. 

James  A.  Graham. 

Washington,  D.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  James  H.  Lane,  Colonel.  4.    Robert  Gibbon,  Surgeon 

2.  Samuel  D.  Lowe,  Colonel.  5.    F.  Milton  Kennedy,  Chaplain 

3.  W.  H.  A.  Speer,  Lieut.-Colonel.  6.    Geo.  S.  Thompson,  Captain,  6  M 

7.    Nicholas  Gibbon,  Captain  Commissary. 


TVmTT-ElQHTH  REGIMEfiT. 


By  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  .1.  H.  LANE. 


At  the  request  of  Judge  Walter  Clark,  I  have  prepared 
this  sketch  of  my  old  regiment,  the  Twenty-eighth  North  Car- 
olina. 

It  has  a  splendid  record  and  I  do  not  feel  equal  to  such  a 
theme.  I  have  done  my  best  in  the  way  of  a  chronological 
summary  of  its  brilliant  achievements.  My  object  in  inter- 
spersing it  freely  with  unpublished  reminiscences — personal 
incidents  of  my  own  knowledge — is  to  make  it  more  interest- 
ing to  the  general  reader.  It  required  both  time  and  labor 
to  get  up  the  sketch,  and  yet  it  has  been  a  great  pleasure  to 
me  to  do  it. 

The  Twenty-eighth  North  Carolina  Regiment  had  the  fol- 
lowing field  and  staff  officers  during  the  war : 

Colonels— James  H.  Lane,  Samuel  D.  Lowe. 

Lieutenant-Colonels — Thomas  L.  Lowe,  Samuel  J). 
Lowe,  William  D.  Barringer,  William  H.  A.  Speer. 

Majobs — Richard  E.  Reeves,  Samuel  D.  Lowe,  William 
J.  Montgomery,  William  D.  Barringer,  William  H.  A.  Speer, 
Samuel  N.  Stowe. 

Adjutants — Duncan  A.  McRae,  Romulus  S.  Folger. 

Ensign — First  Lieutenant,  J.  Pinkney  Little. 

Seegeants-Majok — Milton  A.  Lowe,  J.  T.  Lowe,  W.  R. 
Rankin. 

Captains — A.  Q.  M. :  George  S.  Thompson,  Durant  A. 
Parker. 

Quaeteemastee  Seegeants — Edward  Moore,  J.  O. 
Kelly,  T.  C.  Lowe.  / 

Captain — A.  C.  S. :  Nicholas  Gibbon. 

CoMMissAEY  Sergeant — ^W.  A.  Mauney. 
30 


466  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

SuEGEONS — Eobert  Gibbon,  W.  W.  Q-aither. 

Assistant  Suegeons — F.-  IST.  Luckey,  E.  G.  Barkam, 
Thomas  B.  Lane,  M.  L.  Mayo. 

Hospital  Stewaeds — John  Abernathy,  L.  J.  Barker. 

Oednance  Sergeant — Gabriel  Johnston. 

Chaplains — Oscar  J.  Brent,  F.  Milton  Kennedy,  D.  S. 
Henkel. 

This  regiment,  numbering  about  900,  was  organized  at 
High  Point,  IST.  C,  21  September,  1861,  as  appears  from  the 
following  communication : 

Camp  FishbEj 
High  PoinTj  September  21,  1861. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  James'H.  Lane: 

Deae  Sie  :  You  were  unanimously  elected  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-eighth  North  Carolina  Volunteers  this  evening. 
This  regiment  is  composed  of  the  following  companies,  en- 
listed for  twelve  months : 

Company  A- — -Surry  County — Captain  Reeves,  (Major- 
elect). 

Company  B — Gaston  County — Captain  Edwards. 

Company  C — Catawba  County — Captain  Lowe,  (Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel-elect) . 

Company  D — Stanly  County — Captain  Montgomery. 

Company  E — Montgomery  County — Captain  Barringer. 

Company  F- — YadJcin  County — Captain  Kenyon. 

Company  G — Orange  County — Captain  Martin. 

Company  H — Cleveland  County — Captain  Wright. 

Company  I — Yadhin  County — Captain  Speer. 

Company  K —  Stanly  County — Captain  Moody. 

You  will  see  that  most  of  us  are  "mountain  boys"  and  we 
trust  that  we  do  not  disgrace  the  home  from  which  we  come. 
It  would  afford  us  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  have  for 
our  leader  an  officer  so  well  and  so  favorably  known  for  brav- 
ery, courtesy  and  professional  attainments  as  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Lane,  of  the  gallant  "Bethel"  Regiment.     Permit  us  to 


TWBNTY-EIGHTH    RkGIMENT.  467 

express  our  personal  hope  tliat  we  may  receive  a  favorable  re- 
ply as  soon  as  possible  and  to  subscribe  ourselves 
Your  obedient  servants, 
S.  ¥.  Stowe, 

Major  Commanding  Post; 
William  J.  Montgombet^ 

Captain  Company  D ; 
G.  B.  Johnston^ 
First  Lieutenant  Company  G; 
Committee  in  Behalf  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Eegiment. 

Immediately  after  organizing,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Wilmington,  JST.  C,  where  it  remained  under  General  Joseph 
R.  Anderson,  commanding  the  "Cape  Fear  District,"  until 
the  fall  of  New  Bern.  During  its  stay  in  that  kind  and 
hospitable  town  it  performed  post  duty  and  guarded  various 
bridges  on  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Railroad.  It  was  kept 
under  rigid  discipline ;  and  that  it  was  well  drilled  and  prop- 
erly cared  for  will  appear  from  the  following  extracts  from 
the  Wilmington  Journal : 

"On  a  recent  visit  to  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Regi- 
ment we  were  pleased  to  see,  that  a  complete  town  of  neat 
wooden  tenements  has  taken  the  place  of  the  canvas  village 
of  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  fall,  affording  conven- 
ient and  comfortable  quarters  with  chimneys,  for  the  men, 
houses  for  the  stores  and  other  purposes.  We  found  nearly 
all  finished,  with  the  exception  of  some  of  the  officers'  quar- 
ters, Colonel  Lane's  among  the  number,  these  being  left  to 
the  last,  as,  being  less  crowded,  the  necessity  was  not  so  press- 
ing.    *     *     * 

"Almost  as  we  go  to  press  the  Twenty-eighth  moves  down 
Second  street,  with  steady  tramp,  the  long  line  of  their  bayo- 
nets gleaming  in  the  sun,  and  the  firm  bearing  of  the  men 
indicative  of  determination  and  giving  promise  of  gallant 
service  when  called  upon.  The  drill  and  marching  of  the 
regiment  are,  to  our  feeble  notions,  as  good  as  could  be  de- 
sired by  regulars.  If  there  is  less  of  the  pomp  and  circum- 
stance of  war  with  our  plainly  arrayed  troops  than  with  the 
fancy  corps  raised  in  Northern  cities,  experience  has  shown 


468  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

that  there  is  more  of  the  pride  that  will  stand  and  will  not 
run  unless  it  be  forward.  Colonel  Lane  may  well  be  proud 
of  his  regiment." 

On  28  of  October,  1861,  the  regiment  numbered  970  all 
told. 

It  reached  'New  Bern  14  March,  1862,  just  as  the  troops 
were  withdrawing  and  it  helped  to  cover  their  retreat.  It  fell 
back  with  them  through  mud  and  rain  to  Kinston,  where  it 
remained  until  it  was  ordered  to  Virginia.  Soon  after  reach- 
ing Kinston  it  was  assigned  to  the  brigade  commanded  by 
General  L.  O'B.  Branch.  It  at  once  renewed  its  work  of  re^ 
organizing  for  the  war  which  it  had  so  gloriously  begun  in 
Wilmington  and  completed  the  same  12  April,  1862.  The 
following  from  a  correspondent  was  published  at  the  time  in 
the  Ealeigh  Journal: 

"It  is  with  no  ordinary  emotions  of  joy  and  pride  that  I  in-- 
form  you,  and  through  your  paper  the  public,  that  the  Twen- 
ty-eighth North  Carolina  Regiment  has  'reorganized  for  the 
war.'  Six  companies  reorganized  before  we  left  Wilming-" 
ton.  Last  week  the  four  remaining  companies  reorganized, 
and  on  Saturday  we  had  an  election  for  field  oificers,  when 
Colonel  Lane  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lowe  were  elected  to 
their  former  positions  by  acclamation.  For  Major  we  had 
some  warm  balloting.  Several  were  nominated.  After  sev- 
eral ballotings.  Captain  Samuel  D.  Lowe  was  elected.  I 
noticed  that  the  Captains  were  very  popular  with  the  First 
Lieutenants.  Perhaps  the  recent  laws  of  succession  in  office 
had  some  influence. 

"It  makes  us  very  proud  to  know  that  we  are  the  first  North 
Carolina  regiment  to  reorganize.  The  regiment  is  very 
large,  now  numbering  1,250  men. 

"Considering  that  our  original  term  of  service  would  not 
have  expired  till  21  September,  and  being  the  first  North 
Carolina  regiment  to  re-enlist  and  reorganize,  we  think  very 
modestly,  that  we  are  entitled  to  some  favors.  We  have  no 
rifle  companies.  We  would  be  glad  to  have  two,  though  we 
are  not  disposed  to  grumble,  and  will  cheerfully  do  the  best 
we  can. 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  469 

"We  are  now  realizing  the  privations  and  hardships  of 
camp  life.  We  often  think  of  our  comfortable  quarters  and 
the  kind-hearted  people  of  Wilmington.  Some  of  the  fair  ones 
of  Wilmington,  I  suspect,  are  remembered  with  more  than 
ordinary  feelings  of  friendship. 

"We  see  nothing,  hear  nothing  and  know  nothing,  here, 
but  to  obey  orders.  A  man  has  to  be  very  patriotic,  on  good 
terms  with  his  fellow  soldiers,  and  on  prodigiously  good  terms 
with  himself,  to  see  much  enjoyment  here ;  but  so  long  as  our 
country  needs  our  services,  we  will  be  contented  in  her  service 
wherever  it  may  be." 

This  regiment,  numbering  1,199  for  duty,  was  ordered  to 
Virginia  2  May,  1862.  It  was  armed  with  old  smooth-bore 
muskets  from  the  Fayetteville  arsenal,  badly  altered  from 
flint  to  percussion.  It  soon  threw  them  away  and  supplied 
itself  with  more  serviceable  and  more  modern  weapons  gath- 
ered on  the  bloody  battlefields  in  that  grand  old  State. 

On  reaching  Virginia  it  was  ordered  at  once  to  Gordons- 
ville.  It  remained  there  and  at  Rapidan  Station  doing 
picket  duty  only  for  a  short  time.  With  the  rest  of  the  bri- 
gade it  was  next  ordered  to  join  Jackson  in  the  Valley;  but 
on  reaching  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Eidge,  it  was  ordered  back 
to  Hanover  Court  House.  On  26  May  it  was  marched 
through  mud  and  rain  to  "Slash  Church."  At  that  time  the 
regiment  had  in  it  "many  recruits  just  recovering  from  the 
diseases  incident  to  the  commencement  of  camp  life."  La- 
tham's Battery  reported  to  General  Branch  from  North  Caro- 
lina the  evening  before  the  brigade  left  Hanover  Court 
House  "with  only  half  enough  men  for  the  efiicient  service  of 
the  guns  and  with  horses  entirely  untrained." 

On  Tuesday  morning,  2Y  May,  General  Branch  ordered 
the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  and  a  section  of  Latham's  Bat- 
tery, under  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Potts,  to  Taliaferro's  Mill  to 
capture,  if  possible  a  reported  marauding  party.  ISTo  one 
was  found  at  the  mill,  and  as  the  enemy  were  reported  ad- 
vancing on  the  "Old  Church"  road  it  promptly  retraced  its 
steps,  marching  left  in  front,  with  flankers,  and  an  advance 
guard  was  thrown  out.      On  reaching  the  pine  thicket  in 


470  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

front  of  Dr.  Kinney's  on  the  direct  road  to  Kichmond,  a 
squad  of  Federals  stepped  into  the  Taliaferro's  Mill  road  in 
front  of  the  command.  The  Colonel  suspecting  an  ambush, 
halted  his  regiment,  faced  it  by  the  rear  rank  and  wheeled  it 
to  the  right  into  the  thicket.  It  handsomely  cleaned  the 
thicket  of  the  enemy.  On  reaching  the  road  in  front  of  Dr, 
Kinney's  it  charged,  with  rebel  yells,  the  Twenty-fifth  New 
York  Eegiment,  concealed  in  Kinney's  field  of  standing 
wheat,  and  almost  annihilated  it  in  front  of  Martindale's  Bri- 
gade, drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  and  strongly  supported  by 
artillery.  It  was  not  known  then  that  the  regiment  had 
been  cut  off  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  infantry,  artillery 
and  cavalry  under  General  Fitz  John  Porter.  It  was  with' 
drawn  and  reformed,  in  the  open  field,  on  the  Hanover  Court 
House  side  of  Kinney's  dwelling.  Potts'  artillery  was  also 
ordered  into  position,  and  never  were  two  guns  served  more 
handsomely.  The  unequal  contest  was  kept  up  for  over  fouf 
hours,  inflicting  greater  damage  than  was  sustained;  and 
when  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  was  flanking  the  regiment 
in  both  directions,  it  was  withdrawn  in  good  order  to  Hanc 
ver  Court  House.  On  reaching  St.  Paul's  church  beyond  the 
Court  House  where  the  road  forks,  and  finding  the  enemy's 
batteries  in  position  and  the  road  to  Ashland  in  their  posses- 
sion, it  was  ordered  to  take  the  fork  to  Taylorsville  under  a 
shelling.  Knowing  the  cavalry  was  pursuing  in  force,  it 
was  thrown  from  the  road  to  the  field  to  take  advantage  of 
the  cross-fences.  On  reaching  a  thin  strip  of  woods  beyond 
the  railroad,  it  was  ordered  back  into  the  road,  and  directed 
to  move  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  Taylorsville,  while  Potts  un- 
limbered  his  Parrott  gun  in  the  middle  of  the  road.  The 
other  gun  had  been  abandoned  at  Kinney's,  most  of  the 
horses  having  been  killed  or  badly  wounded.  This  bold  piece 
of  strategy  on  the  part  of  the  Colonel  and  the  Lieutenant  of 
artillery  intimidated  the  enemy's  cavalry,  caused  them  to 
form  line  of  battle  on  the  other  side  of  the  railroad,  and  ena- 
bled the  Twenty-eighth  Eegiment  to  make  its  escape.  Al- 
ready exhausted  from  exposure  to  inclement  weather,  from 
hunger,  from  fighting  and  marching,  it  was  three  days  before 
the  regiment,  by  a  circuitous  route,  rejoined  the  brigade  on 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  471 

the  right  bank  of  the  Ohickahominy  where  it  was  wildly  and 
joyfully  received.  It  was  highly  complimented  hy  Generals 
Lee  and  Branch  for  its  splendid  behavior  in  this  masterly  re- 
treat. The  former  was  heard  to  remark  that  it  was  a  wonder 
to  him  the  whole  command  had  not  been  killed  or  captured. 

Company  G,  which  was  cut  off  from  the  regiment  at  Kin- 
ney's, can  never  forget  how  their  brave,  but  frail  and  delicate 
young  Captain,  George  B.  Johnston,  afterwards  the  accom- 
plished Adjutant  General  of  the  brigade,  swam  the  river  to 
escape  the  enemy  and  then  swam  back  rather  than  appear  to 
have  deserted  his  men ;  how  he  marched  as  a  prisoner  of  war 
from  Kinney's  Farm  to  West  Point  in  his  wet  clothes ;  how 
he  was  confined  on  Johnson's  Island ;  how  he  read  the  Epis- 
copal service  regularly  to  his  fellow  prisoners  there ;  how  he 
endeared  himself  to  all  in  his  captivity ;  how  he  was  joyfully 
welcomed  back  to  camp ;  and  how,  a  physical  wreck,  he  was 
soon  forced  to  return  home  to  die.  A  nobler,  braver,  purer 
Christian  hero  never  lived. 

From  this  battle  at  Kinney's  Farm,  or  Hanover  Court 
House  as  it  is  generally  called,  to  the  surrender  at  Appo- 
mattox Court  House,  the  history  of  the  brigade  is  the  history 
of  the  regiment.  It  bore  on  its  battle-flag  the  name  of  every 
battle  in  which  the  brigade  participated. 

Before  the  fights  around  Richmond,  Branch's  Brigade  was 
assigned  to  General  A.  P.  Hill,  and  became  a  part  of  the 
famous  "Light  Division."  The  Twenty-eighth  Regiment 
was  with  its  brigade  when  it  was  the  first,  in  those  seven 
days'  fights,  to  cross  the  Chickahominy  at  "Half  Link,"  and 
cleared  the  wayfor  the  crossing  of  the  rest  of  the  "LightDivis- 
ion"  at  "Meadow  Bridge."  When  it  reached  Mechanicsville, 
on  26  June,  it  was  ordered  to  support  a  battery  on  the  left  of 
the  road.  Next  morning  it  was  subjected  to  a  short  but 
severe  artillery  fire.  On  reaching  Cold  Harbor,  on  the  27th, 
it  and  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  were  ordered  to  the  left  of 
the  road  where  it  behaved  very  handsomely,  its  own  Colonel 
being  wounded  on  the  head  and  Colonel  Campbell,  of  the 
Seventh,  killed  with  the  colors  of  his  regiment  in  his  hands. 
At  Frazier's  Farm,  on  the  30th,  it  was  on  the  right  of  the 
Thirty-seventh   North    Carolina   Regiment.      After  driving 


472  North  Caeolina  Troops,  1S61-'65. 

the  enemy's  infantry,  it  and  the  Thirty-seventh  gallantly 
charged  the  artillery  in  their  front,  when  its  Colonel  was  shot 
in  the  face  and  Colonel  Lee,  of  the  Thirty-seventh,  was 
killed.  It  was  not  actively  engaged  at  Malvern  Hill  on  1 
July.  It  was,  however,  ordered  forward  in  the  afternoon  to 
support  the  forces  engaged,  and  was  under  a  very  heavy  artil- 
lery fire  until  some  time  after  dark.  It  carried  480  into  those 
bloody  fights  and  sustained  a  loss  of  twelve  killed  and  146 
wounded. 

It  encamped  below  the  city  of  Richmond  for  a  short  time 
and  was  then  ordered,  29  July,  to  Gordonsville,  near  which 
place  it  remained  until  just  before  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run,  9 
August,  in  which  it  bore  a  very  conspicuous  part.  Many  of 
the  men  wiped  their  guns  out  as  they  advanced  under  the 
hottest  fire;  and  when  infantry  and  cavalry  had  been  re- 
pulsed and  General  Jackson  appeared  on  the  field  in  its  front, 
the  men  wildly  cheered  him  and  called  to  him  to  let  them 
know  what  he  wished  done  and  they  would  do  it.  The  loss 
in  this  fight  was  3  killed  and  26  wounded. 

In  this  battle,  after  the  enemy  had  been  repulsed  and  the 
regiment  had  crossed  the  road  to  connect  with  General  Talia- 
ferro's conmiand,  the  Colonel  chided  a  member  of  Company 
F  for  falling  out  of  ranks.  When  the  soldier  replied  that  he 
was  no  coward,  but  was  exhausted  and  could  go  no  further, 
the  Colonel  took  off  his  canteen,  handed  it  to  him,  and  told 
him  to  take  a  "stiff  drink"  and  rejoin  his  company.  Not 
long  after,  as  the  Colonel  was  passing  down  the  line,  compli- 
menting his  men  for  their  gallantry,  that  brave  fellow  stepped 
out  of  ranks,  saluted  and  said :  "Colonel,  here  I  am.  I  tell 
you  what,  that  drink  you  gave  me  just  now  has  set  me  up 
again,  and  I  feel  as  though  I  could  whip  a  whole  regiment  of 
Yankees."  Everybody  was  in  a  good  humor,  and  of  course 
everybody  laughed. 

At  the  shelling  across  the  Rappahannock  on  24  August,  the 
Twenty-eighth  was  sent  to  the  support  of  Braxton's  and  Da- 
vidson's batteries ;  and  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  thrown  for- 
ward with  instructions  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  destruction 
of  the  bridge  across  the  river,  near  Warrenton  White  Sulphur 
Springs. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  E.  P.  Lovell,  Captain,  Co.  A.  4.    Moses  I,  Eudy,  Captain,  Co.D. 

2.  E.  D.  Ehyne,  Captain,  Co.  B.  5.    Thos.  V.  Apperson,  Captain,  Co.  F. 

3.  T.  Jas.  Linebarger,  Captain,  Co.  C.  6     E.  Graham  Morrow,  Captain,  Co.  G. 

7.    Gold  Q.  Holland,  Captain,  Co.  H. 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  473 

The  most  laughable  fight  was  at  Manassas  Junction,  27 
August,  when  Jackson  got  in  Pope's  rear,  and  the  brigade 
chased  Taylor's  New  Jersey  command  into  the  swamps  of 
Bull  Run.  One  of  the  Twenty-eighth  was  very  much  aston- 
ished, after  jumping  over  a  bush  from  the  railroad  embank- 
ment, to  find  that  he  had  also  jumped  over  a  Yankee  crouched 
beneath.  Another  was  still  more  astonished  when  he  got  on 
all-fours  to  take  a  drink  of  water,  to  find  that  a  fellow  had 
sought  safety  in  the  culvert.  He  was  an  Irishman,  and  after 
he  had  crawled  from  his  hiding  place,  he  created  an  uproar 
by  slapping  the  Tar  Heel  on  the  shoulder  and  remarking: 
"You  got  us  badly  this  time.  Come,  let's  take  a  drink." 
Both  of  them  "smiled"  out  of  the  same  canteen. 

At  Manassas  Plains  on  28  August,  this  regiment  was  under 
a  heavy  artillery  fire  while  supporting  a  battery. 

On  the  29th  it  fought  with  great  coolness,  steadiness  and 
desperation  on  the  extreme  left  of  Jackson's  line.  It  was 
subjected  to  a  heavy  artillery  fire  the  next  day,  the  30th,  and 
there  was  heavy  skirmishing  in  its  front  until  late  in  the  af- 
ternoon.    Its  loss  was  5  killed  and  45  wounded. 

The  battle  of  Ox  Hill,  near  Fairfax  Court  House,  was 
fought  1  September,  1862,  in  a  pouring  rain.  The  Twenty- 
eighth  was  on  the  left  of  the  brigade  and  fought  splendidly, 
though  many  of  its  guns  fired  badly  on  account  of  the  mois- 
ture. It  was  here  that  General  Branch,  when  he  made 
known  the  fact  that  he  was  nearly  out  of  ammunition,  was 
ordered  "to  hold  his  position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet." 
The  Twenty-eighth,  cold,  wet  and  hungry,  was  ordered  to  do 
picket  duty  on  the  battlefield  that  night,  without  fires. 

This  regiment  was  with  the  Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia 
in  its  march  into  Maryland ;  and  the  first  day  after  crossing 
the  Potomac,  5  September,  it  feasted  on  nothing  but  green 
corn  browned  on  the  ear  before  fires  made  of  the  fences  in 
the  neighborhood.  This  was  not  the  first  time  the  regiment 
had  indulged  in  such  a  repast. 

On  14  September  it  was  with  the  brigade  when  it  climbed 
the  cliffs  of  the  Shenandoah  at  midnight,  and  lay  concealed 
next  morning  on  the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy  in  their 
works  on  "Bolivar  Heights"  in  front   of    Harper's    Ferry, 


474  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ready  and  eager  for  the  order  to  assault,  which  order  was 
never  given,  as  the  enemy  surrendered  under  the  concentra- 
ted fire  of  the  Confederate  batteries. 

It  was  in  that  memorable  rapid  march  from  Harper's  Ferry 
to  Sharpsburg.  On  reaching  the  right  of  the  battlefield,  the 
afternoon  of  17  September,  General  A.  P.  Hill  dashed  up, 
and  in  person  ordered  it  at  a  double-quick  up  the  road  to  the 
left,  leading  to  the  town,  to  defend  an  unsupported  battery 
and  drive  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers  who  were  advancing 
through  a  field  of  com. 

Two  days  afterward,  19  September,  it  constituted  a  part 
of  the  rear  guard  of  General  Lee's  army  when  he  re-crossed 
the  Potomac. 

At  Shepherdstown,  on  20  September,  when  the  Confeder- 
ates could  not  use  their  artillery,  it  gallantly  advanced  "in  the 
face  of  a  storm  of  round  shot,  shell  and  grape,"  and  glori- 
ously helped  to  drive  the  enemy  precipitately  over  the  bank 
of  the  Potomac,  where  so  many  were  killed  attempting  to 
cross  the  river  at  the  dam  above  the  ford. 

Here  the  regiment  was  compelled  to  lay  all  day  on  the  Vir- 
ginia shore;  and  the  enemy,  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  fired  artillery  at  every  individual  soldier  who  dared 
expose  himself.  When  Colonel  Lane,  then  in  command  of 
the  brigade,  General  Branch  having  been  killed  at  Sharps- 
burg, called  to  a  litter  to  know  who  had  been  wounded  and 
received  the  reply,  "Lieutenant  Long,  of  your  regiment,"  he 
approached  and  expressed  the  hope  that  the  Lieutenant  was 
not  seriously  hurt.  The  latter  replied :  "I  have  been  shot  in 
the  back;  the  ball  has  gone  through  me  and  I  am  mortally 
wounded."  Taking  his  Colonel's  hand,  he  put  it  inside  of 
his  shirt  on  the  slug  which  was  under  the  skin  of  his  breast, 
and  added:  "I  am  a  young  man.  I  entered  the  army  be- 
cause I  thought  it  right,  and  I  have  tried  to  discharge  all  my 
duties."  Then  that  young  hero,  with  his  Colonel's  hand  still 
on  that  fatal  slug,  asked  in  a  most  touching  tone :  "Though  I 
have  been  shot  in  the  back,  will  you  not  bear  record,  when  I 
am  dead,  that  I  was  always  a  brave  soldier  under  you  ?" 

After  this  fight  the  regiment  went  into  camp  near  Castle- 
man's  Ferry,  or  Snicker's  Gap,  in  Clarke  County,  Va.,  where 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  475 

it  remained  for  some  time  doing  picket  duty  in  snow  storms 
and  freezing  weather.  It  subsequently  camped  near  Win- 
chester, where  it  remained  until  Jackson's  Corps  moved  to 
Fredericksburg,  22  November.  There  it  remained  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  took  part  in  the  great  battle  near  that 
town,  13  December,  1862.  It  held  an  advanced,  open,  unfor- 
tified position  on  the  railroad,  and  fought  with  great  coolness 
and  gallantry,  using  all  of  its  ammunition,  including  that 
from  the  boxes  of  its  dead  and  badly  wounded.  All  this, 
when  the  right  flank  of  the  brigade  had  been  turned  by  a 
large  force  of  the  enemy  going  through  that  unfortunate  open- 
ing and  catching  the  intended  support  for  the  brigade  with 
its  arms  stacked.  After  handsomely  repulsing  two  lines  of 
battle  in  its  front  it  was  forced  to  retire  before  the  third.  Its 
loss  was  16  killed  and  49  wounded. 

In  this  fight  Private  Martin,  of  Company  C,  coolly  sat  on 
the  track  and  called  to  his  comrades  to  watch  the  Yankee 
colors,  then  fired  and  down  they  went.  This  was  done  re- 
peatedly. Captain  Lovell,  of  Company  A,  the  right  com- 
pany of  the  regiment,  stood  on  the  track  all  the  time,  waving 
his  hat  and  cheering  his  men ;  and  strange  to  say,  neither  he 
nor  Martin  was  struck. 

After  the  battle  when  Captain  Holland,  of  Company  H, 
congratulated  General  Lane  on  his  escape,  he  added :  "And 
I  am  indebted  to  a  biscuit  for  my  OAvn  life."  Running  his 
hand  into  his  haversack,  he  drew  forth  a  camp  biscuit  about 
the  size  of  a  saucer,  cooked  without  salt  or  "shortening"  of 
any  kind,  and  looking  like  horn  when  sliced — something  that 
an  ostrich  could  not  digest — and  there  was  a  Yankee  bullet 
only  half  imbedded  in  that  wonderful  biscuit. 

It  was  here  that  First  Lieutenant  W.  W.  Cloninger,  of 
Company  B,  as  he  lay  at  the  field  hospital,  called  Abernathy 
to  him  and  asked  him  why  he  had  been  neglected  so  long. 
When  told  that  he  was  mortally  wounded,  and  the  Surgeons 
considered  it  their  first  duty  to  attend  to  those  whose  lives 
might  be  saved,  he  replied :  "If  I  must  die,  I  will  let  you  all 
see  that  I  can  die  like  a  man."  Folding  his  arms  across  his 
breast,  that  hero,  far  away  from  his  loved  ones,  lay  under 


476  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

that  tree  in  Yerby's  yard,  and,  without  a  murmur,  quietly 
awaited  death. 

At  6 :30  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  when  the  bri- 
gade was  ordered  to  its  position  on  the  railroad,  it  passed  the 
refugees  streaming  to  its  rear  from  that  old  historic  town. 
As  delicate  women  with  infants  in  their  arms  and  helpless 
little  children  clinging  to  their  mothers'  dresses,  all  thinly 
clad,  went  by,  some  of  those  brave  and  chivalrous  North  Car- 
olinians called  out:  "Look  at  that,  fellows.  If  that  will 
not  make  a  Southern  man  fight,  what  will  ?" 

The  regiment  spent  that  winter  at  "Moss  Neck,"  below 
Fredericksburg.  There  it  did  picket  duty  on  the  Kappa- 
hannock,  and  helped  to  corduroy  the  roads  when  they  became 
impassable,  sometimes  having  to  clear  away  the  snow  to  lay 
the  logs. 

In  the  Spring  of  1863,  when  the  enemy  renewed  his  dem- 
onstrations at  Fredericksburg,  it  occupied  the  second  line 
of  works  near  Hamilton's  Crossing. 

In  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  it  accompanied  Jackson  in 
his  flank  movement;  and  on  the  night  of  2  May  it  was  on 
the  left  of  Lane's  Brigade  when  formed  for  the  night  attack. 
After  Jackson  was  wounded  and  the  night  attack  abandoned, 
it  was  withdrawn  from  the  left  of  the  plank  road  and  placed 
on  the  extreme  right  of  the  brigade,  with  its  own  right  rest- 
ing on  a  country  road  leading  from  the  plank  road  to  a  place 
called  "Hazel  Grove."  About  midnight  General  Sickles, 
with  two  strong  lines  of  battle,  made  his  much  lauded  attack, 
and  was  repulsed  by  the  Twenty-eighth  and  Eighteenth,  and 
a  part  of  the  Thirty-third  North  Carolina  Regiments,  chiefly 
by  the  Twenty-eighth.  A  number  of  prisoners,  including 
field  and  company  officers,  were  captured.  Company  E,  of 
the  Twenty-eighth,  also  captured  the  colors  of  the  Third 
Maine  Regiment. 

Early  next  morning  the  Twenty-eighth,  with  the  rest  of 
the  brigade,  made  a  direct  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  and 
carried  them,  but  could  not  hold  them,  as  the  brigade's  siip- 
port  had  broken  in  its  rear,  and  it  was  attacked  by  fresh 
troops  before  General  Ramseur  could  come  to  its  assistance. 
It  subsequently  joined  in  the  charge  which  drove  the  enemy 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

1.    Milton  A.  Lowe,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  H.  4.    J.  M.  Grice,  Sergeant  Co  0 

f    5;^;Apperaon,Ist  Sergeant,  Co.  F.       B.    L.  C.  Turner,  Sharpshooter." 
3.    W.  A.  Mauney,  Commissary  Sergeant.    6.    W.  A.  Martin,  Private,  Co.  C 
I .    John  A.  Abernethy,  Hospital  Steward. 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  477 

from  "Fairview"  and  the  "Chancellorsville  House,"  where 
it  was  much  amused  at  that  great  cavalier,  General  Stuart, 
singing  "Old  Joe  Hooker,  Get  Out  of  the  Wilderness,"  while 
the  battle  was  raging.     Its  loss  was  12  officers  and  77  men. 

Later,  having  replenished  itself  with  ammunition,  it  went 
to  the  support  of  General  Colquitt,  on  the  extreme  left.  There 
it  witnessed  the  most  harrowing  scene  of  the  war.  The 
woods,  already  filled  with  sulphurous  smoke,  had  been  set  on 
fire  by  the  enemy's  shells.  The  dropped  rifles  of  the  dead 
and  wounded  and  the  enemy's  shells  with  imperfect  fuses, 
exploded  in  every  direction  as  the  flames  swept  over  them; 
the  dead  of  both  armies  were  being  burnt  to  a  crisp  and  the 
helpless  Federal  wounded  begged  to  be  taken  out  of  the  line 
of  the  rapidly  approaching  and  devouring  fire.  The  brigade 
itself  was  forced  to  halt  to  let  the  flames  sweep  over  the 
ground  where  it  was  ordered  to  form,  and  when  it  did  form 
the  ground  was  uncomfortably  hot.  That  night  it  literally 
slept  in  ashes  under  those  charred  scrub  oaks;  and  when  it 
was  ordered  back  next  day,  it  afforded  great  amusement  to  its 
more  fortunate  comrades,  for  never  was  there  seen  in  any 
army  a  dirtier  and  blacker  set  of  brave  men  from  the  General 
down.  As  General  Lane  lay  in  the  ashes  that  night  a  pretty 
little  Yankee  dog,  branded  "Co.  K,"  persisted  in  making 
friends  with  him.  In  all  the  subsequent  movements  of  the 
troops  in  Jackson's  Corps  that  little  dog  kept  his  eye  on  the 
"Little  General"  and  followed  him  back  to  camp  where  he 
became  a  great  pet  at  brigade  headquarters.  He  proved  to 
be  a  splendid  little  fighter. 

After  this  battle  the  regiment  returned  to  "Camp  Gregg" 
at  "Moss  IsTeck,"  below  Fredericksburg,  where  it  remained 
until  5  June,  1863. 

Crossing  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown  on  25  June,  it 
reached  Gettysburg  1  July.  It  behaved  as  it  had  always 
done  in  the  first  day's  fight  at  that  place,  when  Lane's  Bri- 
gade was  ordered  from  the  centre  of  A.  P.  Hill's  line  to  "the 
post  of  honor"  on  the  right  to  protect  that  fiank  of  the  army 
from  the  enemy's  cavalry  while  we  fought  his  infantry  in 

front. 

On  2  July  it  was  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  several  times 


478  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

during  the  day,  and  its  skirmishers  displayed  great  gallantry. 

It  took  a  very  conspicuous  part  in  the  so-called  Pickett's 
charge  on  3  July.  The  brigade  occupied  the  left  of  the  im- 
perfect second  linej  and  when  Davis'  Brigade  was  repulsed 
andBrockenborough's  did  not  get  beyond  the  position  occupied 
by  General  Thomas,  it  moved  handsomely  forward  with  the 
rest  of  "Lane's  brave  fellows"  who  took  the  position  of  those 
two  brigades  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  first  line.  Though  a 
column  of  infantry  was  thrown  against  its  left  flank  and  the 
whole  line  was  exposed  to  a  raking  grtillery  fire  from  the 
right,  it  advanced  in  magnificent  order,  reserving  its  fire  in 
obedience  to  orders,  was  the  last  command  to  leave  the  field 
and  it  did  so  under  orders.  Its  loss  was  IS  killed  and  92 
wounded. 

On  the  12  th  it  formed  line  of  battle  near  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  threw  up  breast-works  and  skirmished  with  the 
enemy  until  the  night  of  the  13th.  The  retreat  from  Hagers- 
town, through  mud  and  rain,  was  worse  than  that  from  Get- 
tysburg which  was  "awful."  Some  fell  by  the  wayside  from 
exhaustion,  and  the  whole  command  was  fast  asleep  as  soon 
as  halted  for  a  rest  about  a  mile  from  the  pontoon  bridge  at 
"Falling  Waters."  On  the  morning  of  the  14th  Lane's  Bri- 
gade alone  covered  the  crossing  at  "Falling  Waters"  and  Cap- 
tain Crowell,  of  the  Twenty-eighth,  commanded  its  skirmish- 
ers. After  all  the  other  troops  were  safely  over  the  Potomac 
the  whole  brigade  retired  in  splendid  order  and  the  enemy 
opened  with  his  artillery  just  as  the  bridge  swung  loose  from 
the  Virginia  shore. 

On  returning  from  Pennsylvania  the  regiment  camped  for 
a  short  time  at  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  was  then  or- 
dered to  Orange  Court  House,  where  it  did  picket  duty  on 
the  Eapidan  at  Morton's  ford.  It  was  next  ordered  to  Lib- 
erty Mills  as  a  support  to  the  cavalry  which  was  engaged  at 
Jack's  Shops.  There  it  spent  most  of  the  winter  doing  picket 
duty  on  the  Eapidan  river  and  the  Standardsville  road. 
Once  during  that  winter  it  had  a  terrible  march,  through  sleet 
and  snow,  to  Madison  Court  House,  trying  to  intercept  some 
of  the  Federal  cavalry  raiders. 

At  Bristoe  Station,  14  October,  this  regiment  was  under 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  479 

fire  but  not  actively  engaged.  There  it  helped  to  tear  up  the 
railroad,  something  at  which  it  had  beconae  expert.  As  early 
as  the  middle  of  October,  1862,  General  Jackson  compli- 
mented the  brigade  for  the  thorough  manner  in  which  it  de- 
stroyed the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  at  ISTorth  Mountain 
Depot,  where,  beyond  the  cavalry  pickets,  it  tore  up  about  ten 
miles  of  the  track ;  and  the  men  amused  themselves  when  the 
rails  on  the  burning  ties  were  red  hot  by  tieing  "iron  cravats" 
around  the  adjacent  trees.  The  depot  was  not  burned  at  that 
time  because  the  wind  would  have  endangered  private  prop- 
erty. 

It  remained  in  camp  at  Brandy  Station  until  the  enemy 
captured  a  large  portion  of  the  two  brigades  under  General 
Early  beyond  the  Rappahannock,  on  7  November.  When  the 
corps  formed  line  of  battle  near  Culpepper  Court  House  on 
8  November,  the  regiment  was  with  the  brigade  when  it  was 
ordered  back  on  the  Warrenton  road,  where  it  repulsed  a 
cavalry  charge  with  slight  loss.  After  that  it  returned  to 
its  old  and  comfortable  quarters  at  Liberty  Mills. 

When  General  Lee  confronted  Meade  at  Mine  Run,  27 
November,  1863,  the  weather  was  intensely  cold  and  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  men  were  great.  Not  being  allowed  to  have 
fires  on  the  skirmish  line,  the  men  were  relieved  every  half 
hour.  The  Twenty-eighth  was  a  part  of  the  troops  with- 
drawn from  the  trenches  at  3  a.  m.  on  2  December  and  moved 
to  the  right  to  make  an  attack,  but  at  daylight  it  was  found 
that  Meade  had  withdrawn. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  5  May,  1864,  the  Twenty-eighth 
went  gallantly  to  the  support  of  the  hard-pressed  troops  in 
the  Wilderness  when  Colonel  Venable,  of  General  Lee's  staff, 
said  to  Colonel  Palmer,  of  General  A.  P.  Hill's:  "Thank 
God !  I  will  go  back  and  tell  General  Lee  that  Lane  has  just 
gone  in  and  will  hold  his  ground  until  other  troops  arrive 
tonight."  The  brigade  did  more  than  hold  its  own ;  it  drove 
the  enemy  some  distance.  The  troops  did  not  arrive  that 
night  as  was  expected,  and  next  morning  those  brave  men 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  overwhelming  force  of 
the  enemy.     The  regiment  lost  4  officers  and  84  men. 

The  Twenty-eighth  also  did  its  part  nobly  on  the  morning 


480  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

of  12  May  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House  when  Johnson's 
front  was  broken,  and  "Lane's  North  Carolina  veterans 
turned  the  tide  of  Federal  victory  as  it  came  surging  to  the 
right."  It  was  also  with  the  brigade  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  when,  under  General  Lee's  orders  and  in  his  pres- 
ence, it  crossed  the  works  in  front  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  and  in  that  brilliant  flank  movement  handled  Bum- 
side's  corps  so  roughly  and  relieved  Johnson's  front.  Its 
losses  in  these  two  engagements  was  5  officers  and  121  men. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  21st  it  moved  to  the  right  of  the 
Court  House  and  made  a  reconnoisance,  in  which  Lieutenant 
E.  S.  Edwards  was  killed  and  two  men  wounded. 

At  Jericho  ford  on  23  May,  the  Twenty-eighth  advanced  as 
far  as  any  of  the  troops  engaged,  held  its  ground  until  re- 
lieved that  night  and  removed  all  its  dead  and  wounded.  Its 
loss  was  2  officers  and  28  men. 

On  31  May,  at  Storr's  farm  on  Totopotamoi  Creek,  near 
Pole  Green  Ch\irch,  it  was  engaged  all  day  in  heavy  skir- 
mishing and  was  under  a  terrible  artillery  fire. 

At  the  Second  Cold  Harbor  it  behaved  as  gallantly  as  it 
did  at  the  first.  It  also  behaved  with  its  accustomed  brav- 
ery at  Riddle's  Shop,  13  June;  action  three  miles  southeast 
of  Petersburg,  22  June;  action  in  front  of  Petersburg,  23 
June ;  Gravel  Hill,  28  Jnlj ;  Fussell's  Mills,  16  and  18  Au- 
gust, and  Reams  Station  25  August.  In  the  last  named  bat- 
tle it  had  to  crawl  through  an  almost  impenetrable  ahutis  un- 
der a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery.  Captain  Hol- 
land, of  Company  H,  was  among  the  first  to  mount  the  works, 
and  seeing  that  they  were  still  manned  and  but  a  few  of  his 
own  men  were  up,  he  yelled  oiit,  "Yanks,  if  you  know  what 
is  best  for  you,  you  had  better  make  a  blue  streak  toward  sun- 
set." They  made  the  streak  and  the  men  often  laughed  and 
said  Grant  would  have  to  send  Hancock  back  North  to  re- 
cruit his  command.  General  Lee,  in  speaking  of  this  fight 
to  General  Lane,  said  that  the  three  North  Carolina  brigades, 
Cooke's,  MacRae's  and  Lane's,  which  made  the  second  as- 
sault, after  the  failure  of  the  first  by  other  troops,  had  by 
their  gallantry  not  only  placed  North  Carolina,  but  the  whole 
Confederacy  under  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  could  never 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 


1.  S.  S.  Bohannon,  Captain,  Co.  I. 

2.  Thos.  B.  Lane,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

3.  James  M.  Crowell,  Captain,  Co.  K. 

4.  Romulus  S.  Folger,  Adjutant. 


5.  J.  P.  Little,  1st  Lieut,  and  Ensign. 

Co.  C. 

6.  M.  A.  Throneburg,  1st  Lieut,,  Co.  O, 

7.  M.  M.  Throneburg,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  C. 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  481 

be  repaid.  In  writing  to  Governor  Vance  about  the  same 
battle,  he  said:  "They  advanced  through  a  thick  abatis  of 
felled  trees  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  and 
carried  the  enemy's  works  with  a  steady  courage  that  elicited 
the  warm  commendation  of  the  corps  and  division  command- 
ers and  the  admiration  of  the  army." 

At  Jones'  Farm,  on  the  right  of  Petersburg,  on  30  Sep- 
tember, this  regiment  was  second  to  none  in  bravery.  In 
this  fight  both  lines  were  advancing  when  they  met.  To  the 
delight  of  all  this  battlefield  was  rich  in  oil  cloths,  blankets, 
knapsacks  and  the  like.  Some  of  the  knapsacks,  judging 
from  the  appearance  of  the  straps,  were  cut  from  the  shoul- 
ders of  their  owners  in  their  hasty  retreat  under  a  murder- 
ous fire,  accompanied  with  that  well  known  "rebel  yell." 

I^ext  morning  the  regiment  advanced  with  the  other  troops 
and  helped  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  works  at  the  Pegram 
House,  which  were  held  in  the  rain,  until  dark,  when  it  re- 
turned to  the  works  near  the  Jones  House.  It  soon  after 
went  into  winter  quarters  in  rear  of  these  works. 

During  that  winter  the  Twenty-eighth  constituted  a  part 
of  the  force  sent  against  the  Federal  cavalry  raiding  on  the 
Petersburg  &  Weldon  Railroad.  On  that  march  it  not  only 
rained  but  it  snowed  and  there  was  a  high,  bitter  cold  wind, 
and  the  men  suffered  intensely.  The  troops  reached  Jar- 
ratt's  Station  to  find  that  the  enemy  had  retired. 

This  regiment  lay  all  night  in  the  streets  of  Petersburg 
as  a  part  of  the  intended  support  for  General  Gordon  in  his 
attack  on  Fort  Steadman.  After  Gordon  had  retired  the  en- 
emy swept  the  whole  Confederate  picket  line  from  Hatcher's 
Run  to  Lieutenant  Run,  and  the  Twenty-eighth  performed  its 
part  in  helping  to  keep  him  out  of  the  main  line  of  works  in 
front  of  its  winter  quarters.  He  got  possession,  however,  of  a 
commanding  hill  to  the  left  of  the  Jones  House  from  which  he 
could  fire  into  the  huts.  ISText  day  General  Lee  ordered  Gen- 
eral Lane  to  dislodge  him.  Gen-eral  Lane,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  division  at  the  time,  did  so  at  daylight  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  with  all  of  the  sharpshooters  of  the  division 
under  Major  Wooten,  of  the  Eighteenth  I^orth  Carolina  Regi- 
31 


482  North  Cakolina  Thoops,  1861-'65. 

ment,  supported  by  his  own  brigade,  and  the  Twenty-eighth 
again  had  its  part  to  perform. 

On  the  night  of  1  April  when  Grant  made  his  final  attack 
at  Petersburg,  Lane's  Brigade  was  cut  in  two  by  an  over- 
whelming force.  The  Twenty-eighth  was  forced  to  fall  back, 
fighting,  to  the  plank  road  and  then  to  the  Cox  road ;  and  it 
finally  succeeded  in  rejoining  the  rest  of  the  brigade  in  the 
inner  line  of  works  where  it  fought  until  night,  when  Peters- 
burg was  evacuated.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  it  crossed 
the  Appomattox  at  Goode's  bridge,  bivouacked  at  Amelia 
Court  House  on  the  ith  and  formed  line  of  battle  between  the 
Court  House  and  Jetersville  on  the  5th  and  skirmished  with 
the  enemy.  Next  day  while  resting  in  Farmville,  it,  with 
the  rest  of  the  brigade,  was  ordered  back  to  a  hill  to  support 
the  hard-pressed  cavalry ;  but  before  reaching  the  hill  the  or- 
der was  countermanded.  It  moved  back  through  Farmville 
and  sustained  some  loss  from  the  enemy's  artillery  while 
crossing  the  river  near  that  place.  That  afternoon  it  formed 
line  of  battle,  faced  to  the  rear,  between  one  and  two  miles 
from  Farmville,  where  there  was  more  fighting,  and  the  rem- 
nant of  General  Lee's  army  seemed  to  be  surrendered.  During 
the  night  it  resumed  its  march,  and  on  the  morning  of  9 
April,  while  moving  to  its  position  on  the  left  of  the  road 
near  Appomattox  Court  House,  it  was  ordered  back  into  a 
woods  and  directed  to  stack  arms,  as  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  had  surrendered. 

The  tattered  and  starving  remnant  of  this  glorious  North 
Carolina  Regiment  surrendered  at  Appomattox,  consisted  of 
17  officers  and  213  men,  some  of  the  latter  being  detailed, 
non-arms-bearing,  sent  back  to  be  surrendered  with  their 
command. 

The  aggregate  in  this  regiment  during  the  entire  war  was 
1,826.  After  Colonel  Lowe  resigned  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
W.  H.  A.  Speer  was  killed  at  Reams  Station,  the  regiment 
was  frequently  commanded  by  Captains  E.  F.  Lovell,  T.  V. 
Apperson  and  T.  J.  Linebarger,  the  latter  being  in  command 
at  the  surrender. 


Twenty-Eighth  Regiment.  483 

addendum  to  the  sketch  of  the  twenty-eighth  north 
caeolina  teoops. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Speer,  all  of  the  officers  present 
addressed  the  following  communication  to  the  Secretary  of 
War: 

Camp  Twenty-eighth  IST.  C.  Eegm't,  Lane's  Brigade, 

Near  Petersburg,  Va.,  Sept.  26,  1864. 
Oeneral  Samuel  Cooper,  A.  &  I.  G.,  Richmond  Va. : 

General:  Our  regiment,  the  Twenty-eight  'N.  C.  T.,  is 
without  a  Colonel  and  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  its  Major,  S. 
JI".  Stowe,  is  physically  disqualified  for  active  field  duty.  The 
Major  has  been  but  little  with  his  command,  and  when  with 
it,  has  done  but  little  duty.  He  admits  himself  that  he  has 
been  unable  to  walk  half  a  mile  at  any  one  time  for  the  last 
six  months. 

It  is  the  wish  of  the  undersigned  that  we  should  be  com- 
manded by  an  officer  of  undoubted  bravery,  intelligence,  edu- 
cation and  general  efficiency,  and  we  therefore  very  respect- 
fully ask  that  Captain  E.  J.  Hale,  Jr.,  the  A.  A.  G.  of  this 
Brigade,  be  appointed  Colonel  ard  assigned  to  the  command 
of  our  regiment.  We  have  -witjiessed  Captain  Hale's  gal- 
lantry in  action  and  know  that  he  is  an  accomplished  officer 
in  every  respect. 

S.  N".  Stowe^  Major  Commanding  Regiment. 
R.  S.  FoLGEE^  Adjutant. 

E.  F.  LovELL,  Senior  Captain. 
Thos.  V.  Appeeson,  Captain  Co.  F. 
G.  G.  Holland^  Captain  Co.  H. 
A.  W.  Stone^  Captain  Co.  K. 

G.  W.  McCauley,  Captain  Co.  G. 

F.  M.  E'lxoN,  Lieutenant  Co.  A. 
H.  A.  EtTKEE^  Lieutenant  Co.  D. 

J.  G.  Teuelove,  First  Lieutenant  Co.  F. 
J.  M.  Staeling,  Second  Lieutenant  Co.  F. 
D.  F.  MoEEOW^  Lieutenant  Co.  G. 
-M.  A.  Thoenbtjeg^  Lieutenant  Co.  C. 
S.  A.  Yodel,  Lieutenant  Co.  I. 
R.  D.  GemonDj  Lieutenant  Co.  B. 


484  NoETH  Caholina  Tkoops,  1861-'65. 

J".  W.  Williams,  Lieutenant  Co.  O. 
T>.  B.  SwiiTK,  Lieutenant  Co.  H. 
S.  T.  Thompson,  Lieutenant  Co.  I. 

This  petition  was  approved  and  recommended  by  Briga- 
dier-General  Lane,  Major-General  Wilcox  and  Lieutenant- 
General  A.  P.  Hill. 

The  "legal  impediment"  that  Captain  Hale  was  "not  of 
the  regiment"  prevented  his  being  commissioned  at  the  time 
Colonel  under  the  law  for  promotion  for  "valor  and  skill." 
The  impending  campaign  ending  at  Appomattox  prevented 
further  action  in  the  matter. 

Captain  Hale  was  subsequently  appointed  Major,  A.  A.  & 
L  General  under  the  staff  law  that  finally  passed  Congress, 
and  received  the  President's  signature. 

James  H.  Lane. 
Auburn,  Ala., 

9  April,  1901. 


TWENTY-NINTH  REGIMENT. 
1.    E.  B.  Vance,  Colonel.  8.    J.  H.  Stradley,  Captain,  Co.  H. 


TVENTT-NINTH   REGIMENT. 


By  brigadier-general  ROBERT  B.  VANCE. 


This  regiment  was  organized  at  Oamp  Patton,  Asheville, 
N.  0.,  in  the  summer  of  1861.  The  companies  came  into 
camp  in  the  following  order : 

Company  A — Captain,  Wm.  C.  Walker,  Cherokee  County ; 
rirst  Lieutenant,  J.  S.  Anderson,  Clay  County ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, W.  B.  Nelson,  Cherokee  County. 

Company  B — Captain,  Wm.  B.  Creasman,  Yancey  Coun- 
ty ;  First  Lieutenant,  Wm.  A.  Eay,  Yancey  County ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  David  M.  Ray,  Yancey  County. 

Company  C — Captain,  Jas.  M.  Lowry,  Buncombe  County ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Malachi  W.  Reeves,  Madison  County ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  John  W.  Gudger,  Buncombe  County. 

Company  D — Captain  John  A.  Jarvis,  Madison  County; 
First  Lieutenant,  Arthur  A.  Dewese,  Madison  County ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Wm.  H.  Brown,  Madison  County. 

Company  E — Captain,  Hiram  Rogers,  Haywood  County ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Wm.  B.  Ferguson,  Haywood  County;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  John  A.  Teague,  Haywood  County. 

Company  F — Captain,  Wm.  A.  Enloe,  Jackson  County; 
First  Lieutenant,  Jas.  A.  Thompson,  Jackson  County;  Sec- 
ond Lievitenant,  Jas.  Oonley,  Jackson  County. 

Company  G — Captain,  M.  Chandler,  Yancey  County; 
First  Lieutenant,  Wm.  D.  Williams,  Yancey  County;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  E.  H.  Hampton,  Yancey  County. 

Company  H — Captain,  Robert  B.  Vance,  Buncombe 
County;  First  Lieutenant,  John  H.  Robeson,  Buncombe 
County;  Second  Lieutenant,  Wiley  F.  Parker,  Buncombe 
County. 

Company  I — Captain  John  C.  Blaylock,  Mitchell  County ; 


486  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

First  Lieutenant,  James  S.  Garland,  Mitchell  County ;  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant,  David  M.  Young,  Mitchell  County. 

Company  K — Captain,  B.  S.  Proffitt,  Yancey  County; 
First  Lieutenant,  B.  G.  Whittington,  Yancey  County ;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Jas.  C.  ProfStt,  Yancey  County ;  J.  E,  Neill, 
Assistant  Quartermaster. 

The  election  of  officers  occurred  in  Camp  Patton  in  Sep- 
tember,  1861,  which  resulted  as  follows: 

P.  B.  Vance,  Colonel,  of  Buncombe  County. 

Wm.  C.  Walker,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Cherokee  County, 

Thos.  F.  Gaednee^  Major,  of  Yancey  County. 

John  E.  Hoey^  Adjutant,  of  Cleveland  County. 

The  vacancies  in  the  companies  were  filled  by  the  election 
of  John  H.  Robinson,  Captain  Company  H ;  J.  Stanhope  An- 
derson, Captain  Company  A. 

The  regiment  was  then  put  into  camp  in  Camp  Vance,  near 
Sulphur  Springs,  IST.  C,  where  it  was  drilled  until  28  Octo- 
ber, 1861.  From  thence  it  was  ordered  to  Raleigh  and 
camped  near  the  old  depot  in  that  city.  The  companies  were 
armed  then  with  the  old  flint  muskets  changed  to  percussion 
cap  muskets,  except  Captain  Anderson's  (Company  A), 
which  was  supplied  with  the  Mississippi  rifle  without  bayo- 
nets. The  command  was  then  ordered  to  East  Tennessee  to 
guard  the  bridges  from  Bristol  to  Chattanooga,  leaving  Ral- 
eigh 25  November.  In  February,  1862,  it  was  ordered  to 
Cumberland  Gap  and  went  into  garrison  iTnder  Colonel 
James  E.  Raines,  of  the  Eleventh  Tennessee.  At  this 
point  the  command  was  under  fire  frequently,  the  right 
resting  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  above  the  Harlan  road, 
and  the  left  reaching  to  Fort  Pitt.  The  camp  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  being  the  highest  point  for  observations,  Ma- 
jor-General  Ste^^^enson  ordered  Colonel  Vance  daily  to 
sweep  the  view  with  his  field  glass  from  the  mountain  on 
the  side  next  to  Yellow  creek,  and  along  the  Harlan  road. 
Early  on  24  March  the  Colonel  carefully  scrutinizing  the 
country  in  front,  observed  the  flash  of  a  bayonet.  Then 
closer    view    disclosed    a    column    of    men    advancing  up 


Twenty-Ninth  Regiment.  487 

the  ridge  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Pitt.  The  guards  were 
at  once  doubled,  but  while  we  were  looking  to  the  front  Gen- 
eral DeOourcy,  of  Ohio,  with  1,600  men,  was  moving  on  our 
extreme  right.  The  guards  came  in  and  the  firing  was  lively. 
On  the  top  of  the  mountain,  above  Fort  Pitt,  we  had  a  big 
gun  called  "Long  Tom."  With  that  we  opened  on  them. 
Presently  Colonel  Vance  sent  Lieutenant  Dewese  and  Lieu- 
tenant Rollins  with  company  D,  around  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain. They  opened  a  hot  and  unexpected  fire  on  DeCourcy, 
and  he  was  driven  from  the  mountain.  Next  morning  we  ex- 
pected fighting,  but  when  we  felt  the  woods  the  enemy  was 
gone. 

In  September,  1862,  the  command  was  sent  to  hold  Baptist 
Gap  in  the  direction  of  Knoxville.  While  there  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered,  in  company  with  the  Thirty-ninth  North 
Carolina,  to  cut  off  a  detachment  of  Federals  which  had 
marched  in  the  direction  of  a  gap  still  nearer  Knoxville,  but 
before  the  regiments  reached  the  cross  roads  the  Federal 
command  had  retiirned  to  the  gap.  When  the  command  got 
back  to  Baptist  Gap  15  September,  the  Federals  had  driven 
in  the  picket  line  on  the  mountain  and  killed  Lieutenant 
Astoogatogch,  of  Thomas'  Legion.  The  Twenty-ninth  and 
Thirty-ninth,  Colonel  David  Coleman,  were  thrown  forward 
into  the  thick  undergrowth  in  columns  of  companies, 
marching  by  the  flank,  so  as  to  deploy  when  the  enemy  was 
found,  but  he  had  retired  on,  our  approach.  On  19  Septem- 
ber, in  the  early  morning,  the  Twenty-ninth  crossed 
through  Baptist  Gap  and  moved  down  the  valley, 
capturing  a  hospital  camp.  This  movement  was  made  to 
get  in  the  rear  of  Cumberland  Gap,  but  General  George 
W.  Morgan,  commanding  at,  the  Gap,  had  moved  out 
in  the  night  and  had  escaped  by  the  Goose  creek  salt  works. 
Our  Major-General  Stevenson  pursued  to  within  the  vicinity 
of  the  salt  works,  where  he  halted,  rested  and  retraced  his 
steps,  passing  into  Kentucky  via  Danville,  Lancaster,  Har- 
rodsburg,  etc.,  to  Frankfort. 

From  there  we  moved,  on  Saturday  night,  to  Versailles, 
from  which  point  on  Sunday  we  could  hear  the  guns  at  Per- 
ryville.     Without  multiplying  words,  let  it  be  said  that  the 


488  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

regiment  was  marched  back  through  Cumberland  Gap,  and 
Knoxville  to  Lenoir  Station,  Tenn.,  and  from  there  it  was 
sent  on  a  mission  to  McMinnville.  While  there,  on  Christ- 
mas day,  orders  were  received  to  march  at  once  to  Murfrees-' 
boro,  which  order  was  obeyed  promptly.  We  arrived  on  the 
battleiield  and  camped  on  Stone's  river  on  the  night  of  30 
December,  1862.  Next  morning,  before  day,  we  forded 
Stone's  river  and  took  possession  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
army.  Only  Wharton's  cavalry  was  on  the  left  of  us.  Gen- 
eral Raines,  on  his  large,  black  horse,  at  once  rode  down  the 
lines  and  complimented  the  regiment.  He  was  splendidly 
dressed  and  was  full  or  ardor. 

The  command  had  just  fairly  got  dressed  when  the  word 
was  given — forward,  and  at  that  early  hour  of  the  morning 
the  division  in  which  we  moved  began  a  right  half  wheel  un- 
der Haines,  McCown  and  Hardee.  Not  a  gun  was  yet  fired. 
A  little  while  before  the  crack  of  day,  no  doubt  there  was 
a  quiver  in  the  two  great  armies  extending  four  miles  on  the 
bank  of  the  river.  The  Twenty-ninth  brought  on  the  battle. 
About  a  hundred  yards  from  where  we  had  stood  in  line,  we 
encountered  a  fence  about  15  feet  in  height.  While  the 
fence  was  being  laid  down  for  the  Colonel  to  ride  through 
and  the  men  were  climbing  it,  the  sharp  report  of  a  rifle  broke 
the  stillness.  Waldrop,  of  Captain  Dewese's  company,  was 
on  top  of  the  fence.  The  minies  from  the  hostile  ranks 
killed  him,  and  he  was  the  first  that  day  to  fall  in  the  South- 
ern army,  so  far  as  we  could  ascertain.  The  fire  was  then 
opened  by  the  Twenty-ninth  and  by  the  next  until  the  firing 
extended  four  miles  to  our  right,  and  the  hiss  of  minies  was 
incessant,  while  presently  boom,  boom  rang  the  big  guns  on 
our  right.  Ere  long  we  sighted  a  section  of  artillery,  and  the 
regiment  charged.  The  guns  were  shotted,  but  the  gunners  did 
not  have  time  to  fire,  and  the  ofiicer  in  charge  broke  to  run. 
Captain  Jno.  A.  Teague,  however,  soon  overhauled  him,  put 
his  hand  on  his  shoulder  and  stopped  him.  The  Federal  Cap- 
tain said,  "You've  got  me,"  "Yes,"  replied  Teague,  "  but 
you  gave  us  a  mannerly  race."  The  section  of  artillery  was 
sent  to  the  rear,  and  about  10  a.  m.  we  were  drawn  up  in  line 
to  inspect  the  cartridge  boxes.     We    then    had    about    ten 


Twenty-Ninth  Regiment.  489 

rounds  per  man.  Then,  without  any  skirmish  line  General 
Raines  started  us  down  through  the  open  woods.  He  had 
just  said,  "I  will  bet  my  black  horse  on  the  Twenty-ninth," 
when  a  line  of  blue  coats  arose  almost  in  our  faces  and  fired, 
when  alas,  the  gallant  and  impetuous  soldier,  General  Raines, 
was  killed,  the  ball  cutting  the  gauntlet  of  his  right  hand  and 
passing  into  his  heroic  breast.  The  black  horse  galloped  for- 
ward into  the  ranks  of  fire  and  I  saw  him  no  more. 

Color-Sergeant  John  R.  Rich,  of  Asheville,  says  this  noted 
black  horse  from  which  "General  Rains"  was  killed,  was 
seen  again,  probably  not  by  "General  Vance,"  but  by  him- 
self and  others.  That  in  less  than  an  hour  after  charging 
intO'  the  Yankee  lines,  in  a  counter-charge  made  by  the  en- 
emy, a  Federal  ofiicer,  seemingly  of  some  rank,  was  mounted 
upon  him  and  he,  too,  was  shot  (by  our  men)  and  falling, 
the  horse  continued  forward  into  the  ranks  of  the  Eleventh 
Tennessee  and  was  captured  by  the  men  of  this  regiment; 
possibly  the  only  instance  during  the  war  in  which  an  officer 
of  rank,  on  either  side,  was  killed  from  the  same  horse  in  the 
same  battle.  Color-Sergeant  Rich  was  so  small  and  so  young 
that  he  was  not  allowed  to  enlist  regularly,  but  like  many  oth- 
er boys  of  our  dear  Southland,  would  not  be  deterred  by  little 
obstacles  of  that  kind,  but  followed  along  with  the  battle, 
without  gun,  and  when  the  first  man  in  ranks  fell  he  grabbed 
his  gun  and  went  to  shooting.  A  little  later  the  color-bearer 
being  killed,  he  voluntarily  caught  up  the  flag  and  carried  it 
almost  continuously  to  the  end. 

The  regiment  charged,  and  the  Federals  fell  back  through 
a  dense  cedar  thicket.  When  the  Twenty-ninth  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  Eleventh  Tennessee  got  through  what  General 
Withers  calls  "the  cedar  pedregal,"  they  were  confronted  by 
three  lines  of  battle  with  Napoleon  guns  between  the  regi- 
ments. The  fire  was  terrific,  the  tree  tops  falling  all  around. 
Colonel  Vance's  horse  was  killed  in  this  fire,  the  shell  going 
into  his  body  near  the  left  stirrup  leather.  Sixty  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  North  Carolina  were  killed  and  wounded  in  a 
few  minutes.  Adjutant  Joljn  E.  Hoey  was  struck  with  a 
spent  ball.  At  this  moment  Major  Bradshaw,  of  the  Elev- 
enth Tennessee,  reported  to  Colonel  Vance  that  Colonel  Gor- 


490  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

don,  of  the  Eleventh,  was  perhaps  mortally  wounded,  and  that 
their  ammunition  was  expended. 

The  last  statement  proving  true  with  the  Twenty-ninth, 
Colonel  Vance  ordered  the  two  regiments  to  fall  hack ;  about 
a  half  mile  back  they  found  General  Hardee  with  the  artil- 
lery. The  cartridge  boxes  were  filled,  and  (general  Hardee 
ordered  us  to  return  to  the  line  of  battle  at  the  same  point  we 
left  it.  The  undergrowth  was  so  thick  that  the  Twenty-ninth 
got  separated  from  the  Eleventh  Tennessee  and  reached  the 
line  alone,  further  to  the  left  than  where  it  had  fought.  An- 
other Oonfedeirate  regiment  was  lying  under  a  fence  and  the 
shells  were  crashing  through  the  woods.  General  Bushrod 
Johnson  rode  up  to  the  regiment  and  ordered  Colonel  Vance  to 
charge  the  battery.  The  Colonel  said,  "Well  sir,  if  you  will 
get  that  regiment  from  behind  the  fence,  and  put  it  under  my 
command,  I  will  make  the  charge." 

The  regiment  refused  to  come  out,  and  while  the  effort  was 
being  made  to  induce  them  to  do  so,  a  shell  was  exploded  in 
the  fence,  killing  and  wounding  18  of  the  men.  Vance  then 
drew  his  own  men  into  line  at  the  edge  of  the  field,  and  started 
across  it  towards  the  battery,  the  fiying  shells  seeming  un- 
comfortably close.  Just  at  that  moment  General  McNabb, 
of  Arkansas,  came  out  of  the  woods  with  five  regiments.  He 
rode  up  to  the  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-ninth  and  said :  "Where 
are  you  going  V  The  Colonel  said  "to  charge  that  battery." 
He  answered  and  said  "you  can't  do  that,  it  is'  protected  by 
three  lines  of  battle.  Hook  on  to  my  brigade."  This  was 
done.  The  line  of  battle  was  then  reformed,  Raines'  Bri- 
gade resting  on  General  Manny's  left.  Here  we  remained 
in  line  of  battle  until  after  General  Breckenridge's  fearful 
battle  on  our  right.  Then,  while  Rosecrans  was  falling  back 
towards  Nashville,  we  fell  back,  first  to  Murfreesboro  and 
then  to  Shelbyville,  Tenn. 

NOTES  03?  THE  BATTLE   OF  MUEFEEESBOEO. 

In  the  heat  of  the  fire,  Private  David  Patton,  of  the  "Bun- 
combe Life  Guards,"  was  killed  by  a  shell  which  took  his  head 
off,  and  it  lodged  in  the  f qrk  of  a  small  tree. 

While  the  regiment  was  in  camp  at  Versailles,  Ky.,  the 


Twenty-Ninth  Regiment.  491 

Colonel  of  the  Twenty-ninth  got  his  meals  at  the  house  of  Col- 
onel Cotton,  of  the  Sixth  Kentucky  (U.  S.)-  Mrs.  Cotton  was 
very  bright  and  said  she  would  make  her  Colonel  shoot  ours  if 
they  met.  Our  Colonel  said :  "We  will  shoot  high  on  your 
account,"  but  sadly  enough,  he  was  killed  in  front  of  our 
lines  on  the  field  of  Murfreesboro  or  Stone's  river. 

After  the  fire  had  slackened  on  31  December,  1862,  our 
men  saw  a  Federal  Lieutenant-Colonel  between  the  lines, 
seemingly  fearfully  wounded.  At  the  risk  of  their  lives  our 
people  formed  a  squad  and  went  after  him.  The  balls  fell 
around  them,  but  not  one  was  struck. 

When  the  wounded  man  was  brought  to  headquarters,  he 
warmly  expressed  his  admiration  of  the  brave  men  who  had 
brought  him  oS  the  field.  "If  I  live,"  said  he,  "you  shall 
hear  from  me,"  but  as  we  never  heard,  it  is  supposed  that  for 
him  had  beaten  "the  soldier's  last  tattoo." 

After  drilling  for  a  time  near  Shelby ville,  Tenn.,  General 
Bate,  since  United  States  Senator  from  Tennessee,  took  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  and  it  was  ordered  12  May  to  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  not  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Vance,  but  un- 
der the  command  of  Colonel  W.  B.  Creasman  who  succeeded 
Vance,  the  latter  while  sick  with  typhoid  at  Shelbyville,  being 
appointed  Brigadier.  Colonel  Creasman,  with  the  Twenty- 
ninth,  was  ordered  to  Yazoo  City  1  June,  which  place  we  held 
until  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  being  driven  out  by  the  gun 
boats  and  a  division  of  troops  13  July. 

The  regiment  then  marched  across  the  country  150  miles, 
joining  General  Johnston's  army  at  Martin,  Miss.,  23  July, 
1863,  and  thence  was  sent  to  Meridian,  Miss.,  by  rail  27 
July.  On  24  August,  1863,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Chatta- 
nooga, arriving  30  August,  and  was  attached  to  Ector's  Brig- 
ade, Walker's  Division,  D.  H.  Hill's  Corps,  in  Bragg's  Army. 
In  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga,  fought  19  and  20  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  the  regiment  distinguished  itself.  It  was 
heavily  engaged  both  days.  Its  losses  were  80  killed  and 
wounded  and  30  missing.  On  23  September  Ector's  Brigade 
was  ordered  back  to  Meridian,  arriving  there  2  October,  1863. 
On  5  December  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Brandon,  Miss. 

In  Spring  of  1864  the  Twenty-ninth  North  Carolina  was 


492  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

in  Ector's  Brigade  in  irencli's  Division  of  Polk's  corps. 
June,  1864,  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  was  added  and 
henceforward  those  two  regiments  with  four  Texas  Kegi- 
ments  constituted  that  brigade.  The  brigade  took  part  in 
all  the  battles  of  that  army  down  to  Atlanta.  At  Latimer 
House  the  Twenty-ninth  lost  54  and  at  Smyrna  37,  though 
the  losses  were  not  generally  reported  owing  to  the  steady 
fighting.  General  Ector  was  wounded  and  lost  his  leg  27  July, 
1864,  but  the  brigade  continued  to  bear  his  name  to  the  end. 
General  W.  H.  Young  took  command.  The  Twenty-ninth  dis- 
tinguished itself  at  AUatoona  5  October,  1864.  It  carried  into 
battle  138  and  lost  54,  12  being  killed,  but  it  took  the  enemy's 
breastworks.  A  graphic  report  by  Major  E.  H.  Hampton 
ia  to  be  found  in  Vol.  77,  Official  Records  Union  and  Con- 
federate Armies,  page  821.  The  brigade  was  in  Hood's  army 
on  the  march  to  Nashville  but  was  on  detached  service  at  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  30  November,  1864.  On  10  December, 
1864,  Colonel  David  Coleman  of  the  Thirty-ninth  North 
Carolina  was  in  command  of  the  brigade  and  held  it  till  the 
surrender.  In  the  spring  of  1865  it  was  in  the  army  com- 
manded by  General  Dabney  H.  Maury  in  the  defence  of  Mo- 
bile. Its  conduct  is  highly  spoken  of  in  General  Gibson's 
report  16  April,  1865,  to  be  found  103,  Official  Records 
Union  and  Confederate  Armies  at  p.  318.  After  sharing 
in  the  defence  and  fate  of  Mobile  the  brigade,  containing  the 
two  North  Carolina  and  four  Texas  regiments  and  still 
commanded  by  Colonel  David  Coleman  was  withdrawn  to 
Meridian,  Miss.,  where  it  was  when  General  Dick  Taylor 
surrendered  that  Department  4  May,  1865.  The  men  were 
paroled  a  few  days  later. 

The  Confederate  soldier  was  famous  for  his  wit.  The 
Twenty-ninth  had  her  share.  The  Colonel  took  Private  Joe 
Sams  to  a  point  beyond  "Long  Tom,"  on  the  top  of  the  Cum- 
berland mountain,  and  placed  him  on  picket.  "Now,"  said 
the  Colonel,  "if  anyone  approaches  you  from  the  direction  of 
the  camp,  Joe,  halt  them;  but  if  from  the  woods  towards 
Cumberland  Ford,  shoot  and  run."  Joe  said :  "Colonel,  you 
shall  hear  from  Joe  if  they  come  the  wrong  way  of  the 
leather."     While  we  were  besieging  Cumberland  Gap  in  the 


Twenty-Ninth  Regiment.  493 

fall  of  1863,  and  had  a  line  of  circumvallation  around  the 
gap,  a  noted  man  from  Madison  approached  the  guard  line. 
The  sentinel  cried  "halt,  who  comes  there?"  The  old  man 
said  "a  man  with  seven  sons  in  the  Confederate  army,  and 
you  can't  keep  me  out."  Thereupon  he  boldly  walked  into 
the  lines. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  C.  Walker  was  killed  by  the  bush- 
whackers. Lieutenant-Colonel  Gardner  died  of  consumption 
during  the  war.  Colonel  Creasman  has  departed  this  life 
since  the  war,  and  two  of  his  sons,  stalwart,  powerful  men, 
have  recently  been  connected  with  the  police  at  Asheville. 

Captain  M.  Chandler  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  B.  S.  Prof- 
fitt  both  sleep  the  sleep  of  the  just.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
James  Marion  Lowry  resides  on  Sandy  Mush  in  Buncombe, 
and  it  is  his  annual  custom  to  gather  his  men,  "The  Bold 
Mountain  Tigers,"  in  happy  reunion  at  the  "old  camp 
ground"  on  Turkey  Creek.  Captain  John  C.  Blayloek  dwells 
in  Mitchell,  near  the  foot  of  the  famous  Blue  Ridge.  Cap- 
tain J.  Stanhope  Anderson  has  often  represented  his  county. 
Clay,  in  the  General  Assembly.  Captain  John  A.  Jarvis 
moved  to  Georgia  and  Captain  John  A.  Teague  to  Texas, 
where  he  died  a  faithful  soldier  and  a  good  man. 

Captain  Hiram  Rogers  lives  on  Fine's  creek,  Haywood 
County.  Captain  Wallace  Rollins,*  it  is  well  known,  resides 
in  Asheville.  Captain  Wiley  F.  Parker  died  in  the  member- 
ship of  the  M.  E.  Church,  being  a  minister  of  that  Church. 
Captain  John  H.  Robeson  died  also  in  the  harness,  being 
a  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  Captain  W.  A. 
Enloe  lives  in  Jackson  County,  respected  and  honored  by  his 
neighbors.  Captain  Jos.  Stradley,  of  Beaverdam,  was  the 
last  Captain  of  Company  H,  succeeding  Captain  J.  A.  Bre- 
vard, and  he  succeeded  Captain  Wiley  T.  Parker. 

Time  fails  the  present  writer  to  bring  forward,  in  loving 
remembrance,  the  Lieutenants,  subalterns  and  privates  of 
this  honored  regiment.  Many  of  these  faithful  men  are  yet 
spared  to  us,  and  our  hearts  are  stirred  when  we  meet  them, 


*Capt.  Eollins  "passed  over  "  to  the  enemy  and  served  as  Major  in 
Kirk's  Regiment. — Ed. 


494  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

as  we  did  last  summer,  in  happy  reunion.  Many,  according 
to  the  comon  lot,  sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking.  "No 
sound  can  awake  them  to  glory  again."  Annually  we  gather 
around  their  last  resting  places,  when  they  are  in  reasonable 
reach,  and  drop  a  flower  and  a  tear ;  and  when  we  turn  from 
these,  to  us,  hallowed  mounds,  we  muse  and  feel  there  is 
"port  after  stormy  seas,  and  after  toil  is  sleep — after  war  is 
ease — after  life  is  death.     These  are  the  things  that  please." 

EoBEBT  B.  Vance. 
Alexandek,  N.  C, 

26  April,  1897. 


THIKTIBTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  F.  M.  Parker,  Colonel.  3.    W.  M.  B.  Moore,  Captain  Co  F 

2.  A.  D.  Betts,  Chaplain.  4.    T.  M.  Fitts,  Captain,  Co.  B     '     ' 

5.    W.  C.  Drake,  Captain,  Co.  B 


THIRTIETH  REQIMENT. 


By  colonel  F.  M.  PARKER. 


This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Mangum  on  7  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  by  the  election  of: 

F.  M.  Pakker,  Colonel,  of  Halifax. 

Walter  F.  Draughak,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  Cumber- 
land. 

James  T.  Kbll,  Major,  of  Mecklenburg. 

The  Staff  was  as  follows : 

BucKNER  D.  Williams,  Acting  Quartermaster,  of  War- 
ren. 

John  Collins^  Assistant  Commissary  of  Subsistence,  of 
Warren. 

Henry  Joyner^  Surgeon,  of  Halifax. 

Charles  G.  GebgorY;,  Assistant  Surgeon,  of  Halifax. 

Kev.  a.  D.  Betts,  Chaplain,  of  Harnett. 

E.  M.  Carter,  Adjutant,  of  Davie. 

The  Captains  during  the  war  were: 

Company  A — From  Sampson;  James  C.  Holmes,  Gary 
F.  Williams.     Enlisted  men,  140. 

Company  B — From  Warren;  W.  C.  Drake,  Weldon  E. 
Davis.     Enlisted  men,  120. 

Company  C — From  Brunswick;  Joseph  Green,  David  C. 
Allen.     Enlisted  men,  143. 

Company  D — From  Wake  and  Granville;  Eugene  Gris- 
som,  Charles  W.  Allen.     Enlisted  men,  139. 

Company  E — From  Duplin;  John  C.  McMillan.  En- 
listed men,  75. 

Company  F — From  Edgecombe;  F.  G.  Pitt,  W.  M.  B. 
Moore,  S.  K.  Moore.     Enlisted  men,  140. 

Company  G — From  Granville;  Kichard  P.  Taylor,  J.  A. 
Barnett.     Enlisted  men,  128. 


496  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

CoMPAKT  H — From  Moore;  W.  M.  Swann,  Jesse  J. 
Wicker.     Enlisted  men,  146. 

CoMPAisrT  I — From  JSTash;  William  T.  Arrington,  J.  J. 
Harriss.     Enlisted  men,  167. 

Co.MPAiTY  K — From  Mecklenbjtirg ;  James  T.  Kell,  B.  F. 
Morrow,  J.  G.  Witherspoon,  W.  E.  Ardrey.  Enlisted  men, 
144. 

The  above  numbers  are  tbe  total  enlisted  during  the  war 
as  appears  by  Moore's  Roster,  though  that  cannot  be  deemed 
entirely  accurate. 

The  First  Lieutenants  were : 

Company  A— W.  W.  Sellers,  L.  M;  White. 

Company  B — B.  D.  Williams,  J.  M.  Brame,  W.  E.  Davis, 
J.  H.  Nicholson. 

Company  C— D.  C.  Allen,  E.  J.  Greer,  S.  W.  Bennett. 

Company  D— S.  J.  Allen,  C.  N.  Allen,  S.  S.  Abemathy. 

Company  E — Cornelius  Johnson,  I.  J.  Johnson. 

Company  F— W.  M.  B.  Moore,  G.  K.  Harrell,  S  .  R. 
Moore. 

Company  G — Rush  J.  Mitchell,  J.  W.  Padgett. 

Company  H — Archibald  A.  Mcintosh,  Henry  J.  McNeil. 

Company  I — Elias  Dunn,  J.  J.  Harriss,  B.  B.  Williford, 
K.  W.  Arrington. 

Company  K— B.  F.  Morrow,  C.  E.  Bell,  N.  D.  Orr,  W. 
E.  Ardrey. 

The  Second  Lieutenants  were : 

Company  A — Cornelius  Patrick,  C.  T.  Stevens,  A.  F. 
Lawhom. 

Company  B — J.  M.  Moore,  J.  J.  Laughlin,  J.  S.  Foote. 

Company  C — S.  C.  Thorpe,  L.  D.  Cain,  J.  H.  Dosher,  J. 
R.  Swain,  E.  R.  Ruark. 

Company  D — G.  S.  Abernathy,  Allen  Bently,  C.  M. 
Rogers,  W.  J.  Gill,  J.  E.  Ferrell,  M.  L.  Rogers. 

Company  E — W.  J.  Boney,  Daniel  Teachy,  D.  T.  McMil- 
lan, J.  C.  Carr,  J.  W.  Ellis,  S.  B.  Newton. 

Company  F— J.  W.  Pitt,  Charles  Vines,  L.  D.  Eagles,  S. 
R.  Moore. 

Company  G — J.  A.  Barnett,  W.  A.  Brooks,  R.  F.  Clair- 


Thirtieth  Regiment.  497 

borne,  Alex.  Crews,  Ira  J.  Connell,  J.  T.  Fulford. 

Company  H — D.  W.  Mcintosh,  F.  M.  Moore,  J.  J. 
Wicker,  L.  H.  McLeod,  A.  J.  Jackson,  A.  H.  Brown. 

Company  I— C.  W.  W.  Woodward,  Tom  Tisdale,  S.  R. 
Perry. 

Company  K^ — J.  T.  Downs. 

After  the  organizatign  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Johnson,  District  of  the  Cape  Fear,  commanded  by 
Brigadier-General  Joseph  K.  Anderson.  The  time  at  this 
camp  was  occupied  in  drilling  and  instructing  the  men  in  the 
duties  of  the  soldier.  After  a  few  weeks  the  Thirtieth  was 
ordered  to  occupy  Camp  Wyatt,  near  Fort  Fisher. 

Remaining  in  this  camp  the  entire  winter,  the  Thirtieth 
was  ordered  to  Wilmington  to  be  forwarded  to  reinforce  the 
troops  at  New  Bern,  but  that  place  having  fallen,  the  Thir- 
tieth was  held  at  Wilmington,  and  occupied  different  camps 
in  the  vicinity. 

General  S.  G.  French  having  succeeded  General  Anderson, 
ordered  the  Thirtieth  to  Onslow  and  Jones,  with  instructions 
to  check  the  raids  and  depredations  of  Burnside's  cavalry, 
then  occupying  ISTew  Bern.  The  force  detailed  for  this  work 
was  the  Thirtieth  North  Carolina  Infantry;  Captain  A.  D. 
Moore's  battery  of  light  artillery,  the  Scotland  ISTeck  Mounted 
Rifles,  Captain  A.  B.  Hill  and  Captain  Newkirk's  company 
of  cavalry,  the  whole  under  command  of  the  Colonel  of  tlie 
Thirtieth.  The  two  companies  of  cavalry  had  preceded  the 
other  troops,  and  were  picketing  within  a  few  miles  of  New 
Bern,  Burnside's  headquarters.  This  movement  was  of  ben- 
efit to  our  people  in  that  section  by  keeping  the  enemy  con- 
fined to  a  narrow  limit. 

While  in  Onslow,  on  1  May,  1862,  by  act  of  Congress,  the 
Thirtieth,  with  all  other  troops,  was  reorganized.  This 
brought  many  changes  to  the  regiment.  MajorKell  was  elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel  in  place  of  Draughan.  Lieutenant  W. 
W.  Sellers  was  elected  Major.  The  Thirtieth  lost  a  worthy 
officer  in  the  person  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Draughan. 

Soon  after  the  reorganization  the  Thirtieth  was  ordered 
back  to  Wilmington,  and  from  thence  to  Richmond,  Va. 
32 


498  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  Thirtieth  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines  on  31  May,  1862.  While  the  loss  in  numbers  was  not 
great,  yet  the  disabling,  for  the  balance  of  the  war  of  Eugene 
Crrissom,  Captain  of  Company  D,  was  a  serious  loss  to  the 
regiment.  Captain  Grissom  was  an  officer  of  superior  abil- 
ity. 

Soon  after  this,  the  troops  were  brigaded  by  States.  The 
Second,  Fourth,  Fourteenth  and  Thirtieth  North  Carolina 
troops  constituted  a  brigade,  commanded  by  General  George 
B.  Anderson,  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  placed  in  the  divis- 
ion of  General  Daniel  H.  Hill,  of  North  Carolina — ^truly  a 
North  Carolina  command  and  they  never  forgot  it. 

Anderson's  brigade  was  actively  engaged  in  the  seven  days' 
battle  around  Richmond,  from  Mechanicsville  to  Malvern 
Hill.  This  battle  was  badly  managed ;  the  troops  were  sent 
in  by  detail  of  brigades. 

When  Anderson's  brigade  had  driven  the  Yankee  infantry 
from  their  front,  on  which  a  battery  of  twenty-one  guns  was 
playing,  Sergeant-Major  Lawhorn,  of  the  Thirtieth,  in- 
formed his  Colonel  that  his  own  and  a  part  of  the  Fourteenth 
North  Carolina  Regiment,  were  the  only  troops  engaged  in 
that  charge.  The  Sergeant-Major  was  directed  to  proceed 
down  the  line  and  ascertain  this  fact  fully  and  report.  Soon 
he  returned  and  verified  his  first  statement. 

Thereupon  the  Thirtieth  was  withdrawn  in  good  order  to 
avoid  the  murderous  fire  of  the  battery  alluded  to,  and  not 
more  than  300  yards  from  our  position.  We  remained  on 
the  same  ground  where  we  had  formed  for  the  charge.  On 
this  field  the  lamented  Arrington,  Captain  of  Company  I, 
was  killed.     The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  severe. 

It  is  seldom  that  a  cooler  piece  of  impudence  is  witnessed 
than  was  on  this  charge.  Corporal  Pipkin,  of  Company  A, 
the  color  company,  a  most  excellent  soldier,  while  advancing 
at  charge  bayonets,  with  his  right  hand,  scooped  up  a  pair  of 
new  cavalry  boots,  which  were  tied  together,  threw  them 
across  his  left  arm,  without  taking  his  eye  from  the  point  of 
his  bayonet,  or  without  breaking  his  alignment.  Gallant  fel- 
low, he  neither  brought  out  his  boots  or  his  life.  He  fell  be- 
fore advancing  ten  paces  farther. 


Thirtieth  Regiment.  499 

At  the  battle  of  Gaines'  Mill  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kell  was 
disabled  by  wounds  from  a  fragment  of  shell  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  render  him  unfit  for  active  duty  for  the  rest  of  the  war, 
thus  losing  the  services  of  a  gallant,  meritorious  officer. 

Adjutant  Carter  having  resigned,  Frederick  Philips,  of 
Edgecombe,  was  appointed  Adjutant,  and  commissioned  5 
July,  1862. 

Dr.  F.  M.  Garret,  of  Edgecombe,  was  commissioned  Sur- 
geon of  the  Thirtieth  North  Carolina  Troops,  on  23  August, 
1862,  in  place  of  Surgeon  Henry  Joyner,  resigned. 

After  remaining  in  camp  near  Richmond,  D.  H.  Hill's 
division  marched  to  join  the  army  in  Northern  Virginia,  and 
reached  the  field  of  Second  Manassas  the  day  after  that  battle 
had  been  won. 

With  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  we  crossed  into 
Maryland.  At  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  14  September, 
1862,  the  division  did  the  hardest  service  of  any  one  day  of 
the  war.  Hill's  small  division  kept  at  bay  tl^e  entire  army  of 
McClellan  until  nightfall,  when  we  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Sharpsburg. 

Anderson's  Brigade  occupied  different  positions  on  the 
field  of  Sharpsburg,  on  15  and  16  September,  1862.  On  the 
night  of  the  16th,  we  occupied  the  historic  "bloody  lane,"  and 
held  it  during  the  battle  of  the  iTth,  until  driven  by  a  direct 
and  cross  fire  from  either  flank.  The  terrible  slaughter  of 
the  enemy  in  our  immediate  front,  as  witnessed  by  our  own 
men,  who  were  taken  prisoners  when  we  changed  front,  tells 
of  the  good  work  done  by  our  brigade.  The  Thirtieth  held 
the  right  of  the  brigade,  and  was  much  exposed  by  reason  of 
our  position  on  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

While  the  firing  was  very  hot,  Courier  Baggarly,  from 
brigade  headquarters,  reported  to  me  that  General  Anderson 
was  wounded  and  had  left  the  field;  that  he  was  unable  to 
find  Colonel  Tew,  of  the  Second  North  Carolina,  the  Senior 
Colonel  of  the  brigade,  and  that  he  made  this  report  to  me, 
being  next  in  command.  I  then  instructed  my  Adjutant, 
Lieutenant  Phillips,  to  proceed  cautiously  down  the  line,  ob- 
serve what  was  going  on,  and  if  possible,  to  find  Colonel  Tew, 
and  carry  to  him  Baggarly's  report. 


500  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Lieutenant  Philips  undertook  this  perilous  duty,  receiv- 
ing several  shots  through  his  clothing,  came  in  hailing  diS" 
tance  of  Colonel  Tew  and  reported  to  that  officer.  And  to  be 
sure  that  his  message  was  understood,  asked  Colonel  Tew  to 
give  him  some  intimation  that  he  was  heard.  Colonel  Tew, 
who  was  standing  erect,  lifted  his  hat  and  made  Philips  a 
polite  bow,  and  fell  immediately  from  a  wound  in  the  head. 

While  Lieutenant  Philips  was  returning,  he  received  a 
severe  wound  on  the  head,  which  caused  him  to  leave  the 
field,  much  to  the  loss  of  the  command.  I  at  once  attempted 
to  go  to  the  left  of  the  brigade,  and  had  not  proceeded  ton 
paces,  when  I  was  struck  by  a  minie  ball  on  the  head  ond 
was  taken  from  the  field.  In  a  recent  correspondence  Vi'ith 
an  officer  of  the  Sixty-fourth  ISTew  York  Regiment,  he  si'.ja 
"I  remember  very  well  what  a  warm  reception  you  gave  us, 
when  you  left  the  Bloody  Lane,  and  we  moved  in." 

I  have  never  witnessed  more  deliberate  nor  more  destruc- 
tive firing.  I  cautioned  my  men  to  hold  their  fire  until  I 
should  give  the  command,  and  then  to  take  deliberate,  cool 
aim ;  that  I  would  not  give  the  command  to  fire  until  I  could 
see  the  belt  of  the  cartridge  boxes  of  the  enemy,  and  to  aim  at 
these.  They  obeyed  my  orders,  gave  a  fine  volley,  which 
brought  down  the  enemy  as  grain  falls  before  a  reaper. 

It  was  from  a  wound  received  on  this  field,  that  ISTorth  Car- 
olina suffered  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  General  George  B, 
Anderson.     The  State  gave  no  finer  soldier  to  our  cause. 

Before  the  campaign  of  1863  opened  Stephen  D.  Ramseur, 
Colonel  of  the  Forty-ninth  JSTorth  Carolina  Infantry,  was 
promoted  to  Brigadier-General,  and  assigned  to  the  brigade 
of  the  lamented  Anderson. 

Though  the  skirmishers  of  the  Thirtieth  were  actively  en- 
gaged at  Fredericksbiirg  and  the  regiment  itself  was  under 
a  heavy  shelling,  Chancellorsville  was  the  next  field  upon 
which  the  prowess  of  the  regiment  was  shown.  The  two  days 
preceding  the  battle  of  3  May,  1863,  Eamseur's  Brigade  was- 
very  actively  engaged  in  heavy  skirmishing.  The  move- 
ments, where  the  ground  would  allow  it,  were  made  by  reo-u- 
lar  brigade  drill. 

The  brigade  was  in  the  famous  flank  movement  of  Jackson 


THIRTIETH  REGIMENT. 

1     W.  T.  Arrington,  feaptain,  Co.  I.  3.    Lawson  Knott,  1st  Corporal,  Co  G 

a    Joseph  "W.  Badgett,  1st  Lieut..  Co.  G.      4.    William  C.  Peed,  Private,  Co.  D 
5.    James  M.  Hobgood,  Private,  Co,  G. 


Thirtieth  Regiment.  501 

striking  Howard's  Corps  of  Dutchmen  in  reverse,  and  en- 
joyed the  sight  of  their  tumbling  over  their  works  running 
for  dear  life  and  repeating  that  ominous  word  "Shackson! 
Shackson!" 

While  in  line  of  battle  on  the  early  morning  of  3  May, 
1863,  Eamseur  rode  up  to  the  Colonel  of  the  Thirtieth  and 
instructed  him  to  take  his  regiment  to  the  support  of  Major 
Pegram's  battery,  which  was  then  threatened,  and  with  or- 
ders to  remain  with  the  battery  as  long  as  there  seemed  to  be 
any  danger ;  then  to  rejoin  the  brigade,  or  act  upon  his  own 
responsibility,  at  the  same  time  furnishing  him  with  a 
courier. 

After  remaining  in  support  of  Pegram  until  that  officer 
thought  the  danger  had  passed,  the  Thirtieth  was  moved  in 
the  direction  of  heavy  firing,  suppposed  to  be  Ramseur's. 
Proceeding  about  half  a  mile  the  regiment  received  the  fire  of 
the  enemy  from  behind  breastworks  constructed  of  heavy 
timber,  which  we  charged  and  captured. 

Moving  in  the  same  direction,  we  struck  another  force  of 
the  enemy,  which  were  attacking  Ramseur's  flank.  These  we 
drove  from  the  field,  capturing  many  prisoners,  thus  relieving 
our  comrades  who  had  distinguished  themselves  so  gallantly 
on  that  part  of  the  field. 

In  this  advance  the  Thirtieth  reached  a  point  very  near 
General  Hooker's  headquarters. 

Being  so  far  in  advance  of  our  troops.  General  Stuart,  who 
then  commanded  the  Second  Corps,  opened  two  pieces  on  us, 
which  made  it  very  uncomfortable  until  Captain  Randolph, 
of  Stuart's  staff,  rode  near  enough  to  our  position  to  distin- 
guish us  and  so  reported  to  his  chief.  We  were  glad  to  re- 
join our  brigade.  They,  as  well  as  the  Thirtieth,  had  suf- 
fered terribly  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  the  many  promotions  which  Chancellorsville  gave, 
^ot  one  was  more  worthily  bestowed  than  that  which  fell  upon 
R.  E.  Rodes.  By  request  of  General  Jackson,  Rodes'  com- 
mission as  Major-General,  was  dated  from  the  field  upon 
which  he  had  won  it.  He  was  assigned  to  D.  H.  Hill's  divis- 
ion. 

We  cannot  part  with  our  old  division  commander,  General 


502  North  Carolina-  Tkoops,  1861-65. 

Hill,  without  indorsing  his  high  standing  as  a  soldier  and 
a  Christian  gentleman.  He  had  endeared  himself  to  his  com- 
mand very  warmly. 

The  advance  of  the  Army  of  ISTorthern  Virginia  into  Penn- 
sylvania was  made  not  long  after  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville.  Eamseur's  Brigade  occupied  Carlisle  barracks.  In 
moving  to  the  field  of  Gettysburg  we  constituted  the  rear 
guard  of  Rodes'  division  train,  which  threw  us  on  that  field  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  first  day.  Our  position  was  on  the  left 
of  Eodes'  line.  We  found  the  enemy  behind  stone  walls, 
from  which  we  drove  them  into  and  beyond  the  town  of  Get- 
tysburg. The  fighting  was  of  a  desperate  character,  and  our 
losses  were  heavy.  On  the  second  and  third  days  Eamseur's 
Brigade  was  not  seriously  engaged  and  recrossed  the  Potomac 
with  the  army. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64  the  following  changes  in  the 
staff  of  the  Thirtieth  were  made:  Adjutant  Philips,  who 
had  received  a  disabling  wound  at  Kelly's  Ford  in  November, 
1863,  was  appointed  Captain  and  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
spring  of  1864  as  Assistant  Quartermaster  in  place  of  Wil- 
liams, promoted.  The  regiment  thus  lost  an  excellent  Adju- 
tant, but  duplicated  a  No.  1  Assistant  Quartermaster.  P. 
W.  Arrington,  of  Northampton,  was  appointed  Adjutant  in 
place  of  Phillips,  promoted. 

No  regiment  was  more  fortunate  in  the  efficiency  of  its 
staff  than  was  the  Thirtieth. 

The  Winter  was  spent  on  the  Rapidan,  the  line  of  the  two 
armies. 

On  4  May,  1864,  movements  began  which  brought  on  the 
battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  and  others.  In  all  of 
these,  the  Thirtieth  shared  the  fate  of  Eamseur's  Brigade', 
which  was  hard  marching  and  hard  fighting.  The  charge 
of  the  brigade  on  12  May,  driving  the  Yankees  from  three 
lines  of  works,  is  historic.  The  loss  of  the  Thirtieth  in  this 
charge  was  heavy,  both  in  officers  and  men.  The  losses  on 
19  May,  as  also  at  Second  Cold  Harbor  were  serious.  On  19 
May,  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment  received  a  wound  which 
disqualified  him  for  active  field  service.  The  regiment  was 
subsequently  commanded  by  the  Senior  Captain  present,  gen- 


Thirtieth  Regiment.  503 

erally  by  that  fine  soldier,  Captain  D.  0.  Allen,  of  Com- 
pany C. 

In  the  pursuit  of  the  Federal  General  Hunter  down  the 
Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  Captain  Allen  being  absent  from 
indisposition,  the  Thirtieth  was  ably  commanded  by  Captain 
F.  M.  Fitts,  who  had  been  recently  promoted  on  account  of 
gallant  conduct  on  the  field.  No  braver  nor  more  dashing 
an  officer  ever  led  men  than  was  Captain  Fitts. 

An  irreparable  loss  to  the  regiment  should  have  been  no- 
ticed sooner.  In  an  engagement  at  Kelly's  Ford  in  l^ovem- 
ber,  1863,  the  regiment  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Sellers,  who  acted  with  his  wonted  coolness  and  courage, 
but  being  outnumbered  and  exposed  to  a  plunging  fire  of 
artillery  from  the  high  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  the  regi- 
ment was  badly  cut  to  pieces.  On  this  field  Colonel  Sellers 
offered  his  young  life  on  the  altar  of  his  country.  As  gentle 
as  a,  lovely  woman,  as  brave  as  the  bravest,  his  loss  was  a  sad 
one  to  his  State,  to  the  army,  and  particularly  to  his  own 
regiment.  He  commanded  the  respect  and  love  of  the  entire 
command. 

During  the  campaign  of  1864,  General  Ramseur  was  pro- 
moted to  Major-General.  His  old  brigade  was,  after  that, 
commanded  by  that  accomplished,  chivalrous  soldier,  Gen- 
eral W.  R.  Cox,  formerly  Colonel  of  the  Second  North  Car- 
olina Troops.  Cox's  Brigade  constituted  a  part  of  General 
Early's  command  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  in  the 
movement  on  Washington.  In  this  campaign  the  loss  of  the 
Thirtieth  was  very  heavy.  Among  the  officers  who  were 
killed  in  battle  was  Captain  Moore,  of  Company  F.  When 
Moore  fell,  there  was  not  a  more  gallant  soldier  left  in  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

The  history  of  a  brigade  is  generally  the  history  of  the 
regiments  composing  it.  The  reports  of  the  general  officers 
of  the  army  bear  evidence  of  the  efficiency  of  Ramseur's  Brig- 
ade. A  prominent  writer  of  our  State,  himself  an  accom- 
plished gentleman  and  soldier,  in  writing  of  this  brigade, 
speaks  of  it  as  the  "Ironsides  of  the  army."  The  lamented 
Ramseur  in  parting  with  his  old  Brigade  to  assume  a  higher 


504  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

command,  appealed  to  his  immediate  superiors  "to  tell  our 
countrym^en  how  we  did  our  duty." 

Our  Great  Captain,  the  spotless  Lee,  emphasized  this  ap- 
preciation of  our  services  on  the  last  day  at  Appomattox.  As 
Cox's  Brigade  swept  by  him  to  the  charge,  with  steady  step 
and  unbroken  line,  he  voluntarily  exclaimed:  "God  bless 
old  ITorth  Carolina."  This  is  glory  enough  for  any  body  of 
troops. 

ADDENDA. 

The  Thirtieth  ITorth  Carolina  was  not  actively  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  13  December,  1862.  D.  H. 
Hill's  Division  was  guarding  the  Kappahannock  near  Port 
Eoyal,  some  twenty-five  miles  below  Fredericksburg.  It 
was  moved  by  a  forced  march  on  the  night  of  the  12th,  so  as 
be  in  position  when  the  battle  was  joined.  After  occupying 
respectively,  the  third,  second  and  first  lines,  without  an  op- 
portunity of  drawing  trigger,  the  brigade  petitioned  General 
Jackson  to  be  allowed  to  remain  one  day  longer  on  the  first 
line.  The  request  was  granted,  but  Burnside  had  been  so 
terribly  beaten  on  the  13th  that  he  recrossed  the  river  at 
night.  Our  brigade  furnished  100  sharpshooters  which  did 
fine  work  in  the  battle  of  the  13th.  The  brigade  was  ably 
commanded  by  that  gallant  soldier,  Colonel  Bryan  Grimes, 
of  the  Fourth  North  Carolina,  later  one  of  the  distinguished, 
and  justly  so.  Major  Generals  of  the  Army  of  N"orthern  Vir- 
ginia. 

The  Thirtieth  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kell, 
an  ofiicer  of  gallantry  and  force,  whose  previous  wounds 
caused  this  to  be  his  last  service  during  the  war. 

LETTEE  FEOM  CAPTAIN  D.  C.  ALLEN. 

Much  has  been  written  about  what  command  fired  the  last 
gun  at  Appomattox. 

In  a  recent  letter  Captain  D.  C.  Allen,  who  was  Senior 
Captain  commanding  the  Thirtieth  North  Carolina  Troops 
for  the  last  few  months  of  the  war,  and  who  is  as  gallant  a 
man  as  ever  drew  a  blade,  and  who  is  entitled  to  the  fullest 


Thirtieth  Regiment.  505 

credit  for  any  statement  lie  may  make,  writes :  "I  have  seen 
several  pieces  in  the  papers  about  the  last  guns  fired  at  the 
surrender. 

"I  remember  that  at  Raleigh  during  the  session  of  the  Leg- 
islature right  after  the  vi^ar,  Governor  Vance  delivered  his  lec- 
ture 'AH  About  It/  and  stated  that  Grimes'  Division  fired  the 
last  gun.  General  Grimes  was  present,  also  General  Oox.  I 
was  seated  between  them.  General  Oox  contended  that  it  was 
his  Brigade  that  had  the  honor,  and  asked  me  to  decide  the 
matter,  and  go  with  him  and  tell  Vance  to  correct  it.  I  told 
Cox  that  it  was  our  old  Regiment  and  Company  D  from 
Wake  that  fired  the  last  guns,  and  also  explained  the  same  to 
Vance.  His  reply  was  that  it  made  no  difference,  as  we  all 
belonged  to  Grimes'  Division.  General  Cox  wrote  a  long 
article  in  a  ISTorthem  paper  claiming  the  honor  for  his 
brigade,  sent  me  a  copy  and  said  it  looked  too  small  to  give 
the  credit  to  a  regiment  or  a  company,  though  the  fact  re- 
mains that  under  Cox's  order  to  take  my  regiment  and  sup- 
port a  battery  then  firing.  General  Cox  took  the  rest  of  the 
brigade  from  the  field  of  action  while  I  remained  and  fired  on 
the  enemy  advancing  in  my  front ;  they  halted  and  lay  down, 
and  immediately  another  line  advanced  on  my  flank,  when  I 
changed  front  and  fired  another  round,  the  enemy  halting 
and  laying  down  flat. 

"Neither  line  returned  my  fire.  Then  I  received  orders  to 
join  my  command.  I  think  the  Federals  were  informed  of 
the  surrender,  or  they  would  have  wiped  us  from  the  earth. 

"I  heard  the  late  D.  K.  IMacRae  in  his  lecture  during  the 
time  he  was  gathering  facts  for  President  Davis'  book,  give 
our  command  the  credit  of  the  last  fire." 

D  was  from  Wake  and  Granville.  Always  ready,  always 
willing  to  do  any  duty,  and  they  always  did  it  well. 

Fbancis  M.  Paekee. 

Enfibld,  N.  C., 

9  April,  1901. 


THIRTY-FIEST  REGIMENT. 

1.    J.  V.  Jordan,' Colonel.  3.    E.  K.  Bryan,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant 

^.    Daniel  G.  Fowle,  Lieut-Colonel.  4.    Geo.  F.  Darden,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  K. 

5.    Isaac  H.  Stegall,  1st  Sergeant,  Co.  A. 


THIRTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 


BY 

ADJUTANT  E,  K.  BRYAN  and 
SERGEANT  E.  H.  MEADOWS,  Co.  K. 


The  Thirty-first  Eegiment  was  organized  19  September, 
1861,  with  the  following  Meld,  Staff  and  Company  officers: 

J.  V.  JoEDAN,  Colonel,  Craven  County. 

Daniel  G.  Fowle,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Wake  County. 

Jesse  Johnston  Yates^  Major,  Hertford  County. 

Petee  Ctjstis^  Surgeon,  Craven  County. 

W.  J.  BusBEE,  Assistant  Surgeon,  Wake  County. 

And  the  following  Company  officers : 

Company  A — Oondery  Godwin,  Captain;  W.  H.  Hart- 
man,  First  Lieutenant;  Tiabon  Stegal,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Moore  J.  Seably,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  B — Edward  E.  Liles,  Captain;  J.  G.  Bradly, 
First  Lieutenant;  C.  B.  Lindsey,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Stephen  Crump,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  C — Andrew  W.  Betts,  Captain ;  Leinster  Utley, 
First  Lieutenant;  Thomas  H.  Wray,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Andrew  IST.  Betts,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  D — Langdon  Cheves  Manly,  Captain;  Henry 
B.  Jordan,  First  Lieutenant ;  Kuffin  L.  Bryant,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Joseph  W.  Holden,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  E — Jesse  Miller,  Captain;  John  W.  Hughes, 
First  Lieutenant;  John  H.  Berry,  Second  Lieutenant;  Jos. 
W.  Allison,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant 

Company  F — Chas.  W.  Knight,  Captain,  S.  J.  Latham, 
First  Lieutenant ;  S.  W.  Morrisett,  Second  Lieutenant ;  S.  A. 
Hyman,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  G — Julian  Picot,  Captain;  Isaac  Pipkin,  First 
Lieutenant;  John  A.  Slaughter,  Second  Lieutenant;  S.  B. 
Pool,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 


508  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Company  H — Willie  D.  Jones,  Captain ;  Fabius  H.  Perry, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Walter  Debnam,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Wil- 
liam Pulley,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  I — John  A.  D.  McKay,  Captain ;  Cornelius  H. 
Coffield,  First  Lieutenant ;  William  A.  Pierce,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant; William  Pearspn,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  K — Joseph  Whitty,  Captain;  E.  J.  Bowen, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Thos.  H.  Gaskins,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Jos. 
D.  Ballinger,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

As  thus  organized,  the  command  proceeded  to  Roanoke 
Island,  N.  C,  arriving  there  on  12  December,  1861.  On 
21  December  that  part  of  North  Carolina  east  of  Chowan 
river,  together  with  the  counties  of  Washington  and  Tyrrell, 
was,  at  the  request  of  the  proper  authorities  of  North  Caro- 
lina, constituted  into  a  Military  District  under  Brigadier- 
General  H.  A.  Wise,  and  attached  to  the  command  of  Major- 
General  Huger,  commanding  the  Department  of  Norfolk. 
The  military  defence  of  Eoanoke  Island,  and  its  adjacent 
waters,  consisted  of  Fort  Bartow,  the  most  southern  of  the  de- 
fences on  the  west  side  of  the  island,  a  sand  fort  well  covered 
with  turf,  having  nine  21-pound  guns  mounted  and 
Fort  Blanchard,  on  the  same  side  of  the  island,  two  and  a 
half  miles  distant  from  Fort  Bartow,  a  semi-circular  sand 
fort,  turfed  and  mounting  four  32-pound  guns ;  on  same  side 
and  about  1,200  yards  from  Fort  Blanchard  was  Fort  Huger, 
a  turfed  sand  fort,  running  along  the  line  of  the  beach  and 
closed  in  the  rear  by  low  breastworks,  it  mounted  eight  32- 
pound  guns  and  two  rifle  32-pound  en  barbette,  and  two 
small  32-pound  en  barbette  on  the  right.  About  three  miles 
from  fort  Bartow  on  the  east  side  of  the  island  was  a  battery 
of  two  32-poimd  guns,  at  Midyett's  Hammocks,  in  the  centre 
of  the  island.  About  three  miles  from  Fort  Bartow  and  one 
mile  from  Midyett's  Hammocks  was  a  redoubt,  or  breastwork, 
thrown  across  the  road — 70  or  80  feet  long  with  embrasures 
for  three  guns,  on  the  right  of  which  there  was  a  swamp  and 
on  the  left  a  marsh,  the  redoubt  reaching  nearly  between 
them  and  facing  to  the  north.  On  the  Tyrrell  side,  on  the 
main  land,  nearly  opposite  Fort  Huger,  was  Fort  Forrest, 
mounting  seven  32-pound  guns. 


Thirty-First  Regiment.  509 

In  addition  to  these  defences  on  the  shore,  and  on  the 
island,  there  was  a  barrier  of  piles,  extending  from  the  east 
side  of  Fulker  Shoals,  towards  the  island,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  compel  vessels  passing  on  the  west  side  of  the  island  to 
approach  within  reach  of  the  batteries,  but  up  to  8  February, 
there  was  a  span  of  1,700  yards  open  opposite  Fort  Bartow. 
Some  vessels  had  been  sunk,  and  piles  driven  on  the  west 
side  of  Fulker  Shoals,  to  obstruct  the  channel  between  that 
shoal  and  the  main  land.  The  above  composed  all  the  de- 
fences, either  upon  the  land  or  water  adjacent.  See  Map, 
Vol.  I,  page  390,  of  this  work. 

The  entire  military  force  stationed  on  the  island  prior  to, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  engagement,  consisted  of  the  Eighth 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  State  Troops,  under  command  of 
Colonel  H.  M.  Shaw,  a  most  gifted  and  gallant  officer.  The 
Thirty-first  Regiment  of  North  Carolina  Volunteers,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  J.  V.  Jordan,  known  as  a  faithful  officer 
and  fine  disciplinarian.  Also  three  companies  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Regiment  North  Carolina  Troops,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  G.  H.  Hill.  After  manning  the  forts  we  had 
only  about  800  effective  men  for  duty.  The  entire  command 
under  Brigadier-General  Wise,  who  upon  7  and  8  February, 
was  at  Nag's  Head,  four  miles  distant  from  the  island,  con- 
fined to  a  sick  bed  and  entirely  disabled  from  participating  in 
the  battle  which  was  imminent.  The  immediate  command, 
therefore,  devolved  on  Colonel  Shaw.  On  the  night  of  6 
February,  a  detachment  of  artillery  was  sent  to  Ashby  Land- 
ing and  the  remainder  of  the  forces  were  stationed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ashby.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  enemy's 
fleet  passed  by  both  of  the  landings,  and  proceeded  toward 
Fort  Baxtow,  and  a  detachment  of  infantry  stationed  at 
Pughs,  immediately  fell  back  to  the  vicinity  of  Ashby  land- 
ing and  joined  the  detachment  then  all  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  J.  V.  Jordan. 

In  the  Sound  between  Roanoke  Island  and  the  main  land, 
upon  the  Tyrrell  side.  Commodore  Lynch,  with  a  squadron 
of  seven  vessels,  had  taken  position,  and  at  11  o'clock  the 
enemy's  fleet,  consisting  of  about  thirty  gun-boats  and  schoon- 
ers, advanced  in  ten  divisions.     The  advance  and  attacking 


510  North  Caeolina  Teoops,  1861-65. 

divisions,  again  sub-divided,  one  assailing  Lynch's  squadron 
and  the  other  firing  upon  the  fort,  with  9,  10  and  11-inch 
shell,  spherical  case,  a  few  round  shot  and  every  variety  of 
rifled  projectiles.  The  fort  replied  with  but  four  guns, 
which  were  all  that  coxild  be  brought  to  bear.  After  the  fore- 
most vessel  was  struck  several  times,  the  fleet  fell  back  so  as 
to  mask  one  of  the  guns  of  the  fort,  leaving  only  three  to  reply 
to  the  fire  of  the  whole  fleet.  The  bombardment  was  con- 
tinued throughout  the  day  and  the  enemy  retired  at  dark. 
Lynch's  squadron  sustained  the  position  most  gallantly,  and 
only  retired  after  exhausting  all  their  ammunition  and 
having  lost  the  steamer  Curlew,  and  the  Forrest  disabled. 
Fort  Bartow  sustained  serious  damage  from  the  fleet,  but  the 
injuries  were  partially  repaired  by  the  next  morning.  About 
3 :30  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  7th,  the  enemy  sent  from 
transports  about  twenty-five  men  in  a  launch,  apparently  to 
take  soundings,  who  being  fired  upon  retreated,  whereupon 
two  large  steamers  having  in  tow  each  thirty  boats  filled  with 
troops,  approached  the  island  under  protection  of  their  gun- 
boats, at  a  point  north  of  Ashby's  Landing,  known  as  Hay- 
mond's,  and  effected  a  landing ;  the  point  selected  was  out  of 
reach  of  our  field  pieces  at  Ashby,  and  also  defended  by  a 
swamp  from  the  advance  of  our  infantry  and  under  cover  of 
shot  and  shell  from  the  vessels.  Our  whole  force  then  with- 
drew to  the  redoubt  or  breastworks,  and  placed  in  battery 
three  field  pieces,  under  command  of  Captain  Schimmer- 
horn,  and  Lieutenants  Kinney  and  Seldon.  Two  companies 
each  from  the  Eighth  and  Thirty-first  North  Carolina  Reg- 
iments supported  this  battery. 

Three  companies  of  Wise's  Legion  were  deployed  as  skir- 
mishers, the  remainder  of  the  infantry  about  three  hundred 
yards  in  rear  of  the  redoubts  as  a  reserve.  The  enemy  landed 
some  15,000  men  with  artillery,  and  at  T  o'clock  a.  m.  on  the 
8th,  opened  fire  upon  the  redoubt,  which  we  replied  to  im- 
mediately with  great  spirit,  and  the  action  soon  became  gen- 
eral, continuing  without  interruption  for  five  hours,  when 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  flanking  each  wing  of  our  forces. 

The  order  was  given  by  Colonel  Shaw  to  spike  the  guns 
of  the  battery  and  retire  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island; 


Thirty-First  Regiment.  511 

this  movement  necessitating  the  abandonment  of  Forts  Bar- 
tow, Blanchard  and  Huger,  after  destroying  ammunition,  and 
disabling  the  guns.  The  enemy  now  taking  possession  of  the 
redoubts  and  forts  and  pursuing  our  troops  to  the  northern 
end  of  the  island,  deployed  so  as  to  surround  our  small  force. 

Colonel  Shaw  finding  himself  surrounded  by  this  greatly 
superior  force,  had  either  to  make  an  idle  display  of  courage 
in  fighting  at  such  an  immense  disadvantage,  or  to  capitulate 
and  surrender  as  prisoners  of  war.  He  wisely  determined 
upon  the  latter  course.  Our  loss,  killed,  wounded  and  miss- 
ing, was  285.  We  were  paroled  by  the  enemy.  The  term  of 
enlistment  expired  about  September,  1862,  and  about  this 
time  we  were  exchanged. 

The  regiment  was  reorganized  at  Camp  Mangum,  near 
Ealeigh,  N.  C,  18  September,  1862,  with  the  following  Field 
and  Staff  officers: 

J.  V.  JoEDAN,  Colonel. 

E.  E.  LiLES,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

J.  A.  D.  McKay,  Major. 

W.  H.  Battle,  Surgeon. 

W.  J.  Btjsbee,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

W.  E.  Pool,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

W.  E.  Hughes,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

E.  K.  Bbyan,  Adjutant. 

John  Giriojsr,  Sergeant-Major. 

C.  B.  Beale,  Sergeant-Major. 

John  J.  Cox,  Quartermaster. 

J.  B.  LiNDSEY,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

C.  H.  EoBiNsoN,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

C.  C.  Claek,  a.  C.  S. 

H.  B.  Lane,  A.  C.  S. 

E.  H.  Meadows  was  Commissary  Sergeant  after  the  resign 
nation  of  C.  C.  Clark,  and  afterwards  was  an  assistant  to 
Major  Gage,  Brigade  Commissary  of  Subsistence. 

It  will  be  understood  that  these  officers  served  at  different 
periods  of  the  regiment's  history,  which  is  also  the  case  with 
the  company  officers,  whose  names  will  follow,  frequent  pro- 


512  North  CARquNA  Troops,  1861-65. 

motions  and  resignations  rendering  it  very  difficult  to  note 
the  particular  dates  of  each  commission : 

CoMPAKTY  A — ^W.  H.  Hartman,  Captain ;  Samuel  P.  Col- 
lins, Captain ;  Samuel  P.  Collins,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  A. 
Forte,  First  Lieutenant;  W.  H.  Freeman,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant; John  L.  Forte,  Second  Lieutenant;  George  W.  Thomp- 
son, Second  Lieutenant ;  John  C.  Barnes,  Second  Lieaitenant. 

Company  B — Chas.  B.  Lindsey,  Captain ;  Jas.  Y.  Bradley, 
Captain;  E.  H.  Streeter,  First  Lieutenant;  M.  T.  Ballard, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Junius  A.  Liles,  Second  Lieutenant ;  J. 
B.  Sidney,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  C — W.  J.  Long,  Captain ;  Thos.  H.  Wray,  First 
Lieutenant;  J.  C.  Williams,  Second  Lieutenant;  Thos.  H. 
Goodwin,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  D — Puffin  L.  Bryant,  Captain;  Benj.  Walton, 
First  Lieutenant;  S.  H.  Bryan,  Second  Lieutenant;  W.  G. 
Williams,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  E — J.  F.  Allison,  Captain;  John  BL.  Hughes, 
First  Lieutenant;  John  H.  Berry,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Joseph  W.  Allison,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  F — Stephen  W.  Morrisett,  Captain ;  Samuel  A. 
Hyman,  First  Lieutenant ;  Jos.  T.  Waldo,  First  Lieutenant ; 
Arthur  B.  Knight,  Second  Lieutenant;  Julius  Perkins,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant. 

Company  G — Julian  Picot,  Captain;  Isaac  Pipkin,  Cap- 
tain ;  Simeon  B.  Pool,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  D.  Gatlin,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant ;  John  L.  Everett,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  H — James  E.  Todd,  Captain;  John  W.  Smith, 
Captain;  John  W.  Smith,  First  Lieutenant;  Robert  W.  Deb- 
nam.  Second  Lieutenant ;  A.  V.  Horton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  I — Allen  B.  Parker,  Captain ;  William  A.  Du- 
van.  Captain ;  W.  A.  Prince,  First  Lieutenant ;  Wm.  Pearson, 
First  Lieutenant;  E.  H.  Williams,  First  Lieutenant;  Wil- 
liam 0.  Tutor,  Second  Lieutenant;  Allen  B.  Parker,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant ;  Daniel  McL.  Jones ;  Second  Lieutenant ;  W. 
J.  Bother,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  K — Jos.  Whitty,  Captain;  E.  J.  Bowen,  First 
Lieutenant;  George  F.  Darden,  Second  Lieutenant;  Wm.  E. 
Gardner,  Second  Lieutenant. 


Thirty-First  Regiment.  513 

After  remaining  several  weeks  in  camp  of  instruction  at 
Camp  Mangiim,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Kinston,  JST.  C, 
about  14  December,  1862,  and  with  the  Eighth  NortJi  Caro- 
lina and  Colonel  Pool's  Regiment  and  Colonel  Nethercut's 
Regiment,  Starr's  and  Badham's  ArtiUery,  proceeded  towards 
New  Bern  to  make  a  feint  in  order  to  attract  the  enemy,  who 
were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Railroad, 
near  Tarboro,  N.  C.  We  proceeded  as  far  as  Deep  Gully  and 
drove  in  the  enemy's  pickets,  they  making  a  feeble  resistance. 
Colonel  H.  M.  Shaw  commanded  the  expedition.  The  en- 
emy covered  their  retreat  by  destroying  the  bridge  at  Deep 
Gully  (seven  miles  from  New  Bern)  which  prevented  our 
further  pursuit;  we  had  accomplished  the  purpose  intended. 
The  regiment  then  marched  to  Greenville,  where  it  remained 
about  twenty-four  hours,  finding  no  enemy  in  our  front, 
marched  back  to  Kinston,  N.  C,  where  we  went  into  camp. 
The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to  Wilmington,  N.  C,  after 
remaining  there  some  days,  we  were  ordered  to  White  Hall, 
on  ISTeuse  river,  IST.  C,  and  participated  in  the  battle  which 
took  place  there  on  16  December,  1862.  In  that  engagement 
a  portion  of  the  regiment  was  withdrawn  under  fire  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Liles  without  orders.  But  at  that  tim.e  we 
were  not  yet  well  under  discipline,  and  ofiicers  sometimes 
acted  independently.  After  the  engagement  we  were  or- 
dered to  Wilmington;  about  this  time  (date  not  exactly  re- 
membered) this  regiment,  together  with  the  Eighth,  Fifty- 
first  and  Sixty-first,  was  formed  into  a  brigade,  commanded 
by  General  Thomas  L.  Clingman,  Statesman  and  Soldier, 
than  whom  a  more  fearless  and  gallant  soldier  never  drew 
sword.  We  were  then  sent  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  partic- 
ipating in  the  various  attacks  on  James  Island  and  doing 
heavy  picket  duty  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  We 
were  then  ordered  to  Savannah,  remaining  there  a  few  days, 
during  which  time  the  attack  on  Fort  McAllister  was  made ; 
this  regiment  acting  as  a  reserve,  in  rear  of  the  fort ;  after  an 
unsuccessful  attempt  by  the  enemy  they  withdrew,  having 
accomplished  nothing. 

The  regiment  was  now  moved  to  James  Island  again,  the 
33 


614  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

health  of  the  conmiand  was  such,  many  being  stricken  down 
with  a  virulent  type  of  fever,  that  it  was  considered  necessary 
to  change  the  encampment  and  we  moved  to  Mount  Pleasant, 
opposite  Charleston,  from  which  place  we  patrolled  and 
picketed  the  Sullivan  Island  Beach,  and  were  frequently  de- 
tailed as  a  part  of  the  garrison  at  Battery  Wagner,  on  Mor- 
ris Island,  against  which  the  most  determined  efforts  of  the 
enemy  were  now  directed.  This  regiment  was  about  this 
time  ordered  to  report  to  General  Hood  at  ISTashville,  Ten- 
nessee, but  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  we  were  then 
ordered  to  Virginia,  but  proceeding  as  far  as  Wilmington 
that  order  was  countermanded. 

After  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington  a  few  days,  we 
were  returned  to  Charleston,  and  on  18  July,  were  a  portion 
of  the  gallant  garrison  which  defended  Battery  Wagner  from 
the  assault  of  the  entire  Yankee  force  on  the  Island,  said  to 
be  9,000  men,  our  force;  amounted  to  about  1,600  men.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war,  taking 
into  consideration  the  disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  advant  ■ 
age  of  the  enemy  with  their  fleet,  consisting  of  iron-clad 
vessels,  monitors-  and  mortar  fleet,  as  well  as  land  batteries  of 
heavy  rifled  guns,  which  opened  bombardment  on  the  fort  at 
early  morning  and  kept  it  up  continuously  until  after  dark, 
at  which  time,  by  a  signal  of  a  rocket  thrown  up  from  the 
shipping,  the  cannonading  ceased,  and  the  infantry  front 
line  consisting  of  3,000  men,  made  the  assault.  The  reserve 
of  6,000  did  not  sustain  it,  seeing  their  comrades  thickly 
strewn  over  the  plains  dead  and  dying,  they  faltered  and 
could  not  be  gotten  to  the  front.  The  number  killed  and 
wounded  on  our  side  was  small,  as  we  were  protected  by 
breastworks,  the  enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy,  figures  not  re- 
membered, more  than  300  prisoners  were  taken.  The  next 
morning  the  enemy  sent  in  flags  of  truce  from  their  army 
and  navy,  and  asked  to  bury  their  dead  and  care  for  their 
wounded,  which  was  accorded  by  General  Beauregard,  the 
truce  to  last  until  4  o'clock  p.  m. 

The  picket  line,  as  originally  held  by  us,  was  occupied  at 
cessation  of  the  truce.  We  were  relieved  from  garrison  duty 
at  Battery  Wagner  on  the  night  of  the  19th  and  returned  to 


Thirty- First  Regiment.  515 

Sullivan's  Island,  remaining  on  picket  duty  there  until  the 
winter  of  1863,  when  we  were  ordered  to  Virginia,  forming 
a  portion  of  General  R.  F.  Hoke's  division,  encamped  at  Jor- 
dan Farm,  near  Petersburg.  From  Petersburg  we  were 
ordered  to  Ivor  Station  near  the  Blackwater  river,  where  we 
remained  until  tlie  campaign  of  1864.  During  our  stay  there 
the  enemy  ascended  with  the  steamer  Smith  Briggs  up  to 
Smithfield,  Isle-of-Wight  County,  Virginia,  and  landed  a 
marauding  expedition,  composed  of  150  infantry,  25  cavalry 
and  two  mountain  howitzers.  Four  companies  of  the  Thirty- 
first  Regiment,  commanded  by  Captain  Pipkin,  one  section 
of  Sturtevant's  Battery,  and  one  squadron  of  cavalry  went  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  arriving  just  in  time  to  head  them  off 
from  the  steamer,  which  was  waiting  for  them.  We  had  a 
sharp  fight  through  the  woods  and  through  the  streets  of  the 
town.  The  enemy  were  in  a  full  run  for  their  boat,  but  too 
late.  Captain  Sturtevant,  by  a  well  directed  shot  (the  second 
shot  from  one  of  his  pieces)  sent  a  round  shot  through  the 
steamer's  steam  chest,  which  disabled  her,  and  at  once  the 
white  flag  was  run  up  by  the  steamer  and  the  entire  expedi- 
tion captured  and  the  steamer  (General  Butler's  flagship) 
was  burned.  It  was  told  us  by  the  prisoners  we  took  that 
only  one  man  escaped,  and  that  was  Captain  Lee,  the  com- 
mander of  the  expedition.  He  swam  to  the  marsh  and 
jsecreted  himself,  thus  making  his  escape  (it  was  said  with  a 
bullet  wound  in  his  arm).  This  was  the  most  complete  vic- 
tory of  its  size  and  importance  that  ever  crowned  the  efforts 
of  any  troops.  After  which  we  rejoined  the  brigade  at  Peters- 
burg, doing  picket  duty  at  City  Point,  when  we  were  ordered 
to  Drewry's  Bluff  and  participated  in  that  battle,  occupying 
the  right  centre  of  the  line,  with  balance  of  Hoke's  Divis- 
ion. This  battle  was  not  unlike  the  battle  of  Inkemaan  with 
respect  to  the  severity  of  the  action,  the  great  slaughter,  and 
the  murkiness  and  cloudiness  of  the  day,  these  conditions 
rendering  it  difficult  at  times  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe. 
It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  President  Davis,  alluding  to 
the  charge  of  the  Thirty-first  and  Fifty-first  Regiments  on 
that  occasion,  remarked  that  it  was  the  most  gallant  charge 
he  ever  vyitnessed.     A  distinguished  writer  to  the  editor  of  a 


516  North  Carolina  Troops,  186l-'65. 

Eichmond  paper  of  that  date,  says  "the  charge  made  by  the 
Thirty-first  and  Fifty-first  Regiments  on  the  enemy's  lines, 
was  most  gallantly  made,  eliciting  high  compliments  from 
both  Generals  Hoke  and  Clingman."  From  Drewry's  Bluff 
the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  were  still  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Butler,  was  continued  t6  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  we 
threw  up  an  entrenched  line  of  works,  occupying  them  until 
30  May,  1864;  picket  fighting  and  the  frequent  repulse  of 
assaults  on  our  lines  were  the  order  of  the  days  and  nights. 
On  the  morning  of  the  31st  we  took  the  cars  for  the  battlefield 
of  Cold  Harbor,  where  we  arrived  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
day,  and  were  thrown  out  as  a  reserve  for  some  cavalry  skir- 
mishers (Stuart's  dismounted),  who  were  engaged  with  the 
enemy's  infantry,  our  cavalry  line  being  greatly  outnum- 
bered, retired,  forced  by  the  enemy,  who  pursued  them  until 
coming  within  rifle  range  of  our  men  who,  by  well  directed 
shots,  retarded  their  advance  in  our  front;  but  we  having  so 
short  a  line  (only  600  or  YOO  men),  were  soon  flanked  on 
our  right,  the  enemy's  skirmishers  lapping  entirely  across  our 
front  and  rear.  Under  this  enfilade  fire  we  retired  to  a  point 
about  one  mile  to  our  rear,  and  threw  up  such  hasty  breast- 
works during  the  night  as  could  be  done  with  the  poor  facili- 
ties at  hand.  They  were  made  mostly  with  the  aid  of  bayo- 
nets, tin  plates,  etc.  This  was  to  be  the  attacking  point  of 
the  memorable  and  bloody  battle  of  the  second  Cold  Harbor, 
known  in  history  as  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  conflicts  of 
the  war. 

The  attack  was  made  on  Clingman's  Brigade,  of  Hoke's 
Division,  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  1  June,  1864.  The  enemy 
advanced  not  only  in  line  of  battle,  but  on  our  left  wing  in 
heavy  column,  masked  by  the  line  of  battle  in  front..  This 
attack  was  signally  and  repeatedly  repulsed  with  great  loss 
to  the  enemy,  in  the  entire  front  of  our  (Clingman's)  Brig- 
ade. On  the  left  flank  of  the  brigade  was  the  Eighth,  then 
Fifty-first  Eegiment,  then  Thirty-first  Regiment  and  Sixty- 
first  from  left  to  right,  as  designated;  the  heaviest  attack 
was  on  our  left,  where  the  enemy  attacked  in  cohimn.  There 
was  an  interval  between  our  brigade  and  a  brigade  on  our 
left,  in  consequence  of  a  swamp  intervening  between  the  two, 


Thirty-First  Regiment.  517 

which  was  considered  impassable,  therefore  not  protected 
by  breastworks  or  troops;  in  this  interval  the  enemy's  heavy 
columns  pressed  forward  and  effected  a  lodgment,  which  then 
enfilading  our  line,  compelled  the  Eighth  and. Fifty-first  Reg- 
iments to  fall  back. 

They  were,  however,  quickly  formed  in  line  of  battle  par- 
allel to  the  original  one,  with  the  Thirty-first  and  Sixty- 
first  Raiments,  which  had  repelled  all  the  enemy  in  their 
front.  The  brigade  was  under  a  constant  fire  from  the  enemy 
while  being  thus  formed  in  a  new  line  of  battle  across  the 
open  field,  parallel  to  the  original  line.  While  it  was  so  doing 
the  Twenty-seventh  Georgia  Regiment,  of  General  Colquitt's 
Brigade,  came  up  from  our  right  and  handsomely  advanced 
with  us ;  the  enemy  were  then,  after  a  hard  struggle,  driven 
back  and  the  whole  of  our  original  line  was  re-occupied,  but 
the  position  on  our  left  (the  interval)  remained  in  possession 
of  the  enemy  without  any  attempt  to  retake  it.  General 
Clingman,  in  a  report  dated  5  June,  1864,  says  that  his 
brigade  lost  in  battle,  within  a  period  of  three  weeks  next 
preceding  that  date,  1,172  men. 

The  following  is  taken  from  (Cold  Harbor,  1  June,  1864) 
Jefferson  Davis'  History  of  Confederate  States,  p.  400 : 

"The  carnage  on  the  Federal  side,"  writes  General  Taylor, 
"was  fearful.  I  well  recall  having  received  a  report  from 
General  Hoke  after  the  assault.  His  Division  (our  Division) 
reached  the  army  just  previous  to  the  battle.  The  ground  in 
his  entire  front,  over  which  the  enemy  had  charged,  was  lit- 
erally covered  with  their  dead  and  wounded,  and  up  to  that 
time  Hoke  had  not  had  a  single  man  killed.  ITo  wonder  that 
when  the  command  was  given  to  renew  the  assault,  the  Fed- 
eral soldiers  sullenly  and  silently  declined.  The  order  was 
issued  through  the  officers  to  their  subordinate  commanders, 
and  from  them  through  the  wonted  channels ;  but  no  man 
stirred,  the  immobile  lines  thiis  pronouncing  a  verdict,  silent, 
yet  emphatic,  against  further  slaughter. 

"The  loss  on  the  Union  side  in  this  sanguinary  action  was 
over  13,000,  while  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates  it  is  doubt- 
ful whether  it  reached  that  many  hundred.  General  Grant 
asked  for  a  truce  to  bury  his  dead,  after  which  he  abandoned 


518     North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

his  chosen  line  of  operation,  and  moved  his  army  so  as  to 
secure  a  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  James  river." 

General  Clingman's  entire  staff  were  either  killed  or 
wounded  during  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  and  the  writers 
were  both  wounded;  Adjutant  Bryan,  while  acting  on  the 
staff  of  General  Clingman,  conveying  orders  on  the  field, 
which  rendered  him  unfit  for  duty  several  months,  and  Ser- 
geant E.  H.  Meadows,  commanding  his  company,  very  seri- 
ously, incapacitating  him  for  further  active  military  duty, 
(Lieutenant  G.  F.  Darden,  who  had  been  in  command  of  his 
company,  having  been  wounded  the  day  previous. ) 

The  regiment  was  now  ordered  into  the  trenches  at  Peters- 
burg,  and  participated  in  all  the  hard  fought  battles  in  that 
vicinity.  In  the  battle  of  Fort  Harrison,  one  of  the  severest 
actions  occurring  on  that  front,  Clingman's  Brigade,  and  par- 
ticularly the  Thirty-first  Regiment,  suffered  terribly,  so  that 
when  one  of  the  writers,  Adjutaxit  Bryan,  returned  to  the 
Regiment  only  a  few  days  after  this  battle  (date  not  remem- 
bered) he  found  the  entire  Regiment  consisted' of  only  about 
sixty  men,  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  Williams,  the 
ranking  officer  present.  The  command  was  ordered  to  Wil- 
mington to  participate  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Fisher  13  Jan- 
uary, 1865.  They  took  no  part  in  the  action,  however,  as 
General  Bragg  and  General  Hoke  concluded  that  the  situa- 
tion was  extremely  hazardous,  as  the  enemy  had  already 
landed  and  thrown  up  works  entirely  across  the  peninsula, 
which  were  manned  by  heavy  lines  of  infantry,  which,  to- 
gether with  their  navy,  which  covild  sweep  the  beach  with  can- 
ister and  grape  at  short  range,  would  in  all  probability  have 
virtually  annihilated  the  division.  We  fell  back  to  Sugar  Loaf 
and  engaged  the  enemy  as  they  advanced,  checking  them,  and 
afterwards  falling  back  to  Wilmington  and  through  the  city 
to  the  Northeast  branch  of  the  Cape  Fear,  which  we  crossed 
on  pontoons,  the  advance  of  the  enemy  arriving  at  the  south 
bank  just  as  our  last  troops  had  gotten  across  the  river,  and 
our  pontoons  cut  loose. 

We  now  marched  to  Goldsboro  and  Smithfield,  where  we 
waited  the  advance  of  Sherman  from  Fayetteville.  The 
clash  of  arms  came  now  again  at  Bentonville,    N.    C,    19 


Thiety-Fibst  Regiment.  519 

March,  1865.  For  two  days  General  Johnston  held  in  check 
Sherman's  70,000  men,  with  not  more  than  20,000  of  all 
arms.  After  two  days'  successful  resistance  Johnston,  find- 
ing the  Federals  in  overwhelming  force  concentrated  on  three 
sides  of  him,  withdrew  that  night  towards  Ealeigh.  The  re- 
treat was  continued  to  High  Point,  N.  C,  and  at  the  quiet  lit- 
tle village  of  Bush  Hill,  ahout  two  miles  from  High  Point, 
the  command  was  surrendered  to  General  Sherman,  our 
paroles  being  dated  1  May,  1865. 

E.  K.  Beyan, 
E.   H.   Meadows. 
New  Been,  N    C, 

9  April,  1901. 

Since  completing  the  sketch  of  the  Thirty-first  Regiment, 
my  attention-  has  been  called  to  the  following  item  taken  from 
Vol.  125,  "Rebellion  Records."  At  page  815  to  818,  is  a 
list  of  medals  given  for  capturing  flags  belonging  to  Confeder- 
ate regiments.  Among  other  North  Carolina  regiments  is  the 
following:  "Sergeant  Joseph  B.  Kemp,  Company  D,  Fifth 
Michigan,  captured  the  flag  of  the  Thirty-first  North  Carolina 
Regiment — tearing  it  from  its  staff,  which  was  retained  by 
the  color-bearer,  at  the  Wilderness  6  May,  1864." 

Now  this  statement  is  utterly  untrue  from  beginning  to 
end — it  being  a  physical  impossibility  to  capture  the  flag  of 
a  regiment  which  was  not  in  the  battle,  and  which  was  at  the 
time  of  said  battle,  for  some  weeks,  both  before  and  after  said 
battle,  several  hundred  miles  distant.  At  the  time  of  this 
battle  the  Thirty-first  regiment  was  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
Va.,  where  it  remained  until  Butler  advanced  from  Bermuda 
Hundred  in  his  "on  to  Richmond."  The  Thirty-flrst  Regi- 
ment, together  with  our  entire  brigade,  met  Butler's  forces 
in  the  general  fight  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  utterly  routed  him 
and  drove  him  back  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  all  of  which  is  well 
known  as  a  matter  of  history.  Butler  telegraphed  on  7  May 
that  he  had  destroyed  many  miles  of  railroad  (President 
Davis'  History,  page  389).  So  this  is  conclusive,  as  our'regi- 
ment  was  left  by  Gen.  Clingman  to  guard  Petersburg  while 
the  balance  of  the  brigade  were  with  General  Hoke  near  New 


520  JSToETH  Caeoliita  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

Bern,  and  our  regiment  (the  Thirty-first)  only  left  that 
neighbourhood  when  General  Hoke  was  recalled  to  meet  But- 
ler's forces  in  their  effort  to  reach  Richmond.  It  would  be 
well  for  Sergeant  Joseph  B.  Kemp,  Company  D,  Fifth  Mich- 
igan, to  be  more  careful  as  to  his  claims. 

Our  flag  was  surrendered  with  the  Regiment  at  Bush  Hill, 
N.  C,  1  May,  1865. 

E.  K.  Betaw. 


THIRTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

1.    E.  C.  Brabble,  Colonel.  3.    W.  L.  London,  Captain,  Co.  I. 

3.    Wm.  H.  Battle,  Surgeon.  4.    Calvin  A.  Little,  Corporal,  Co.  E. 

5.    H.  A.  London,  Courier,  Co.  I. 


THIRTT-SECOfID  REGIMENT. 


By  henry  a.  LONDON,  Private  Company  I. 


The  Companies  composing  the  Thirty-second  Eegiment  of 
North  Carolina  troops  were  organized  in  the  following 
counties : 

Company  A,  in  Tyrrell. 
Company  B,  in  Camden. 
Company  C,  in  Northampton. 
Company  D,  in  Northampton. 
Company  E,  in  Catawba. 
Company  F,  in  Catawba. 
Company  G,  in  Bertie. 
Company  H,  in  Nash. 
Company  I,  in  Chatham. 
Company  K,  in  Franklin. 

Although  this  regiment  was  not  organized  until  the  year 
1862,  yet  every  company  in  it  had  volunteered  in  1861  and 
had  been  in  active  service  for  nearly  a  year.  For  instance, 
Companies  I  and  K  had  been  organized  in  the  Spring  of 
1861,  as  soon  as  the  first  call  for  vohmteers  had  been  made 
by  Governor  Ellis,  and  were  attached  to  the  Fifteenth  Eegi- 
ment from  which  they  were  transferred  in  July,  1862,  to  the 
Thirty-second  Eegiment.  While  attached  to  the  Fifteenth 
Eegiment  these  two  companies  participated  in  Magruder's 
Peninsula  campaign,  and  in  the  battles  around  Eichmond, 
in  which  they  suffered  heavy  losses.  The  other  companies 
had  at  first  been  attached  to  other  commands,  but  in  the  Fall 
of  1861,  six  of  these  companies  were  organized  into  the  "First 
Battalion  of  North  Carolina  Volunteers,"  with  Captain  Wil- 
liam T.  Williams,  of  Nash,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Cap- 
tain E.  C.  Brabble,  of  Tyrrell,  as  Major.  This  battalion 
was  stationed  near  Portsmouth  for  several  months,  and  in 


622  ]Sr,OETH  Caeolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

February,  1862,  was  ordered  to  Murfreesboro  and  i^ther 
places  in  the  eastern  part  of  North  Carolina,  where  it  re-- 
mained  until  May,  when  it  returned  to  "Virginia.  After  its 
return  to  Virginia  the  battalion  was  stationed  at  Suffolk, 
Petersburg  and  Drewry's  Bluff,  at  the  latter  place  remaining 
several  weeks  in  the  summer  of  1862.  While  there  the  com- 
panies composing  this  battalion,  with  the  others  above  named, 
were  organized  into  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  with  E.  0. 
Brabble  as  Colonel,  William  T.  Williams,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  D.  G.  Cowand,  of  Company  A,  as  Major.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Williams,  a  few  months  thereafter,  resigned  and, 
Major  Cowand  succeeding  him,  Henry  Gr.  Lewis,  also  of 
Company  A,  became  Major.  And  at  one  time  the  singular 
coincidence  occurred  (probably  not  in  any  other  regiment  in 
either  the  Confederate  or  Union  army)  of  every  field  officer 
and  every  staff  officer  of  this  regiment — from  Colonel  Brab- 
ble to  Sergeant-Major  Hardison — all  being  selected  from  the 
same  company.  And  again  it  was  another  singular  coinci-^ 
dence  that  all  these  officers  were  members  of  the  same  (Epis- 
copal) Church,  and  to  their  credit  be  it  recorded  that  with 
one  exception,  not  one  of  them  ever  tasted  spirituous  liquors. 
Probably  no  regiment  in  the  Confederate  service  was  more 
fortunate  in  its  field  and  staff  officers,  and  the  influence  and 
example  of  such  sober,  moral  and  religious  officers  had  a  most 
salutary  and  beneficial  effect  upon  the  whole  regiment,  both 
in  camp  and  in  battle.  Colonel  Brabble  was  a  strict  disci- 
plinarian, yet  humane  and  very  considerate  of  the  comfort  of 
his  men,  so  that  they  all  implicitly  obeyed  his  orders  and  had 
Qntire  confidence  in  him,  and  in  the  midst  of  battle  were  un- 
der perfect  control.  After  his  untimely  death  (he  was  killed 
at  Spottsylvania  in  May,  1864)  he  was  succeeded  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Cowand,  who  was  as  modest  and  gentle  as  a 
m.aiden  and  yet  as  brave  as  the  bravest — the  model  of  a  Chris- 
tian soldier.  For  the  last  six  months  of  the  war  Colonel  Cow- 
and commanded  the  brigade,  to  which  the  Thirty-second  Reg- 
iment belonged,  and  the  regiment  was  without  a  field  officer, 
for  Major  Lewis  had  been  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettys- 
burg and  was  not  released  until  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  first  Adjutant  of  the  regiment  was  Dr.  R.  H.  Parker, 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  523 

who  was  made  Assistant  Surgeon  in  1863,  and  Sergeant 
Francis  A.  Boyle,  of  Company  A,  was  promoted  to  fill  tlie 
vacancy. 

The  brigade  to  which  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  was  at- 
tached was  commanded  by  General  Junius  Daniel,  who  un- 
doubtedly was  one  of  the  very  best  of  Lee's  Brigadiers.  The 
other  regiments  of  this  brigade  were  the  Forty-third,  the 
Forty-fifth,  the  Fifty-third  and  the  Second  ISTorth  Carolina 
Battalion,  and  this  brigade  remained  unchanged  throughout 
the  war,  and  was  as  fine  a  body  of  troops  as  ever  marched  to 
battle.  It  was  fortunate  in  its  commanders,  for  after  the 
lamented  death  of  General  Daniel  (who  was  killed  at  Spott- 
sylvania)  it  was  commanded  by  General  Bryan  Grimes  until 
he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  Bodes'  Division,  and 
then  (as  before  stated)  by  Colonel  Cowand  until  the  sad  sur- 
render at  Appomattox. 

The  Thirty-second  Regiment,  with  the  other  regiments  of 
Daniel's  Brigade,  was  stationed  near  Petersburg  and  Drew- 
ry's  Bluff  during  the  fall  of  1862  and  did  not  take  part  in  the 
Maryland  campaign.  During  this  period  the  brigade  was 
thoroughly  drilled  and  attained  as  high  a  state  of  efiiciency 
and  discipline  as  any  brigade  in  the  Confederate  array,  as 
was  so  conspicuously  displayed  in  next  year's  bloody  cam- 
paign, culminating  at  Gettysburg.  In  December  the  brigade 
went  into  winter  quarters  near  Drewry's  Bluff,  but  in  a  short 
time  (on  3  January,  1863),  was  removed  tO'  the  eastern  part 
of  this  State,  where  it  remained  until  17  May.  Although  the 
regiment  while  in  this  State  was  not  engaged  in  any  battle, 
yet  it  rendered  very  arduous  and  effective  service  and  partici- 
pated in  a  few  skirmishes.  It  was  stationed  near  Kinstmi 
for  several  weeks,  but  took  an  active  part  in  the  unsuccessful 
expeditions  against  JSTew  Bern  and  Washington.  The  failure 
of  the  expedition  against  New  Bern  (early  in  March)  was 
through  no  fault  of  Daniel's  Brigade,  as  was  testified  to  by 
General  D.  H.  Hill  (who  commanded  the  expedition)  in  his 
official  report,  in  which  he  says  that  the  part  taken  by  Dan- 
iel's brigade  "was  highly  satisfactory."  This  brigade  did  its 
full  duty  in  the  expedition  against  Washington,  ~N.  C,  in 
April,  and  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  is  said  to  have  been 


524  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

stationed  on  duty  nearer  to  that  town  than  any  other  Confed- 
erate troops.  The  failure  of  both  of  these  expeditions  was 
due  chiefly  to  the  inferior  artillery  and  defective  ammunition 
used  by  the  Confederates,  as  is  clearly  shown  in  General  Hill's 
official  report,  published  in  Volume  XVIII  of  the  "Official 
Records  of  the  Union  and  Confederate  Armies."  The  troops 
endured  many  hardships  on  these  expeditions,  frequently 
marching  for  miles  in  swamps  knee-deep  in  water  and  sleep- 
ing (?)  in  their  wet  clothes  when  halted  at  night.  On  the 
march  to  Washington,  and  when  only  a  few  miles  distant,  the 
Thirty-second  Regiment  passed  a  country  (Episcopal)  church 
in  which  the  congregation  was  then  assembled,  holding  their 
joyous  Easter  services  (for  that  day  was  Easter  Sunday)  and 
the  devout  and  faithful  chaplain  of  the  regiment  (Rev. 
Joseph  W.  Murphy)  obtained  permission  to  stop  long  enough 
to  join  in  singing  one  hymn,  and  then  sturdily  marched  on. 
How  strange  a  contrast — ^here  was  a  congregation  quietly  wor- 
shipping in  their  parish  church,  and  passing  by  was  a  body 
of  armed  soldiers  marching  to  battle ! 

On  17  May,  1863,  the  Thirty-second  Regiment,  with  the 
other  regiments  of  Daniel's  Brigade,  left  Kinston  and  went 
to  Virginia,  and  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war  a  part  of 
the  Army  of  "Northern  Virginia,  sharing  in  all  its  glory  and 
victories  as  well  as  its  hardships  and  disasters.  Daniel's 
Brigade  was  attached  to  Rodes'  Division,  which  had  no  supe- 
rior in  either  the  Confederate  or  Union  army,  and  was  then 
composed  of  Ramseur's  (North  Carolina)  Brigade,  Iverson's 
(North  Carolina)  Brigade,  Battle's  (Alabama)  Brigade,  and 
Doles'  (Georgia)  Brigade.  Its  commander,  Major-General 
Robert  E.  Rodes,  of  Alabama,  was  one  of  Lee's  most  trusted 
officers  and  was  one  of  the  most  competent,  considerate  and 
courageous  officers  in  the  Confederate  army.  His  untimely 
death  (killed  at  Winchester,  19  September,  1864)  was  a 
grievous  loss. 

Shortly  after  Daniel's  Brigade  reached  Virginia  General 
Lee  began  his  preparations  for  the  campaign  that  culminated 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  in  this  ever  memorable  cam- 
paign the  Thirty-second  Regiment  was  most  conspicuously 
complimented  and  covered  itself  with  imperishable  glory.     It 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  525 

was  among  the  first  troops  to  cross  the  Potomac  in  the  inva- 
sion of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  among  the  last  to  recross  on 
the  retreat.  On  21  June,  Eodes'  Division  reached  Carlisle, 
the  town  farthest  North  ever  occupied  by  any  Confederate 
troops,  and  occupied  the  United  States  barracks  at  that  place. 
Large  supplies  of  cattle,  horses,  grain  and  flour  were  ob- 
tained at  Carlisle  and  on  the  march  to  that  place,  but  no  pri- 
vate property  of  the  citizens  was  forcibly  taken.  In  his  of- 
ficial report  General  Rodes  stated  with  proper  pride  that  the 
good  behavior  of  his  troops  "astonished  the  people  along  the 
line  of  march.  These  latter  very  generally  expected  to  be 
treated  by  us  with  the  wanton  cruelty  generally  exhibited  by 
their  troops  when  they  are  upon  our  soil.  As  a  general  rule 
they  apparently  expected  to  see  their  houses  burned  down 
and  all  their  property  carried  off  or  destroyed."  This  of- 
ficial testimony  as  to  the  conduct  of  Confederate  troops  when 
on  the  enemy's  soil  should  be  a  source  of  pride  to  every 
Southerner. 

It  was  while  the  Confederates  were  enjoying  their  much 
needed  rest  at  Carlisle,  that  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  was 
honored  and  complimented  in  a  most  notable  and  conspicuous 
manner.  Yes,  it  was  there  at  Carlisle  that  this  regiment 
was  complimented,  out  of  all  the  regiments  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army,  with  the  distinguished  honor  of  being  presented 
and  entrusted  with  the  first  flag  or  standard  made  according 
to  the  design  adopted  by  the  Confederate  Congress  a  few 
weeks  previous.  Congress  had  adopted,  conditionally,  a  new 
design  for  the  Confederate  flag,  and  an  elegant  new  flag,  made 
according  to  that  design  by  the  ladies  of  Richmond,  had  been 
sent  to  General  Lee  for  his  approval  and  for  him  to  present 
to  the  regiment  most  worthy  of  receiving  and  carrying  it. 
Accordingly  General  Lee  sent  it  to  Lieutenant-General  Ewell 
(who  then  commanded  Stonewall  Jackson's  old  corps),  and 
General  Ewell  sent  it  to  Major-General  Rodes  (his  favorite 
division  commander)  and  General  Rodes  passed  it  on  to  his 
most  favored  Brigadier,  General  Daniel,  and  he  ordered  it 
to  be  presented  to  the  Thirty-second  Regiment.  The  presen- 
tation ceremonies  were  of  a  most  enthusiastic  character  and 
were  appropriate  to  the  high  honor  so  worthily  conferred. 


626  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  troops,  who  were  encamped  at  Carlisle,  were  assembled 
in  the  lovely  grounds  belonging  to  the  United  States  barracks 
to  witness  the  presentation,  which  was  attended  with  much 
speech-making  and  enthusiastic  rejoicings.  Oh !  it  was  a 
grand  occasion — in  such  striking  contrast  to  the  sad  scenes 
witnessed  by  the  same  soldiers,  two  days  thereafter,  on  the 
blood-stained  heights  of  Gettysburg.  Yes,  the  bright  eyes 
of  our  brave  boys,  which  then  sparkled  with  joy  and  hope, 
were  soon  glazed  with  the  stony  stare  of  death ;  and  their  joy- 
ous shouts  and  cheers,  so  eagerly  and  so  proudly  greeting  the 
new  flag  of  the  young  Confederacy,  were  so  soon  changed  to 
dying  groans  and  expiring  gasps. 

This  flag  was  then  hoisted  above  the  roof  of  the  barracks 
and  unfurled  to  the  breeze.  And  thus  it  was  that  North 
Carolinians  can  boast  that  it  was  the  flag  of  one  of  their  regi- 
ments that  waved  defiantly  on  the  enemy's  soil  at  a  point 
farther  North  than  any  other  Confederate  flag  during  the 
whole  war. 

That  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  was  well  worthy  of  so 
distinguished  an  honor  was  quickly  and  fully  proved  by  the 
superb  manner  with  which  it  bore  that  flag  in  the  three  days' 
battles  around  Gettysburg.  Before  entering  into  the  details 
of  the  regiment's  conduct  at  Gettysburg  it  may  be  proper  to 
mention  here  the  very  great  compliment  paid  it  by  one  who 
was  so  competent  to  compliment.  About  two  weeks  after  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  while  encamped  at  Darkesville,  in 
Virginia,  several  Confederate  generals  by  chance  met  in 
General  Daniel's  tent,  and  after  a  general  discussion  of  the 
campaign.  General  Stephen  D.  Eamseur  remarked  that  the 
finest  thing  he  saw  during  the  whole  battle  "was  the  conduct 
of  that  regiment  that  carried  into  the  fight  that  flag  with  the 
long  white  tail  to  it." 

"And,"  continued  General  Eamseur,  "they  marched  as 
steadily  as  if  on  dress  parade,  and  when  commanded  to  re- 
treat, marched  back  as  steadily  as  ever  under  a  most  galling 
fire."  Thereupon  General  Daniel  said:  "Yes,  that  was  one 
of  my  regiments,"  referring  to  the  Thirty-second,  for  the 
new  flag  carried  by  it,  at  a  distance,  appeared  to  have  a  "long 
white  tail,"  as  described  by  General  Eamseur. 


TniRTY-yEcoND  Regiment.  527 

As  stated  above,  Rodes'  Division  reached  Carlisle  on  27 
June,  and,  after  resting  two  days,  intended  on  the  30th  to  ad- 
vance on  Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  Pennsylvania — "a  step 
(as  General  Eodes  stated  in  his  report)  which  every  man  in 
the  division  contemplated  with  eagerness."  But  all  their 
eager  hopes  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  on  the  30th 
they  were  ordered  to  re-join  the  balance  of  Lee's  army,  then 
supposed  to  be  at  Cashtown,  and  they  marched  that  day  22 
miles,  bivouacking  at  Heidlesburg.  jSText  day,  1  July,  they 
were  ordered  to  hasten  to  Gettysburg,  in  the  vicinity  of 
which  they  arrived  shortly  after  midday  and  were  surprised 
to  find  that  a  bloody  battle  had  .  begun.  The  part  taken  by 
the  Thirty-second  Regiment  in  this  battle — or  rather  three 
days'  battles — was  officially  reported  by  its  Colonel,  and  his 
report  is  published  in  Vol.  XXVII  of  the  "Ofiicial  Records 
of  the  Union  and  Confederate  Armies,"  as  follows : 

Daekesville,  W.  Va.,  19  July,  1863. 

Captain  :  I  would  respectfully  report  the  part  taken  by 
the  Thirty-second  Regiment  ISTorth  Carolina  Troops  in  the 
action  of  1,  2  and  3  July,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

On  the  first  day,  about  2  :30  p.  m.,  the  regiment  was  drawn 
up  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  and,  advancing,  met  the  enemy 
about  4  o'clock.  At  the  time  the  regiment  became  actively 
engaged,  it  was  near  a  railroad  cut,  the  right  supported  by  a 
regiment  of  Davis'  Brigade.  Beyond  the  cut  was  a  large 
stone  barn,  where  the  enemy  was  strongly  posted.  He  had 
also  planted  on  a  wooded  hill  between  us  and  town  a  battery, 
which  thoroughly  commanded  the  ground,  in  otir  front  and 
about  the  barn. 

The  brigade  made  an  advance  to  dislodge  him  from  the 
barn,  but  the  cut  in  front  of  the  other  regiments  was  too  dif- 
ficult for  them  to  cross,  and  the  Thirty-second  fell  back  for 
want  of  support. 

After  a  short,  time  this  regimeoit  charged  up  to  the  bam 
and  dislodged  the  enemy ;  but  being  iinstipported  on  the  right 
and  left,  and  the  battery  on  the  hill  opening  a  terrific  fire 
vipon  it,  it  again  fell  back  near  the  cut.     The  rest  of  the  brig- 


528  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ade  having  now  changed  direction,  so  as  to  advance  without 
hindrance,  the  Thirty-second  moved  up  beyond  the  bam,  and, 
waiting  a  few  minutes  for  the  troops  on  the  right,  advanced 
near  the  edge  of  the  town,  where  it  joined  the  other  regiments 
and  rested  for  the  night.  In  its  advance  it  took  a  consider- 
able number  of  prisoners ;  how  many  I  did  not  stop  to  ascer- 
tain. Its  loss  during  the  day  was  78 — ^none  of  them  as  pris- 
oners. 

The  second  day,  the  Thirty-second  was  posted  behind  the 
Theological  Seminary,  as  a  part  of  the  support  to  our  bat- 
teries. It  sustained  a  very  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery, and  lost  many  men. 

The  third  day  the  regiment,  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade, 
moved  to  the  left  and  front,  to  the  northeast  of  Gettysburg, 
and  being  drawn  up  in  line,  advanced  to  the  foot  of  Gulp's 
hill,  upon  which  the  enemy  was  posted.  It  had  sustained  a 
very  galling  fire  from  artillery  and  sharpshooters,  losing 
many  men  and  doing  little  injury  to  the  enemy.  Then,  in 
pursuance  of  orders,  it  moved  farther  to  the  left,  and  formed 
on  the  right  of  the  Forty-third  Regiment  North  Carolina 
Troops,  to  hold  an  intrenchment  that  had  been  captured.  It 
here  lost  several  men,  but,  having  the  enemy  at  advantage,  it 
did  good  execution  upon  him.  From  this  position  it  fell 
back,  by  orders,  about  5  p.  m.,  and  a  little  before  midnight  it 
withdrew  with  the  rest  of  the  troops  to  the  range  of  hills  west 
of  Gettysburg. 

During  the  engagement  the  conduct  of  the  regiment  was 
all  I  could  desire,  there  being  very  little  time  during  the  three 
days  when  it  was  not  perfectly  tmder  my  control.  Both  of- 
ficers and  men,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  did  their  duty 
faithfully  and  unflinchingly.  Where  all  behaved  so  well  it 
is  difiicult  to  discriminate,  yet  justice  requires  that  I  should 
mention  Captain  William  L.  London.  To  his  skill  and  gal- 
lantry is  greatly  due  whatever  of  service  the  regiment  may 
have  rendered  in  the  battle. 

During  the  three  days'  fighting  the  regiment  lost  in  killed 
and  wounded  147  officers  and  men.     Of  the  14  reported  miss- 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  529 

ing  two  have  since  joined  the  regiment  and  two  others  have 
been  heard  from,  and  are  not  in  the  enemy's  hands. 
I  am,  captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  C.  BeabblEj 
Colonel  Commanding  Regiment. 
Captain  W.  M.  Hammond,  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Dan- 
iel's Brigade. 

The  above  official  report  of  Colonel  Brabble  is  a  short  and 
simple  narrative — plainly  but  truly  told — modest  like  him- 
self and  yet  it  records  the  courage  and  conduct  of  troops  un- 
surpassed in  the  annals  of  war.  All  of  Daniel's  Brigade 
was  especially  complimented  by  General  Rodes  in  his  official 
report,  and  General  Daniel  in  his  report  was  very  compli- 
mentary of  the  Thirty-second  Regiment,  highly  praising  its 
"great  courage  and  steadiness."  As  more  than  three-fourths 
of  Rodes'  Division  were  North  Carolinians,  it  will  be  grati- 
fying to  the  State  pride  of  Carolinians  to  read  now  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  General  Rodes'  official  report : 

"I  cannot,  however,  close  this  portion  of  my  report  without 
expressing  my  pride  and  admiration  of  the  conduct  of  the 
men  and  officers  of  this  division  from  the  time  it  left  Grace 
church  until  our  return  to  Virginia.  Better  marching,  less 
straggling,  hardships  more  cheerfully  borne,  conduct  in  an 
enemy's  country  more  commendable,  and  more  generally 
marked  by  gentlemanly  and  soldierly  characteristics,  and, 
finally,  better  behavior  in  battle,  than  was  exhibited  by  this 
division  during  that  period  has  not  been,  and  I  believe  will 
never  be,  exhibited  by  any  other  troops  in  the  service.  By 
their  conduct  at  Gettysburg  I  claim  it  won  the  expression 
from  the  general  commanding  the  army,  who  saw  their  at- 
tack on  1  July,  'I  am  proud  of  your  division.'  " 

Daniel's  Brigade  entered  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  with 
2,100  men,  and  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  7T8 — as  heavy 
a  loss  as  any  two  of  Pickett's  famoiis  brigades-7-and  it  did 
not  fail  to  carry  every  position  of  the  enemy  which  it  as- 
saulted. 

After  the  retreat  of  Lee's  army  to  Virginia  the  Thirty- 
second  was  not  engaged  in  any  battle  until  the  Spottsylva- 
34 


630  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

nia  battles  in  May,  1864,  but  participated  in  a  few  skir- 
mishes and  was  stationed  much  of  the  time  near  the  Rapidan 
river,  where  nothing  of  especial  interest  occurred.  But  this 
period  of  comparative  rest  was  followed  by  a  campaign  that 
was  probably  the  most  arduous,  the  most  bloody  and  the  mopt 
exciting  recorded  in  the  annals  of  war.     Yes,  on  4  May, 

1864,  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  with  all  the  troops  of 
Kodes'  Division  moved  from  their  camps  on  the  Rapidan, 
and  were  either  marching  or  fighting  (and  frequently  both) 
nearly  every  day  from  then  until  the  surrender  on  9  April, 

1865.  They  began  their  long  series  of  battles  on  5  May, 
being  quite  heavily  engaged  on  that  day.  They  were  more 
or  less  engaged  on  the  6th,  7th,  8th  and  9th,  and  on  the  10th 
the  Thirty-second  Regiment  suffered  heavily,  among  its  killed 
being  its  Colonel,  the  brave  and  noble  Brabble,  and  a  large 
number  of  its  oiEcers  and  men.  This  loss  was  occasioned  by 
the  enemy  breaking  through  Doles'  (Georgia)  Brigade,  which 
was  stationed  on  the  right  of  the  Thirty-second,  thereby  ex- 
posing that  regiment  to  a  deadly  fire,  but  reinforcements  soon 
came  to  the  rescue  and  the  exultant  enemy  was  driven  back. 
This  was  a  most  critical  and  trying  occasion  to  the  Thirty- 
second,  but  it  was  fully  equal  to  it  and  its  steadiness  and  cour- 
age prevented  a  serious  disaster. 

The  next  day  (the  11th)  it  rained  hard  all  day  and  there 
was  no  fighting,  but  on  the  12th  was  probably  the  most  des- 
perate fighting  during  the  war,  when  the  enemy  at  early  dawn 
captured  the  salient  in  our  works  occupied  by  General  Ed- 
ward Johnson's  Division,  and  in  checking  their  advance 
(which  came  so  near  being  a  crushing  disaster)  Daniel's  and 
Ramseur's  Brigades  (all  North  Carolinians)  fought  with 
such  unsurpassed  courage  and  pertinacity  as  to  deserve  and 
receive  the  personal  thanks  of  General  Lee  himself. 

An  accurate  and  full  description  of  that  day's  fighting  by 
those  two  brigades  should  be  written  and  published  in  pam- 
phlet form,  and  a  copy  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  every  North 
Carolinian,  because  that  fighting  has  never  been  surpassed  in 
any  battle  of  ancient  or  modern  times.  There  it  was  that 
the  lamented  Daniel  was  killed  and  Ramseur  severely 
wounded  early  in  the  day,  and  yet,  notwithstanding  the  loss 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  531 

of  their  commanders,  those  brigades  bravely  and  unflinch- 
ingly fought  on,  hour  after  hour,  against  greatly  superior 
numbers. 

After  its  desperate  fighting  on  12  May,  the  Thirty-second 
Begiment  was  comparatively  quiet  imtil  the  19  th,  when  it 
joined  in  a  flank  movement  around  the  enemy's  right  and 
was  quite  heavily  engaged  on  that  afternoon.  In  these  bat- 
tles at  Spottsylvania,  during  those  bright  May  days,  the 
Thirty-second  Regiment  lost  over  one-half  of  its  men  in 
killed,  wounded  and  captured,  as  indeed  did  all  of  Ewell's 
Corps  to  which  it  belonged,  and  this  but  the  beginning,  the 
first  month,  of  almost  an  entire  year's  continuous  fighting. 

And  now  begins  the  famous  "Valley"  campaign,  beginning 
so  brilliantly  and  ending  so  disastrously.  On  13  June,  1864, 
the  Thirty-second  Regiment,  with  the  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade,  moved  from  their  camp  near  Cold  Harbor  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Lynchburg.  The  bTigade  was  now  known  as 
Grimes'  Brigade,  as  Colonel  Bryan  Grimes,  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  had  been  promoted  and  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Daniel's  old  brigade,  a  most  worthy  successor,  and  also  one 
of  the  best  and  bravest  officers  in  the  Confederate  army.  On 
arriving  at  Lynchburg  (then  threatened  by  the  enemy  under 
General  Hunter)  the  brigade  prepared  for  an  immediate  at- 
tack, but  the  enemy  retreated  precipitately,  and  then  com- 
menced the  "New  Market  Races,"  the  Confederates  chasing 
the  fleeing  Federals  to  the  very  gates  of  Washington.  At 
Lexington  our  troops  passed  by  the  grave  of  their  old  com- 
mander, Stonewall  Jackson,  with  reversed  arms  and  uncov- 
ered heads — a  sad  and  touching  tribute  of  their  love  and  ad- 
miration. Our  troops  reached  Harper's  Ferry  on  4  July, 
and  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  there  assisted  in  doing  garri- 
son duty  and  in  loading  wagons  with  the  quartermaster's  and 
commissary  supplies  captured  at  that  place.  After  leaving 
Harper's  Ferry  Grimes'  Brigade  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Frederick  City,  and  at  the  battle  of  Monocacy  was  not  ac- 
tively engaged,  being  held  in  reserve.  On  11  July,  after  a 
very  rapid  and  most  fatiguing  march  (thirty  miles  in  one 
day)  over  a  dusty  road  that  was  almost  suffocating  and  under 
a  blistering  July  sun,  the  brigade  arrived  in  front  of  the  for- 


532  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tifications  around  Washington  and  in  sight  of  the  dome  of  the 
Federal  capitol.  This  brigade  was  the  front  infantry  brig- 
ade of  Early's  army,  and  its  sharpshooters  approached  nearer 
Washington  than  any  other  Confederate  troops,  an  incident 
of  the  war  that  North  Carolinians  have  cause  to  boast  of- 
After  some  skirmishing,  the  fortifications  were  found  to  be 
too  formidable  and  strongly  defended  to  be  captured,  and 
no  assault  was  made.  The  men  were  utterly  exhausted  by 
their  continuous  and  fatiguing  march,  and  were  physically 
unfit  for  fighting.  Fortunately  for  the  Federals,  and  proba- 
bly the  salvation  of  Washington,  they  had  just  been  rein- 
forced by  the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps,  which  arrived  at 
Washington  just  in  the  "nick  of  time."  The  Confederate  in- 
fantry did  not  exceed  10,000,  and  it  would  have  been  worse 
than  folly  for  that  force  to  attack  four  times  their  number 
strongly  entrenched,  and,  therefore.  General  Early  (who  com- 
manded the  Confederate  troops  on  this  expedition),  after  a 
consultation  with  his  division  commanders,  decided  to  return- 
to  Virginia.  General  Lee  had  not  intended  or  expected 
Early  to  capture  Washington,  but  merely  to  threaten  that 
city,  and  this  was  done  most  effectively,  and,  if  he  could  have 
arrived  there  only  one  day  earlier,  he  might  have  entered  that 
city  and  planted  the  Confederate  flag  on  the  dome  of  the  Cap- 
itol! 

Early's  army  retired  in  perfect  order  and  safely  returned 
to  Virginia,  and  then  began  a  series  of  skirmishes  and  fights 
which  continued  almost  daily  for  several  weeks.  On  19  July 
Gritaes'  Brigade  fought  quite  a  severe  battle  with  a  largely 
superior  force  of  the  enemy,  near  the  Shenandoah  river,  and 
drove  them  back  but  at  a  considerable  loss. 

Again  on  the  24th,  near  Kernstown,  the  Thirty-second  Reg- 
iment met  the  enemy  and  the  latter  retreated  in  great  confu- 
sion, throwing  away  everything  that  could  impede  their 
flight.  For  the  next  few  weeks  this  regiment  was  kept  moving 
back  and  forth — up  and  down  the  valley — one  day  pursuing 
the  enemy  and  the  next  day  falling  back,  almost  a  daily  round 
of  skirmishes.  In  the  battle  near  Winchester,  on  19  Sep- 
tember, Grimes'  Brigade  acted  most  gallantly,  capturing  the 
enemy's  position  which  it  was  ordered  to  attack  and  holding: 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  533 

it  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  it  was  ordered  to  fall 
back,  because  the  troops  on  the  left  had  given  way.  Its 
courage  and  steadiness  were  again  conspicuously  displayed 
on  22  September  at  Fisher's  Hill,  when  the  cavalry  on  our 
left  gave  way  in  confusion  and  for  some  time  the  Forty-fifth 
and  Thirty -second  Regiments  and  the  Second  Battalion  (all 
of  North  Carolina)  successfully  fought  the  whole  force  of  the 
enemy  Avithout  other  aid,  and  did  not  retire  until  nearly  sur- 
rounded and  fired  at  in  front,  flank  and  rear.  Only  old  sol- 
diers can  appreciate  what  a  trying  position  was  this. 

Again  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  on  19  Octo- 
ber, the  Thirty-second  Regiment  sustained  its  well  merited 
reputation  for  that  "great  courage  and  steadiness,"  which 
General  Daniel  had  so  highly  complimented  in  his  report  of 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  In  this  battle  the  Thirty-second 
Regiment  was  deployed  as  sharpshooters  and  moved  forward 
most  gallantly,  and  followed  the  enemy  through  Middletown. 
A  brilliant  victory  seemed  won,  and  the  enemy  appeared  to  be 
utterly  routed,  but,  in  the  afternoon  after  our  troops  had  re- 
mained inactive  for  several  hours,  the  enemy  returned  with 
heavy  reinforcements  and  completely  turned  the  tide  of  vic- 
tory. When  the  enemy  returned  and  attempted  to  charge  the 
position  held  by  Grimes'  Brigade,  General  Grimes  promptly 
ordered  a  counter-charge  which  his  men,  with  a  yell,  quickly 
made  and  drove  the  enemy  back  in  great  confusion.  In  a 
short  time,  however,  our  troops  on  the  left  had  given  way  in 
much  disorder,  and  then  Grimes'  Brigade  was  ordered  to  fall 
back.  This  was  the  last  battle  of  much  importance  fought  by 
the  Thirty-second  Regiment  in  this  wonderful  "Valley  Cam- 
paign." 

The  week  before  Christmas  Grimes'  old  brigade,  and  the 
other  brigades  of  the  division  now  called  Grimes'  Division, 
moved  from  the  Valley  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Swift  Creek,  about  three  miles  from  Petersburg.  There  the 
wearied,  battle-scarred  survivors  of  the  terrible  campaign  of 
1864  enjoyed  a  brief  rest.  On  5  February  they  marched  in 
a  cold  sleet  to  Burgess'  Mill,  on  Hatcher's  Run,  but  arrived 
too  late  to  participate  in  the  fight  that  took  place  near  there 
on  that  day,  in  which  General  Pegram  (who  had  married  only 


534  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

a  few  days  before)  was  killed.  After  remaining  there  a  day 
they  returned  to  their  winter  quarters,  but  were  not  allowed 
to  remain  long,  for  on  the  15th  they  broke  up  camp  and  were 
moved  to  Southerland's  Station,  about  twelve  miles  from 
Petersburg,  on  the  extreme  right  of  Lee's  extended  lines. 
There  they  relmained  four  weeks  and  then  were  stationed  in 
the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Grimes'  Division  occupy- 
ing the  line  of  fortifications  from  near  the  famous  "Crater" 
on  the  left  to  Battery  No.  45  on  the  right.  No  one,  who  him- 
self has  not  experienced  a  soldier's  life  in  the  trenches  around 
Petersburg,  can  understand  or  appreciate  the  hardships  then 
endured  by  Lee's  half-starved  soldiers.  The  trenches  were 
usually  knee-deep  in  mud,  the  men  always  on  the  alert  and 
ready  for  an  attack,  one-third  always  on  picket  duty,  in  the 
rifle  pits,  one-third  kept  awake  at  the  breastworks  every  night, 
and  only  one-third  off  duty  at  a  time  and  they  sleeping  on 
their  arms  and  with  accoutrements  on,  as  best  they  could, 
amid  the  continuous  firing  along  the  picket  line.  All  night 
long  the  pickets  kept  up  an  incessant  firing,  the  sound  resem- 
bling at  a  distance  the  popping  of  firecrackers,  and  the  flash 
of  the  rifles  illuminating  the  darkness  like  fire  flies  on  a  surh- 
mer's  night,  while  now  and  then  a  mortar  shell  would  grace- 
fully glide  through  the  air  and  explode  with  a  deafening  roar. 
And  yet  those  brave  men  endured  all  this,  day  after  day  and 
night  after  night,  without  a  murmxir,  and  on  25  March  made 
one  of  the  most  desperate  attacks  of  the  war. 

On  that  day  General  Lee  made  his  last  and  final  effort  to 
break  through  the  coils  of  Grant's  encircling  army.  It  was  a 
desperate  undertaking,  and  came  well-nigh  being  successful. 
At  one  point  in  front  of  Petersburg,  near  Hare's  Hill,  the 
breastworks  of  the  two  armies  were  only  about  one  hundred 
yards  apart,  and  General  Lee  determined  to  make  a  sudden 
sortie  at  this  place  and  capture  the  enemy's  line.  Just  be- 
fore day-dawn  the  sharpshooters  of  Grimes'  Division — about 
three  hundred  men — with  unloaded  muskets  and  a  profound 
silence,  leaped  over  our  breastworks,  dashed  across  the  open 
space  in  front,  surprising  and  capturing  the  enemy's  pickets 
before  they  could  give  the  alarm,  and  had  mounted  their 
breastworks  and  were  upon  the  enemy  before  they  could  real- 


Thirty-Second  Regiment.  535 

ize  their  situation.  A  Brigadier  General  and  500  men  were 
sent  back  as  prisoners,  and  the  remainder  of  the  division  fol- 
lowed the  sharpshooters  and  occupied  the  enemy's  works. 
Other  troops,  among  whom  were  Ransom's  and  Lewis'  North 
Carolina  Brigades,  had  at  the  same  time  captured  other  por- 
tions of  the  enemy's  works,  and  a  brilliant  victory  seemed 
within  our  grasp,  but  it  was  only  the  meteor's  flash  that  illu- 
mines for  a  moment  and  leaves  the  night  darker  than  be- 
fore. The  expected  reinforcements,  Pickett's  Division,  did 
not  come  to  their  support,  and  the  enemy  soon  collected  a 
force,  greatly  outnumbering  ours,  and  poured  so  destructive 
a  fire  upon  our  men  that  they  were  withdrawn  after  a  most 
stubborn  fight  of  two  hours. 

In  this  short  but  sanguinary  fight  the  Confederate  loss  was 
quite  heavy,  Grimes'  Division  alone  losing  478  officers  and 
men.  .The  Thirty-second  Regiment  suffered  severely,  among 
its  killed  being  its  temporary  commander,  Major  J.  W.  Rier- 
son,  of  the  Fifty-third  Regiment. 

The  end  was  now  rapidly  drawing  near.  Just  before  day 
on  Sunday  morning,  2  April,  the  enemy  captured  an  exposed 
point  in  our  line,  called  Rune's  Salient,  occupied  by  Battle's 
Alabama  Brigade,  and  attempted  to  extend  their  line  up  our 
breastworks,  but  were  promptly  met  and  checked  by  the  Thir- 
ty-second and  the  other  regiments  of  Daniel's  old  brigade. 
The  fighting  here  was  most  stubborn  and  desperate,  being  at 
close  range,  almost  hand  to  hand.  A  single  incident  will  for- 
cibly illustrate  this.  T.  S.  Riggsbee,  of  Company  I,  (as 
brave  a  boy  as  Chatham  county  every  sent  to  the  Confederate 
arimy)  jumped  up  on  top  of  the  breastworks  so  as  to  get  a  bet- 
ter chance  to  shoot  at  the  advancing  enemy,  and,  after  firing 
his  own  gun,  fired  the  guns  of  several  of  his  comrades  as  they 
were  rapidly  handed  up  to  him,  until  he  himself  was  shot 
down  and  killed  by  the  enemy  only  a  few  feet  distant.  At 
one  time  so  desperate  was  the  fighting  here  that,  within  a  few 
minutes'  time,  the  flag  staff  of  this  regiment  was. shot  in  two 
three  different  times  while  being  held  by  the  color-bearer, 
James  E.  Burke,  of  Company  L,  who  each  time  would  grasp 
the  broken  staff  and  defiantly  flaunt  the  flag  at  the  enemy. 

The  Thirty-second  Regiment  not  only  held  its  ground  all 


536  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

that  day,  but  drove  the  enemy  back  some  distance,"  and  only 
withdrew  after  nightfall  when  all  our  troops  were  ordered  to 
retire,  and  then  commenced  that  terrible  retreat  to  Appomat- 
tox Court  House.  The  incidents  of  that  memorable  retreat 
need  not  be  recorded  here,  but  the  Thirty-second  Kegiment, 
with  all  of  Grimes'  Division,  did  its  full  duty.  Always  at 
the  post  of  danger,  protecting  the  rear  of  Lee's  retreating 
army,  they  well  sustained  to  the  last  their  "great  courage  and 
steadiness,"  which  General  Daniel  had  noted  at  Gettysburg. 
Now  stubbornly  resisting  the  advance  of  superior  numbers 
ilushed  with  victory,  now  turning  like  a.  wounded  lion  upon 
its  pursuers  and  charging  desperately  and  putting  to  flight 
a  too  confident  foe,  and  now  toiling  along  over  muddy  roads, 
famished  with  hunger,  exhausted  with  constant  marching 
day  and  night,  almost  stupefied  with  the  want  of  sleep,  those 
men  proved  themselves  to  be  heroes  indeed — ^the  equals  of 
any  the  world  has  ever  seen. 

And  now  we  come  to  the  last  sad  scenes  at  Appomattox, 
and  how  vivid  they  seem  even  now  after  the  lapse  of  thirty-six 
years  !  The  Thirty-second  Regiment,  now  reduced  to  a  mere 
handful,  a  skeleton  of  its  former  self,  arrived  at  the  village 
of  Appomattox  Court  House  shortly  before  daylight  on  that 
fateful  Sunday,  9  April,  and  after  a  brief  halt,  joined  in 
that  last  memorable  charge,  driving  the  enemy  nearly  a  mile. 
But  all  in  vain,  for  they  were  soon  ordered  back  and  in  a 
short  time  it  was  sadly  whispered  that  General  Lee  had  sur- 
rendered. This  could  scarcely  be  believed  at  first,  and  when 
it  was  ascertained  to  be  true,  strong  men  wept,  and  hattle- 
scarred  veterans  trembled  with  emotion  too  deep  for  utter- 
ance. 

That  afternoon  General  John  B.  Gordon  made  a  speech  to 
the  troops  assembled  in  a  hollow  square.  On  Wednesday 
morning  our  little  band  started  home,  and  the  Thirty-second 
Regiment  ceased  to  exist,  but  the  memory  of  its  gallantry,  its 
glorious  record,  and  its  heroic  deeds  should  live  forever ! 

Heney  a.  London. 

PiTTSBOKO,    N.    C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THIRTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 

1.  Lawrence  O'B.  Branch,  Colonel.  4.    Jas.  A.  Weston,  Major. 

2.  Clark  Moulton  Avery,  Colonel.  B.    Richard  B.  Baker,  Surgeon. 

3.  Joseph  H.  Saunders.  Lieut-Colonel.  6.    Thomas  W.  Mayhew,  Major 

7.    Jas.  A.  Summers,  Captain.  Co.  A. 


THIRTY  THIRD  REQIMENT. 


By  major  J.  A.  WESTON. 


The  Thirty-third  Kegiment  was  organized  at  the  old  fair 
grounds  at  Ealeigh,  in  September,  1861.  It  was  a  war  regi- 
ment from  the  beginning,  and  not  a  twelve  months'  volunteer. 
The  Field  and  Staff  Officers  during  its  service  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Colonels — Lawrence  O'Brien  Branch,  Clark  M.  Avery, 
Robert  V.  Cowan. 

Lieutenant-Colonels — Clark  M.  Avery,  Robert  F. 
Hoke,  Robert  V.  Cowan,  Joseph  H.  Saunders. 

Majors — Robert  F.  Hoke,  William  Gaston  Lewis,  Robert 
V.  Cowan,  Thomas  W.  Mayhew,  Joseph  H.  Saunders,  James 
A.  Weston. 

Adjutants — Spier  Whitaker,  John  Poteat. 

Ensigns — Daniel  W.  Moore,  James  W.  Atkinson. 

Seegeants-Majoe — ^W.  H.  Angeilnan,  William  H.  Gib- 
son. 

Captains^  A.  Q.  M. — Joseph  A.  Engelhard,  John  R.  Sud- 
derth,  John  Poteat. 

Captains,  A.  C.  S. — Adolphus  Gibson,  Dr.  R.  A.  Hauser. 

Quaetermastee-Seegeant — Francis  A.  Butner. 

Commissary  Sergeants — John  P.  Nicholson,  Edward  W. 
Burgess. 

Surgeons — Dr.  Richard  B.  Baker,  Dr.  J.  F.  Shaffner,  Dr. 
E.  G.  Higginbotham. 

Assistant  Surgeon — Dr.  John  A.  Vigal. 

Chaplain — T.  J.  Eatman. 

Ordnance  Sergeant — John  S.  Midyett. 

Hospital  Stewards — Dr.  Sylvester  D.  Davis,  Dr.  John 
P.  ISTicholson. 

Musicians — Edwin  0.  Dull,  Chief  Musician;  Lewis  A. 
Hartman,  Will  N.  Butner,  Reuben  J.  Crater,  Oliver  J.  Legh- 


538  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

man,  Eobert  M.  Jones,  Yirgil  P.  Miller,  Wiley  0.  Parker, 
Levin  J.  Stripe,  John  A.  Williard,  William  Williford,  Gib- 
son L.  Miller,  Eobert  F.  Watson,  John  A.  Kimbrough.  A 
most  useful  body  of  men.  They  were  accomplished  musi- 
cians, and  in  addition  to  their  regular  duties,  which  they  per- 
formed faithfully,  they  rendered  from  time  to  time,  as  cir- 
cumstances required,  very  efficient  aid  in  the  Hospital  De- 
partment. 

The  regiment  ^^^as  composed  of  the  following  companies : 

CoMPAiTT  A — Iredell  County — Captains:  Eobert  V. 
Cowan,  Joseph  H.  Saunders,  Henry  H.  Baker,  James  A. 
Summers ;  First  Lieutenants :  George  Gibson,  Hugo  A.  Hill, 
Joseph  H.  Saunders,  Henry  H.  Baker,  James  A.  Summers, 
Wilson  H.  Lucas,  transferred  from  Company  F;  Second 
Lieutenants :  Hugh  A.  Hill,  Joseph  H.  Saunders,  Henry  H. 
Baker,  Philemon  H.  Sasser,  Hugo  A.  Hill,  James  A.  Sum- 
mers, Columbus  L.  Turner,  Thomas  A.  Cowan,  M.  Whaler. 

non-commissioned  ofpicbes. 

Sergeants — Hugo  A.  Hill,  James  A.  Summers,  Isaac  A. 
Barrett. 

Coepoeals — David  P.  Kelly,  David  Troutman,  Columbus 
L.  Turner. 

Company  B — Edgecombe  Covnty — Captains:  Frederick 
H.  Jenkins,  Theophilus  C.  Hyman,  Eichard  H.  Gatlin, 
Thomas  H.  Gatlin,  Ebenezer  Price ;  First  Lieutenants :  The- 
ophilus C.  Hyman,  Eichard  H.  Gatlin,  Thomas  H.  Gatlin, 
Harrison  P.  Lyon ;  Second  Lieutenants :  Eichard  H.  Gatlin, 
Francis  D.  Foxhall,  Thomas  H.  Gatlin,  Peyton  T.  Anthony, 
Harrison  P.  Lyon,  Lewis  H.  Lawrence. 

non-commissioned  offioees. 

Seegeants — Levi  H.  Purvis,  Bervin  Stevenson,  James  H. 
Jenkins,  Weldon  S.  Hunt,  W.  Benely. 

Coepoeals — Thomas  L.  May,  William  C.  Davenport,  Wil- 
liaim  F.  Horde,  John  Andrews. 

Company  C — Cabarrus  County — Captains:  Jeremiah  M. 
Kestler,  David  M.   Cozine,  John  D.  Fain;  First  Lieuten- 


Thirty-Thied  Regiment.  539 

ants :  John  A.  Gibson,  Thomas  J.  Moore,  Francis  B.  Craige ; 
Second  Lieutenants:  William  A.  Patterson,  David  M.  Co- 
zine,  William  J.  Kriminger,  Willoughby  F.  Avery,  L.  R. 
Koss,  Solomon  Stoup,  William  H.  Gibson,  Alvis  B.  Howard. 

KTOIT-COMMISSIONED   OFFICEES. 

Seegeants^L.  R.  Ross,  Daniel  M.  Moore,  Solomon 
Stoup,  Joseph  A.  Patterson. 

CoEPOBALS — William  J.  Kriminger,  Alexander  L.  Myers, 
Jefferson  Pile,  Joseph  P.  Misenheimer. 

Company  D — Wilkes  County — Captains :  Oliver  T.  Parks, 
James  M.  Hunt;  First  Lieutenants:  James  M.  Hunt,  John 
W.  Happoldt ;  Second  Lieutenants :  Major  F.  Joines,  Thomas 
J.  Pender,  G.  W.  Weaver,  W.  T.  Mclntyre. 

NOlSr-COMMISSIONED    OFFICEES. 

Seegeants — G.  W.  Weaver,  James  Lane,  Rufus  Love, 
Wesley  Duncan,  F.  C.  Pardew. 

CoEPOEALS — John  Childers,  B.  F.  Gamble,  Jonathan 
Darnell,  Thomas  Brook. 

Company  E — Gates  County — Captains:  William  T.  Par- 
ker, George  W.  Sanderlin;  First  Lieutenants:  Riddick  Gat- 
ling,  Joseph  D.  Boushall,  Lewis  H.  Babb;  Second  Lieuten- 
ants: Joseph  D.  Boushall,  Williattn  K.  Babb,  John  C.  E. 
Cooper,  John  Caldwell,  Exum  Lewis. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICEES. 

Seegeants — Joseph  D.  Boushall,  William  K.  Babb, 
George  W.  Sanderlin,  Lewis  H.  Babb,  John  C.  E.  Cooper. 

CoEPOEALS — Haunce  Hays,  William  Brinkley. 

Company  F — Hyde  County — Captains :  Thomas  W.  May- 
hew,  James  A.  Weston ;  First  Lieutenants :  James  A.  Weston, 
James  W.  Gibbs;  Second  Lieutenants:  James  W.  Gibbs, 
Samuel  C.  Watson,  Joseph  Swindell,  Joseph  W.  Tate,  trans- 
ferred from  Nineteenth  Regiment. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICEES. 

Seegeants — Wilson  H.  Lucas,  Joseph  Swindell,  William 
T.  Farrow,  Robert  F.  Watson,  Robert  Jennett. 


540  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

CoEPOBALS — Benjamin  W.  Eastwood,  Joseph  B.  Gibbs, 
Timothy  A.  Murray,  Samuel  S.  Gibbs. 

Company  G — Cumberland  County — Captains:  Robert 
Wooten,  John  D.  Callais,  William  J.  Callais ;  First  Lieuten- 
ants: John  D.  Callais,  William  J.  Callais,  Joseph  C.  Mills, 
John  F.  McDonald ;  Second  Lieutenants :  Eichard  F.  Eppes, 
William  H.  Massey,  John  W.  Wooten,  William  J.  Callais, 
Joseph  C.  Mills,  John  F.  McDonald. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Sehgeants — John  F.  McDonald,  Lewis  A.  Nixon,  David 
Bone,  John  C.  Davis,  J.  J.  Phillips. 

CoBPOEALs — John  Bradshaw,  Evans  A.  Cannady,  Lewis 
H.  Moore,  John  McNate. 

Company  H — Hyde  County — Captains:  William  M.  B. 
Swindell,  Eiddick  Gatling ;  First  Lieutenants :  Wilson  T. 
Farrow,  George  W.  Sanderlin,  Isaac  L.  Farrow;  Second 
Lieutenants:  John  W.  Williams,  James  W.  Hayes,  Isaac  L. 
Farrow,  George  W.  Sanderlin,  F.  T.  Lehman,  George  H. 
Snow,  William  E.  Carawan. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Sergeants — Isaac  L.  Farrow,  William  E.  Carawan, 
Caleb  S.  Boomer,  William  Emory,  William  Gaskill. 

CoBPOEALs — G.  W.  Jackson,  T.  W.  Guthrie,  Edward  Gas- 
kins,  T.  W.  Williams. 

Company  I — Forsyth  County — Captains:  George  C. 
Stowe,  Willoughby  F.  Avery,  transferred  from  Company  C ; 
George  W.  Sanderlin ;  First  Lieutenants :  Eobert  H.  Hauser, 
John  N.  Anderson ;  Second  Lieutenants :  John  N.  Anderson, 
B.  Y.  Eayle,  W.  Lee  White,  L.  H.  Goslin. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICEES. 

Sebgeants — W.  Lee  White,  Peyton  T.  Lehman,  Lafay- 
ette H.  Goslin,  James  H.  Conrad,  Edwin  C.  Dull. 

CoEPOEALs — W.  W.  Anderson,  John  P.  JSTicholson,  J.  J. 
Marshall,  William  E.  Stone. 

Company  K — Greene  County — Captains:  Andrew  J.  Me- 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  541 

Intyre,  Henry  F.  Granger,  James  T.  Walton ;  First  Lieuten- 
ants: Henry  F.  Granger,  William  S.  Taylor,  Henry  J.  Mc- 
Koy,  Jahies  T.  Walton,  John  G.  Eencher;  Second  Lieuten- 
ants :  Allen  Croome,  William  S.  Taylor,  James  T.  Walton. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS. 

Seegeants — Henry  J.  McKoy,  William  M.  Kennedy, 
Thomas  Q.  Dale,  Benjamin  C.  Beaman,  Henry  S.  Taylor. 

CoEPOEALS — James  Bartlett,  Absalom  Taylor,  Mark  P. 
Taylor,  James  S.  Hughes. 

NEW  BEEN. 

'  After  staying  several  weeks  at  the  fair  grounds  in  Raleigh, 
the  regiment  removed  to  Camp  Mangum,  where  it  remained 
until  it  was  ordered  to  New  Bern,  in  the  winter  of  1861-'62. 
Two  companies  (B  and  F)  had  previously  been  detached  for 
special  duty  in  Hyde  county,  and  were,  with  two  companies  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment  (D.  and  E),  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  E.  D.  Hall,  of  the  Seventh.  They  left  Hyde 
county  in  February,  1862,  and  joined  the  regiment  a  few 
days  later  at  the  fair  grounds  in  ISTew  Bern.  In  the  battle 
of  ISTew  Bern  14  March,  1862,  the  regiment  bore  a  conspicu- 
ous part.  It  did  more  hard  fighting  and  remained  longer  on 
the  field  of  battle  than  any  other  command.  The  first  inti- 
mation we  had  of  Burnside's  approach  was  on  Wednesday, 
the  12th,  about  4  p.  m.  At  dark  it  was  reported  to  General 
Branch  that  "twelve  vessels  had  anchored  below  the  mouth 
of  Otter  creek,  and  about  forty-five  were  ascending  the  river 
in  their  rear."  The  Thirty-third  and  Seventh  Etegiments, 
which,  with  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  (Second  Cavalry), 
constituted  the  reserve,  crossed  the  Trent  river  about 
daybreak  on  Thursday,  the  13th,  and  were  placed  in 
position  about  two  miles  from  the  main  line,  at  a  point 
where  the  Atlantic  &  North  Carolina  Railroad  cuts  the 
public  road  from  Beaufort.  Thursday  was  spent  in 
making  preparations  for  the  coming  fray.  The  men  were 
"spoiling  fox  a  fight."  They  were  anxious  to  feel  the  fire  of 
the  enemy.  During  the  greater  part  of  the  day  the  Federals 
kept  up  a  continuous  shelling,  but  did  very  little  execution. 


542  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Colonel  Campbell,  of  the  Seventh,  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  right  wing.  Greneral  Burnside,  who  knew  Colonel 
Campbell,  as  they  were  both  graduates  of  West  Point,  sent 
Colonel  Campbell  the  following  message: 

"Reub,  quit  your  foolishness,  and  come  back  to  the  Union 
army."     Colonel  Campbell  replied: 

"Tell  General  Burnside  to  go  to  the  devil,  where  he  be- 
longs." 

Colonel  Lee,  of  the  Thirty-seventh,  was  put  in  command  of 
the  left  wing.  General  Branch  exercised  a  general  superin- 
tendence of  the  whole  line,  but  was  in  immediate  command 
of  the  centre  and  the  reserve.  At  daybreak  on  the  14th,  the 
regiment  was  up,  alert,  and  eager  for  the  fight.  We  had 
spent  a  rather  uncomfortable  night,  as  it  began  to  rain  about 
dark,  and  continued  to  rain  slowly  all  night.  Still,  there 
were  no  complaints,  no  murmurings.  Every  one  seemed  to 
be  anxious  to  do  his  duty  to  his  country  and  to  his  God.  Col- 
onel Avery  made  a  short  talk  to  his  regiment,  full  of  fire  and 
patriotism,  to  which  the  men  responded  with  the  utmost  heart- 
iness and  enthusiasm.  A  little  after  7  o'clock  the  battle  be- 
gan. The  firing  was  brisk  and  continuous  between  the  river 
and  the  railroad,  and  gradually  extended  to  our  right.  The 
troops  between  Fort  Thompson,  on  the  river,  and  the  railroad 
— a  distance  of  one  mile — ^were,  beginning  at  Fort  Thompson, 
the  Twenty-seventh  ISTorth  Carolina,  Colonel  Gilmer;  the 
Thirty-seventh  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Lee;  the  Seventh 
ISTorth  Carolina  (which  had  been  ordered  to  the  front  line) 
temporarily  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Haywood; 
the  Thirty-fifth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Sinclair,  and  a 
battalion  of  militia  under  Colonel  H;  J.  B.  Clark.  Latham's 
Battery  was  stationed  near  the  Thirty-seventh,  and  four 
pieces  of  Brem's  Battery  (Company  C,  Tenth  North  Car- 
olina) were  on  the  railroad.  Between  the  railroad  and 
the  Weathersby  road,  on  our  extreme  right,  was  Colonel 
Vance,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  a  com- 
pany of  unattached  infantry,  and  two  dismounted  cav- 
alry companies,  A  and  E,  of  the  Nineteenth  North  Caro- 
lina (Second  Cavalry).  Two  pieces  of  Brem's  Battery 
were    stationed    on    the    Weathersby    road    to    guard    our 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  543 

extreme  right.  The  entire  force  from  the  railroad  to  the 
Weathersby  road — a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half — numbered 
less  than  1,000  men.  Some  portions  of  the  line  were  wholly 
unguarded.  General  Foster,  of  the  Union  army,  opened  the 
battle  by  a  fierce  assault  upon  'the  Confederate  left.  General 
Keno  almost  at  the  same  time  attacked  Vance  on  the  right  of 
the  railroad.  General  Parke  was  held  in  reserve  near  the 
railroad.  For  soone  time  Foster  made  little  impression  upon 
our  left  wing,  but  Keno,  finding  a  break  in  the  Confederate 
line  at  a  brickyard  near  the  railroad,  between  the  militia  and 
Vance's  left,  immediately  occupied  it,  and  turning  to  his 
right,  attacked  the  militia  under  Colonel  Clark.  The  militia 
fled  inglorioxisly  from  the  field.  The  Thirty-fifth  assailed  in 
flank,  "very  quickly  followed  their  example."  General 
Branch  and  his  staff  tried  hard  to  rally  them,  but  their  utmost 
efforts  proved  unavailing.  Meanwhile,  the  reserve  under 
Colonel  Avery,  of  the  Thirty-third,  was  ordered  to  the  front, 
and,  with  the  left  wing  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  made  a  bold  and 
resolute  stand.  They  kept  the  enemy  in  their  immediate 
front  in  check  for  more  than  three  hours.  The  troops  on  our 
left  between  the  railroad  and  Fort  Thompson  had  retreated 
before  an  overpowering  force  and  the  Federals,  pouring  into 
the  gap  thus  made,  had  advanced  a  considerable  distance  in 
our  rear  before  the  Thirty-third  ceased  firing.  Indeed,  they 
ceased  firing  only  when  their  ammunition  was  exhausted. 
Two  couriers  dispatched  by  General  Branch  to  Colonel  Avery 
ordering  him  to  retreat,  had  failed  to  reach  him,  and  the 
Thirty-third  in  maintaining  the  contest  for  so  long  a  time 
was  simply  obeying  orders. 

Colonel  Clark,  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment, pays  a  high  compliment  to  the  Thirty-third  and  Twen- 
ty-sixth. In  his  official  report  he  says:  "These  two  regi- 
ments (the  Thirty-third  and  Twenty-sixth)  were  the  best 
armed,  and  fought  the  most  gallantly  of  any  of  the  enemy's 
forces.  They  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  for  three  hours,  until 
their  ammunition  was  exhausted,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
rebel  forces  had  retreated." 

General  Branch  says:  "The  conduct  of  the  Thirty-third 
was  all  that  I  could  desire.     It  moved  into  action  with  as 


544  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

much  promptness  and  steadiness  as  I  ever  saw  in  its  ranks 
on  dress  parade,  and  its  fire,  with  Eiifield  rifles,  was  terrific. 
Colonel  Avery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hoke  and  Major  Lewis 
did  their  duty  fully  against  an  overwhelming  force.  Its  gal- 
lant Colonel  was  captured  at  his  post." 

There  were  many  instances  of  private  bravery  and  devo- 
tion. Lieutenant-Colonel  Hoke  says :  "Private  David  Phi- 
f er,  of  Cdmpany  A,  was  killed  while  carrying  a  message  from 
Major  Lewis  to  Colonel  Avery,  and  Private  Dolchite,  of  the 
same  company,  threw  away  his  clothing  in  order  to  swim  the 
creek  and  save  his  gun.     He  is  a  boy  16  years  of  age." 

In  this  battle  the  Federals  had  at  least  12,000  men  (Gen- 
eral Branch  says  13,000,  with  a  reserve  of  7,000)  and  the 
Confederates  had  not  more  than  4,000.  It  was  a  severe  en- 
gagement. The  casualties  in  the  Thirty-third  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Killed,  32  ;  wounded,  28  ;  prisoners,  144.  The  losses 
were  unusually  heavy.  Oiir  regiment  lost  about  three  times 
as  many  in  killed  and  wounded  as  any  other  regiment  that 
was  engaged  in  the  battle.  Some  of  our  bravest  and  best 
men  found  bloody  graves  in  their  first  and  only  battle. 

Among  the  killed  were  William  Palmer,  John  M.  Shuler, 
Samuel  Whitaker,  Company  A;  John  H.  P.  Bryan,  Riley 
Bullock,  Wiley  Whitley,  Company  B ;  Charles  R.  Carter, 
Cotapany  E ;  Samuel  E.  Weston,  Oliver  S.  Neal,  William  H. 
Sadler,  Company  F;  J.  W.  Faircloth,  William  McDonald, 
D.  Reynolds,  Company  G ;  George  W.  Griffin,  Peter  T.  Lein- 
bach,  Company  I;  Robert  Turnage,  Sergeant  Benjamin  C. 
Beaman,  Company  K.  Noble  men.  They  died  facing  the  en- 
emy. 

After  the  battle  of  New  Bern  the  Thirty-third  Regiment, 
with  the  other  troops,  fell  back  to  Kinston.  All  of  the  troops 
at  Kinston  were  subsequently  thrown  into  two  brigades.  The 
First  Brigade  was  commanded  by  General  Robert  Ransom, 
and  the  Second  by  General  Branch.  The  Seventh,  Eigh- 
teenth, Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-third,  and  Thirty-seventh 
Regiments  were  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  31  March, 
1862.  The  brigade  retained  this  name  until  it  went  to  Vir- 
ginia. It  was  then  called  the  Fourth  Brigade  until  the  War 
Department  ordered  the  brigades  to  be  designated  by  the 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  545 

names  of  their  cominanders.  It  was  thereafter  called 
Branch's  Brigade  until  the  death  of  General  Branch  at 
Sharpsburg,  17  September,  1862,  and  thenceforth  was  Lane's 
Brigade. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Eegiment  left  for  Virginia  2  May, 
1862.  The  Thirty-third,  with  the  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade,  followed  two  days  later,  reaching  Gordonsvillc  5 
May,  at  night.  The  regiment  remained  there  about  ten  days. 
It  was  then  ordered  to  join  Jackson  in  the  valley,  but  it  went 
no  farther  than  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  "The  brigade," 
says  General  Lane,  "was  marched  backwards  and  forwards 
between  the  foot  of  the  mountains  and  a  little  town  called 
Criglersville  to  deceive  the  enemy  whose  signal  station  was  in 
full  view,  and  whose  flag  was  kept  constantly  waving  during 
the  day."  The  brigade  was  suddenly  ordered  back  to  Gor- 
donsville,  and  from  that  point  it  was  moved  quickly  to  Hano- 
ver Court  House,  where  it  stayed  a  short  time,  doing  picket 
duty  in  the  neighborhood. 

SLASH    CHUECH. 

May  26th,  the  regiment  was  marched  to  Slash  Church,  or 
Hanover  Court  House.  The  mud,  in  places,  was  almost  knee 
deep,  and  the  weather  extremely  disagreeable,  but  the  men 
were  cheerful  and  confident.  The  battle  of  Hanover  Court 
House  was  fought  27  May.  The  Confederate"  forces  engaged 
were  Branch's  Brigade,  the  Twelfth  North  Carolina,  Colonel 
Wade;  Forty-fifth  Georgia,  Colonel  Hardeman — two  regi- 
ments temporarily  attached  to  Branch's  Brigade — and  La- 
tham's North  Carolina  Battery,  which  had  arrived  the  day 
before  the  battle.  This  battery  was  far  from  being  in  prime 
condition.  The  horses  were  altogether  untrained,  and  there 
were  not  half  enough  men  to  serve  the  guns  efficiently. 
Still  it  did  magnificent  work.  The  Thirty-third,  under  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hoke,  rendered  admirable  service,  and  added 
no  little  to  the  fighting  reputation  it  had  already  acquired. 
The  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  also  won  imperishable  laurels 
in  this  engagement  by  hard  fighting  and  by  a  skillful  retreat, 
though  cut  off  from  the  remainder  of  the  brigade.  General 
McDowell  was  expected  to  reinforce  McClellan  in  his  opera- 
35 


546  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

tions  around  Eichmond,  but  General  Branch  "stood  in  tlie 
-way  for  an  adversary  against  him,"  and  the  Federal  com- 
mander resolved  to  crush  him  at  a  single  blovi^.  On  the  27th 
General  Fitz  John  Porter  moved  against  the  Confederate 
force  with  his  right  wing,  numbering  about  12,000  men, 
while  Branch  had  about  4,000.  But  never  did  troops  behave 
better.  Branch's  resistance  was  so  obstinate  and  his  move- 
ments so  masterly  that  we  are  not  surprised  at  the  statement 
of  General  Porter,  made  the  day  after  the  battle,  that 
"Branch's  force  comprised  about  8,000  men" — nor  at  the  be- 
wilderment of  General  Webb,  who,  writing  as  late  as  1881, 
says:  "Branch's  command  must  have  been  about  10,000 
strong."  In  his  congTatulatory  address  to  his  brigade.  Gen- 
eral Branch  says :  "At  Slash  Church  you  encountered  the 
division  of  General  Porter  and  a  part  of  the  division  of  Gen- 
eral Sedgwick.  You  repulsed  the  enemy's  attack,  and  boldly 
advancing  attacked  him  with  such  vigor  that  after  six  hours' 
combat  you  withdrew  in  perfect  order  to  prevent  being  sur- 
rounded in  the  night — the  enemy  not  daring  to  follow  you  be- 
yond the  field  of  battle." 

General  Lee  wrote  to  General  Branch:  "The  report  of 
your  recent  engagement  with  the  enemy  at  Slash  Church  has 
been  forwarded  by  Major-General  Hill.  I  take  great  pleas- 
ure in  expressing  my  approval  of  the  manner  in  which  you 
have  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  in  which  you  were 
placed,  and  of  the  gallant  manner  your  troops  opposed  a  very 
superior  force  of  the  enemy.  I  beg  you  will  signify  to  the 
troops  of  your  command  which  were  engaged  on  that  occa- 
sion my  hearty  approval  of  their  conduct." 

The  brigade  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  243,  officers  and 
men.  After  the  battle  of  Slash  Church,  the  regiment  went 
into  camp  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  some  dis- 
tance above  Seven  Pines,  on  the  Brook  turnpike,  about  three 
miles  from  Eichmond,  and  did  picket  duty  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  seven  days'  fights  around  Eichmond.  About  this 
time  Branch's  Brigade  was  assigned  to  General  A.  P.  Hill's 
Division,  and  thus  became  a  part  of  the  justly  famed  "Light 
Division"  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  Corps.  25  June  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  be  ready  to  move,  with  three  days' 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  547 

rations,  at  5  p.  m.  Five  companies  ■which  were  doing  picket 
duty  at  Crenshaw  Bridge,  were  under  the  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hoke;  the  remaining  five  were  in  charge  of 
Major  Cowan,  and  marched  with  the  brigade,  which  was 
ordered  to  cross  the  river  at  the  Telegraph  bridge.  On  Thurs- 
day, 26  June,  General  Branch,  having  deceived  the  enemy  as 
to  his  purpose,  by  masking  his  troops  in  the  woods,  crossed 
the  Chickahominy  at  11  a.  m. — the  first  brigade  to  cross — 
and  moved  down  the  river  to  drive  the  enemy  from  his  works, 
so  as  to  allow  the  remainder  of  the  division  to  cross.  We 
had  some  brisk  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  but  not  much 
hard  fighting.  We  found  overcoats,  blankets,  cooking  uten- 
sils, etc.,  scattered  promiscuously  along  the  route.  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Hoke,  with  his  five  companies,  joined  us  about  1 
p.  m.  We  marched  to  Mechanicsville,  reaching  that  point 
about  an  hour  before  dark,  under  a  most  galling  fire  of  shot 
and  shell.  About  10  p.  m.  the  firing  ceased,  and  the  regi- 
ment rested  upon  its  arms.  Early  the  next  morning  (the 
27th)  the  fight  was  resumed.  General  D:  H.  Hill  flanked 
the  Federals  and  they  fled,  leaving  everything  behind  them — 
shoes,  hats,  canteens,  haversacks,  etc.  About  12  m.  we  were 
ordered  to  march  in  the  direction  of  Gaines'  Mill,  on  the 
Chickahominy.  We  reached  Gaines'  Mill  about  4  p.  m., 
during  the  progress  of  a  severe  engagement,  and  were  imme- 
diately ordered  to  the  front,  where  we  remained  four  hours, 
driving  the  enemy  a  distance  of  two  miles.  This  fight  was 
hotly  contested,  and  the  Thirty-third  deserves  high  praise  for 
the  vigor  and  firmness  with  which  it  attacked  the  enemy  and 
dislodged  him  from  his  intrenchments. 

Here  Colonel  Campbell,  of  the  Seventh,  was  killed,  while 
proudly  leading  his  men  into  action  with  the  regismental 
colors  in  his  hands.  General  Branch  says  of  him:  "He 
might  justly  be  classed  among  the  ^bravest  of  the  brave.' 
*  *  *  Honorable  as  a  man  and  skillful  as  an  officer,  his 
loss  to  the  brigade  is  irreparable." 

During  the  hottest  part  of  the  fight  at  Cold  Harbor  an 
amusing  incident  occurred.  Colonel  Lane,  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  (afterwards  General  Lane)  was  struck  on  the  head  by 
a  minie  ball.     Coolly  stopping,  he  turned  to  Sergeant  Mil- 


548  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

ton  A.  Lowe,  his  color-bearer,  and,  bending  down  his  head, 
said  with  the  utmost  sang  froid,  "Sergeant,  is  my  scalp  cut  ?" 
Sergeant  Lowe,  as  brave  and  as  cool  as  General  Lane  himself, 
examined  his  head  carefully,  and  said:  "No,  Colonel,  it  is 
only  scorched  a  little." 

feasee's  faem. 

On  the  28th  we  were  not  engaged.  The  enemy  had  been 
driven  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  we  were  ordered  to  be 
ready,  with  two  days'  rations  to  march  at  daylight  the  next 
morning.  On  the  29th  we  recrossed  the  river  and  marched 
down  James  river  a  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles.  On 
the  30th  the  regiment  again  moved  down  the  river  and  about 
3  p.  m.,  the  presence  of  the  enemy  was  made  known  to  us  by  a 
heavy  firing  of  shot  and  shell.  We  were  instantly  ordered  to 
the  fighting  line.  The  men  moved  into  action  at  a  double 
quick  with  deafening  yells,  across  an  open  field — a  distance 
of  500  yards — with  no  protection  whatever.  The  enemy's 
batteries  were  strongly  supported  by  infantry,  and  they  kept 
up  a  deadly  and  incessant  fii-e.  It  was  one  continuous  roar. 
Besides,  we  were  enfiladed  by  a  merciless  fire  of  artillery- 
But  nothing  could  stop  the  Confederates.  On  they  pressed 
with  determined  treatd,  with  unfaltering  purpose,  regardless 
of  the  fire  in  front  or  on  the  flank,  resolved  to  win  the  victory, 
or  fill  a  gory  grave.  The  enemy  soon  yielded  the  field,  and 
we  pursued  them  nearly  a  mile.  This  was  the  battle  of  Era- 
ser's Farm. 

1  July  we  remained  quiet  until  6  p.  m.,  at  which  time  we 
were  ordered  to  march  to  the  support  of  General  D.  H.  Hill 
at  Malvern  Hill.  In  this  fight  we  were  not  engaged,  but 
were  under  a  continuous  and  heavy  fire  of  shot  and  shell. 
2  and  3  July  we  pursued  the  enemy,  but  his  speed  was  so 
great  we  found  it  was  impossible  to  overtake  him.  We  then 
bivouacked  for  several  days,  but  the  enemy  did  not  disturb 
us.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hoke  said:  "I  am  proud  of  the 
Thirty-third." 

At  Fraser's  Farm,  Colonel  Lee,  of  the  Thirty-Seventh, 
was  killed.  He  was  an  excellent  man,  and  an  accomplished 
officer.     In  a  congratulatory  order,  General  Branch  says: 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  549 

"In  the  late  brilliant  operations  below  Eichmond,  you  were 
the  first  brigade  to  cross  the  Chiokahominy,  you  were  the  first 
to  meet  the  enemy,  and  the  first  to  start  him  on  that  retreat  in 
which  the  able  combinations  of  our  General-in-Chief  allowed 
him  to  take  no  rest  until  he  found  shelter  under  the  guns  of 
his  shipping." 

General  Porter,  of  the  Federal  army,  bears  this  testimony 
to  the  valor  and  staying  qualities  of  Branch's  Brigade,  and 
the  other  brigades  of  the  peerless  "Light  Division :"  "Dash- 
ing across  the  intervening  plains,  floundering  in  the  swamps, 
struggling  against  the  tangled  brushwood,  brigade  after  brig- 
ade seemed  to  melt  away  before  the  concentrated  fire  of  our 
artillery  and  infantry ;  yet  others  pressed  on,  followed  by  sup- 
ports as  dashing  and  as  brave  as  their  predecessors." 

In  obedience  to  orders,  the  names  of  the  following  engage- 
ments were  inscribed  on  the  battle  flag  of  the  Thirty-third,  to- 
wit :  New  Bern,  Slash  Church,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines'  Mill, 
Fraser's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill.  The  casualties  in  the  last 
four  battles  were:  Killed,  8;  wounded,  52.  Malvern  Hill 
was  a  death  trap.  McClellan's  entire  army  was  concentrated 
there.  The  position  was  one  of  great  natural  strength  and  it 
was  rendered  almost  impregnable  by  military  genius  of  the 
highest  order.  The  hand  of  a  master  in  the  art  of  war  was 
everywhere  visible.  Still,  it  could  have  been  taken  if  the 
Confederate  troops  had  moved  simultaneouly  against  it.  But 
they  did  not,  though  they  fought  with  dauntless  spirit  and 
bravery.  They  failed,  and  McClellan  escaped.  The  war 
might  have  ended  at  Malvern  Hill. 

CEDAR  ETJN. 

After  the  battles  around  Richmond  the  brigade  encamped 
near  that  city  for  a  short  time,  and  was  then  sent  to  Gordons- 
ville  (29  July)  at  which  place  it  remained  until  a  few  days  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Cedar  Run,  which  was  fought  9  August. 
The  march  to  the  battlefield  was  rapid  and  exhausting.  We 
reached  there  on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  and  were  immedi- 
ately ordered  into  action  on  the  left  of  the  road  leading  to 
the  run.  The  order  of  formation  from  right  to  left  was  as 
follows:     Thirty-seventh — its  right  resting  on  the  road — 


550  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-third,  Eighteenth  and  Seventh.  Four 
of  the  regiments,  Thirty-seventh,  Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-third 
and  Eighteenth,  moved  briskly  forward  through  a  tangled  un- 
dergrowth, in  perfect  order,  as  on  dress  parade,  and  com- 
pletely routed  the  enemy.  The  Seventh  by  some  means  be- 
came detachd  from  the  brigade,  and  did  not  advance  with 
the  other  regiments.  While  moving  to  the  front  we  met  the 
celebrated  Stonewall  Brigade,  retreating  in  some  confusion — 
General  Branch  says,  "fleeing  as  fast  as  they  could" — closely 
followed  by  the  enemy.  Our  brigade  coolly  opened  ranks  to 
allow  the  fugitives  to  pass,  then  closing  up  in  compact  line 
pressed  gallantly  on,  in  nowise  disturbed  by  the  terror- 
stricken  cries  of  the  runaways,  or  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in 
front.  The  enettny  had  already  flanked  General  Taliaferro's 
Brigade  which  was  on  our  right,  and  which  had  fallen  back 
in  considerable  disorder. 

General  Branch  says:  "My  brigade  poured  volley  after 
volley  into  the  enemy  who  broke  and  fled  precipi- 
tately through  the  woods  and  across  the  field."  The 
Federal  cavalry  now  made  a  gallant  charge  upon  Tal- 
iaferro's Brigade,  which  had  partially  rallied  after 
Branch  had  driven  the  enemy  from  their  flank,  but  the  com- 
bined fire  of  Taliaferro  in  front  and  Branch  on  the  flank, 
broke  up  the  column,  and  sent  it  flying  bads  to  the  rear.  Gen- 
eneral  Branch  wrote:  "My  officers  and  men  behaved  flnely. 
Such  was  their  steadiness  that  I  was  able  to  preserve  my  line 
unbroken  throughout  the  day."  There  can  be  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  this  victory  was  mainly  due  tO'  the  courage,  firm- 
ness and  endurance  of  Branch's  Brigade.  The  Stonewall 
Brigade  and  Taliferro's  were  simply  broken  in  pieces,  and 
the  enemy,  with  loud  and  confident  cheers,  was  driving  them 
pell-mell  before  him.  "At  this  critical  moment,"  says  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  "Branch's  Brigade  met  the  Federal  forces, 
flushed  with  temporary  triumph,  and  drove  them  back  with 
terrible  slaughter  through  the  woods."  General  A.  P.  Hill 
says:  "Winder's  (Stonewall's)  Brigade,  immediately  in 
front  of  Branch,  being  hard  pressed,  broke,  and  many  fugi- 
tives came  back.  Branch  was  immediately  ordered  forward, 
and  passing  through  the  broken  brigade,  checked  the  pur- 


THIKTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 

1.  John  D.  Fain,  Captain,  Co.  C.  4.    Willou(rhby  F.  Avery,  Captain,  Co  I 

2.  Oliver  T.  Parks,  Captain,  Co.  D.  6.    Spier  Whitalier,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adit' 

3.  Josepti  C.  Mills,  Captain.  Co.  G.  6.    Francis  B.  Craige,  1st  Lieut.,  Co  C 

7.    Wilson  T.  Farrow,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  H. 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  551 

suit,  and  in  turn  drove  them  back  and  relieved  Taliaferro's 
flank."  General  Jackson  appeared  in  our  front  after  the 
battle  was  over  and  was  most  enthusiastically  cheered.  Sut- 
ton, historian  of  the  Eighteenth,  says :  "General  Jackson  rode 
out  in  front  of  our  brigade,  and  'dropped'  his  hat  in  silent  ac- 
knowledgment of  our  deed  in  holding  so  important  a  point, 
which  the  old  Stonewall  Brigade  had  failed  to  do."  It  was 
a  grand  sight — Stonewall  Jackson  the  Great,  baring  his  sun- 
crowned  head  in  our  presence,  l^o  one  that  saw  it  can  ever 
forget  it.     What  a  theme  for  a  painter. 

One  is  reminded  of  an  incident  given  in  Taylor's  "De- 
struction and  Keconstruction."  General  Jackson,  at  the 
beginning  of  a  battle  placed  his  servant,  Jack,  at  a  point 
which  the  General  thought  would  be  safe  from  the  enemy's 
fire,  and  told  him  to  stay  there.  The  enemy,  however,  unex- 
pectedly attacked  the  place  where  Jack  was,  but  Jack  never 
stirred,  although  bullets  were  raining  thick  and  fast  around 
him.  At  night,  while,  sitting  around  the  camp  fire.  General 
Jackson  rose,  went  to  Jack,  and,  taking  him  by  the  hand, 
shook  it  for  a  long  time,  without  saying  a  word,  in  "silent  ac- 
knowledgment" of  his  heroic  deed.  At  Cedar  Run  we  had 
six  killed  and  thirty  wounded.  Here  was  killed  Captain 
Swindell,  of  Company  H.  He  possessed  high  soldierly  qual- 
ities, and  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  company  and  regiment. 
12  to  20  August  we  were  encamped  near  Orange  Court 
House.  Sunday,  24  August,  the  Thirty-third  and  Twenty- 
eighth  were  ordered  to  support  Braxton's  and  Davidson's  Bat- 
teries, in  order  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  destruction  of  the 
bridge  across  the  Rappahannock,  near  the  Warrenton  White 
Sulphur  Springs.  The  two  regiments  were  exposed  to  a 
severe  and  protracted  cannonade  during  the  whole  day.  27 
August  we  marched  to  Manassas  Junction.  Soon  after  we 
reached  that  place  the  enemy  was  seen  approaching  in  line  of 
battle.  It  proved  to  be  Taylor's  ISTew  Jersey  Brigade.  We 
laid  a  trap  for  them,  but  our  artillery  fired  too  soon,  and  we 
failed  to  capture  them.  As  soon  as  the  artillery  opened  upon 
them  the  entire  command  broke  and  fled  precipitately.  We 
pursued  them  some  distance  beyond  Bull  Run.  We  captured 
a  large  number  of  prisoners.     On  our  march  to  Manassas 


552  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Junction  we  had  nothing  to  eat  but  roasting  ears,  and  we 
inarched  so  fast  that  we  were  told  by  an  artillerist  that  if  we 
went  much  farther,  the  battery  would  be  left  behind,  as  Jack- 
son's "foot  cavalry"  had  broken  down  the  horses.  On  the 
28th  at  Manassas  Plains,  the  Thirty-third  helped  to  support 
a  battery  in  an  open  field  with  no  cover  and  it  rendered  very 
efficient  service.  On  the  29th  the  brigade  moved  to  the  sup- 
port of  General  Gregg,  who  was  in  the  woods  on  our  right. 
The  Thirty-third  was  next  to  the  Twenty-eighth,  which  was 
on  the  extreme  left,  and  it  fought  splendidly.  General  Lane 
says :  "The  Thirty-third  under  Colonel  Hoke  fought  well  in 
the  woods,  and  once  gallantly  advanced  into  the  open  field  in 
front,  and  drove  the  enemy  back  in  disorder."  This  was 
a  terrific  fight.  General  Lane  says:  "Never  have  I  wit- 
nessed greater  bravery  and  desperation  than  were  that  day 
displayed  by  this  brigade."  There  were  many  hand-to-hand 
fights. 

30  August,  the  Thirty-third  was  ^mder  a  furious  artil- 
lery fire,  and  was  engaged  in  heavy  skirmishing.  Regimen- 
tal loss,  1  killed,  7  wounded.  The  Thirty-third  was  in  the 
engagement  at  Ox  Hill,  near  Fairfax  Court  House  1  Sep- 
tember, and  fought  with  its  usual  intrepidity.  This  was  one 
of  the  severest  engagements  of  the  war.  It  rained  heavily 
during  the  entire  battle.  We  used  every  round  of  ammuni- 
tion, but  General  Branch  ordered  us  to  hold  our  positions  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  We  did  so  until  dark,  when  the 
brigade  fell  back  to  the  field  in  rear  of  the  woods.  The  Fed- 
eral infantry  used  a  great  many  explosive  balls.  Regimental 
loss,  1  killed,  16  wounded.  General  Branch  writes:  "I 
would  not  have  believed  without  actual  experience  that  flesh, 
blood  and  muscle  could  stand  what  we  have  stood — ^marching, 
fighting  and  starving,  almost  incessantly  night  and  day.  l^o 
brigade  in  the  service  has  been  in  as  many  battles,  and  done 
so  much  hard  service  as  mine."  3  September  we  marched 
through  Leesburg,  crossed  the  Potomac  on  the  5  th  and 
reached  Frederick  City  on  the  6th,  where  we  remained  sev- 
eral days. 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  553 

haepee's  feeet. 

The  first  day  after  we  crossed  the  Potomac  General  Jack- 
son ordered  General  Branch  to  send  his  men  into  a  corn  field 
near  by  to  fill  their  haversacks  with  roasting  ears.  JTo  second 
order  was  given.  We  recrossed  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport, 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  14:th  marched  down  the  Winchester 
and  Harper's  Ferry  road,  and  that  night  routed  the  enemy 
from  the  cliffs  of  the  Shenandoah.  The  next  morning  found 
us  on  the  flank,  and  in  rear  of  Bolivar  Heights,  where  the  en- 
emy were  plainly  visible  in  their  works.  Loudon  Heights 
were  occupied  by  Walker's  Division,  and  Maryland  Heights 
by  McLaw's,  thus  completely  investing  the  place.  Our  ar- 
tillery opened  a  terrific  fire  upon  the  enemy.  In  the  morn- 
ing of  the  15th  several  white  flags  were  displayed,  and  we 
marched  in  and  took  possession  without  further  resistance. 
We  remained  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  witnessed  the  surrender 
of  11,000  men,  who  marched  out  and  stacked  arms  in  rear  of 
the  works  on  Bolivar  Heights.  On  17  September  we  made  a 
rapid  and  exhausting  march  to  Sharpsburg,  reaching  that 
point  in  the  afternoon  at  3 :30  o'clock,  in  time  to  take  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  fight.  Without  a  moment's  rest,  though  we 
had  marched  seventeen  miles  almost  at  a  double  quick.  Gen- 
eral Branch  moved  into  line  of  battle,  and  fought  with  a  cour- 
age and  tenacity  rarely  equalled,  and  never  surpassed.  Branch, 
Gregg  ap.d  Archer  saved  General  Lee  on  that  day  from  an 
overwhelming  defeat.  General  Longstreet  says  that  General 
Burnside  was  outflanked,  staggered  and  driven  back  by 
the  gallant  and  crushing  attack  of  A.  P.  Hill's  Brigades. 
General  A.  P.  Hill  writes :  "With  a  yell  of  defiance.  Archer 
charged  them,  retook  Mcintosh's  guns,  and  drove  them  back, 
pell-mell.  Branch  and  Gregg,  with  their  old  veterans, 
sternly  held  their  ground,  and  pouring  in  destructive  volleys, 
the  tide  of  tlie  enemy  surged  back."  Here  the  South  sus- 
tained an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  General  Branch. 
"He  had  with  his  command,"  says  Major  John  Hughes,  "just 
swept  the  enemy  before  him,  and  driven  them  in  such  confu- 
sion and  dismay,  that  all  firing  had  ceased  in  his  immediate 
front,  when  Generals  Gregg  and  Archer  directed  his  attention 


554  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

to  a  V-shaped  column  of  the  enemy  that  was  advancing  against 
the  troops  on  his  left.  He  stepped  forward  and  formed  with 
these  Generals  a  little  group,  which  evidently  attracted  the 
attention  of  some  sharpshooter  on  the  other  side.  For,  just 
as  he  was  raising  his  glasses  to  his  eyes,  a  single  shot  was 
fired,  and  a  bullet  was  sent  to  do  its  deadly  work,  which, 
striking  him  in  the  right  cheek,  passed  out  back  of  his  left 
ear,  and  he  fell  dying  into  the  arms  of  the  faithful  and  gal- 
lant Major  Englehard,  of  his  staff,  than  whom  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina sent  no  truer  man  to  the  front.  His  death  was  regarded 
as  a  public  calamity." 

He  was  the  truest  of  patriots.  He  loved  his  country  with 
deathless  affection,  and  there  was  no  sacrifice,  however  great, 
that  he  would  not  have  made  for  the  good  of  his  people.  His 
moral  power  was  very  great.  Like  Sir  Galahad,  his  "strength 
was  as  the  strength  of  ten  because  his  heart  was  pure." 

At  the  time  of  his  death  General  Branch  was  one  of  the 
ablest  and  most  accomplished  soldiers  of  his  rank  in  either 
army — Union  or  Confederate.  He  would  have  honored  and 
advanced  any  position  within  the  gift  of  the  Confederate 
Government.  General  A.  P.  Hill,  his  immediate  superior, 
says  of  him : 

"The  Confederacy  has  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  gallant  soldier 
and  an  accomplished  gentleman,  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  Brigadier-General  L.  O'B.  Branch,  of  North  Caro- 
lina. He  was  my  senior  brigadier,  and  one  to  whom  I  could 
have  entrusted  the  command  of  the  division  with  all  confi- 
dence." His  men  loved  him  and  almost  idolized  him.  He 
died  as  a  soldier  would  wish  to  die,  facing  the  enemy,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty.  Had  he  not  been  killed,  he  would  un- 
doubtedly have  been  appointed  a  Major-General. 

SHAEPSBITEG. 

Sharpsburg  was  a  battle  of  almost  unprecedented  severity. 
No  action,  perhaps,  was  ever  more  keenly  debated.  The 
fierce  vigor  and  determination  evinced  by  both  sides  was  due 
to  the  finding  by  the  enemy  of  General  Lee's  celebrated  order 
No.  191,  known  as  the  "Lost  Dispatch,"  which  revealed  to 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  555 

McClellan  General  Lee's  plans  in  detail,  conveyed  other  im- 
portant information,  and  caused  blood  to  flow  like  water. 
McOlellan  promptly  availed  himself  of  the  knowledge  thus 
gained,  and  put  his  army  in  motion  "to  cut  the  enemy  in  two 
and  beat  him  in  detail."  Was  the  order  lost  at  Lee's  head- 
quarters ?  Or  did  the  courier  lose  it  ?  Was  there  careless- 
ness ?  Or  was  there  treason  ?  God  only  knows.  It  is  cer- 
tain General  D.  H.  Hill  himself  did  not  lose  the  order.  Lee's 
loss  at  Sharpsburg  almost  exceeds  belief.  It  amounted  to 
nearly  one-third  of  his  army.  Regimental  loss,  3  killed,  16 
wounded. 

After  the  death  of  General  Branch,  Colonel  Lane,  of  the 
Twenty-eighth,  assumed  command  of  the  brigade.  On  the 
18th  the  brigade  was  not  engaged.  The  Federals  had  been 
so  roughly  handled  that  they  were  glad  enough  to  let  us 
alone.  That  night  (the  18th)  and  the  following  morning 
we  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown.  Branch's  Bri- 
gade (Lane),  Archer's  and  Gregg's  constituting  the  rear 
guard,  were  the  last  to  cross,  and  were  shelled  as  they  reached 
the  Virginia  shore.  These  brigades  maintained  their  ground 
until  every  wagon  and  every  ambulance  had  crossed,  and 
Lane's  rescued  some  wounded  Georgia  soldiers  whom  the 
men  of  their  own  command  had  basely  deserted. 

The  battle  of  Shepherdstown  was  fought  20  September.  We 
were  ordered  to  support  Pender,  who,  with  Gregg  and 
Thomas,  was  in  the  front  line.  Lane,  learning  that  Pender's 
Brigade  was  flanked,  on  its  left,  moved  rapidly  to  the 
left,  unmasked  Pender  and  routed  the  enemy  from  the 
field.  We  pursued  them,  drove  them  precipitately 
into  the  river  where  many  of  them  were  drowned,  and 
held  our  position  until  dark,  although  we  were  furiously 
shelled  during  the  entire  day.  It  was  altogether  an  infantry 
fight  on  our  side,  as  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground  General 
Hill  could  not  use  his  artillery.  The  weather  was  extremely 
hot,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  men  were  great.  Regimental 
loss,  10  wounded.  After  the  battle  of  Shepherdstown  we  went 
into  camp  near  Snicker's  Gap,  and  subsequently,  near  Win- 
chester. By  command  of  General  Jackson  in  person  we 
marched  to  Hedgesville,  and  tore  up  a  large  portion  of  the 


556  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

track  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  Colonel  Lane  was 
appointed  Brigadier-General  1  JSTovember,  1862,  and  was  as- 
signed to  Branch's  Brigade,  which  he  had  commanded  since 
the  death  of  General  Branch. 

FEEDEKICKSBUEG. 

22  JSTovember  we  left  Winchester,  crossed  the  Bine  Ridge 
with  the  remainder  of  Jackson's  Corps,  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg  on  13  December.  The  Thirty-third 
Regiment  occupied  a  position  on  the  railroad,  in  the  centre  of 
the  brigade,  the  Twenty-eighth  and  Thirty-scYenth  being  on 
its  right  and  the  Eighteenth  and  Seventh  on  its  left.  That 
morning  while  getting  ready  to  march  to  our  unfortified  posi- 
tion on  the  railroad.  General  Jackson  suddenly  appeared  in 
our  front  with  his  cap  pulled  down  over  his  forehead,  almost 
hiding  his  eyes.  The  troops  cheered  him  wildly.  He  gave 
us  a  sharp,  searching,  but  not  unkindly  look,  raised  his  cap, 
and  rode  rapidly  on.  His  eyes  seemed  to  be  on  fire,  sO'  eager 
was  he  for  the  fray.  On  the  right  of  Lane  was  Archer,  whose 
right  rested  on  Hamilton's  Heights.  Lane's  Brigade  was 
thrown  forward  a  little,  and  was  therefore  the  first  to  feel  the 
shock  of  the  enemy.  Pender  was  on  our  left,  but  somewhat 
in  the  rear.  About  1  p.  m.  the  fog  lifted,  and  the  enemy  in 
overwhelming  numbers  could  be  plainly  seen,  making  vigor- 
ous preparations  for  the  attack.  In  a  short  time  they  began 
to  advance  under  a  terrific  shelling  of  the  Confederate  bat- 
teries. They  were  staggered  by  the  murderous  fire  of  our  ar- 
tillery, but  soon  recovering,  pressed  bravely  on.  Our  picket 
line  retired  slowly  and  in  perfect  order  before  the  enemy. 
Captain  Riddick  Gatling,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  picket 
line,  was  complimented  for  the  bravery  and  coolness  which  he 
displayed.  A  high  hill  was  in  our  immediate  front,  about  75 
yards  distant,  which  hid  the  advancing  enemy  from  our  view. 
Colonel  Avery  asked  General  Lane,  who  was  in  the  edge  of 
the  wood,  about  50  yards  in  our  rear,  if  he  might  advance  his 
regiment  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  anticipate  the  en- 
emy's attack.  General  Lane  replied:  "ISTo,  Colonel,  hold 
your  position  at  all  hazards."  The  enemy  came  surging  on, 
firing  rapidly,  the  balls  falling  thick  and  fast  around  us,  but 


Thirty-Thikd  Regiment.  557 

we  were  unable,  on  account  of  the  hill,  to  return  the  fire.  In 
a  few  moments  the  enemy  reached  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  the 
Thirty-third  poured  into  them  a  well-directed  and  destructive 
volley.  Considerable  confusion  was  observed  in  their  ranks, 
and  we  thought  they  were  about  to  retreat ;  but  they  reformed 
and  started  again,  the  Confederates  meanwhile  keeping  up  a 
continuous  and  deadly  fire.  The  enenny's  line  was  broken 
in  several  places,  and  Colonel  Avery  ordered  a  charge,  but 
not  being  supported,  and  seeing  that  our  brigade  was  fianked 
on  the  right,  he  was  compelled,  in  obedience  to  instructions, 
slowly  to  fall  back;  to  the  wood  in  our  rear.  We  re-formed, 
and  again  attacking  the  enemy,  drove  them  back  over  the 
railroad  and  re-established  our  line.  On  our  right,  between 
Lane  and  Archer,  was  a  miry  swamp  about  200  yards  wide, 
which  was  left  without  any  protection  whatever,  General 
Hill  doubtless  thinking  the  place  was  impenetrable.  But  de- 
termined men  can  go  anywhere,  and  the  Federals  went 
straight  through  this  swamp,  shouting  and  yelling  like  mad- 
men. At  the  other  end  of  the  swamp  they  came  upon  Gregg's 
Brigade,  which  was  intended  as  a  support  to  Lane.  They 
surprised  it  completely,  and  killed  General  Gregg  in  the 
melee.  About  dark  we  were  ordered  to  move  quietly  to  the 
railroad.  We  formed  a  line  of  battle  on  the  railroad  near  the 
spot  we  had  occupied  in  the  morning.  The  orders  were  whis- 
pered down  the  line,  and  we  were  directed  to  make  as  little 
noise  as  possible.  We  remained  in  that  position  about  half 
an  hour,  expecting  every  moment  to  be  ordered  forward.  We 
then  moved  back  to  the  woods,  a  little  in  our  rear,  and  biv- 
ouacked for  the  night.  The  next  morning  Major  Englehard 
rode  over  to  the  Thirty-third  to  inquire  about  his  friends,  of 
whom  he  had  many  in  that  regiment.  I  saw  him  coming  on 
his  white  horse,  and  I  walked  out  about  thirty  yards  from 
the  regiment  to  meet  him.  "Major,"  said  I,  "what  was  the 
meaning  of  that  movement  yesterday  about  dark?"  "Well," 
said  he,  "I  will  tell  you.  It  was  General  Lee's  intention  to 
make  a  night  attack.  A  council  of  war  was  held  in  the  af- 
ternoon, at  which  General  Jackson  strongly  advocated  a  night 
attack,  but  most  of  the  Generals  violently  opposed  it.  Gen- 
eral Lee  finally  decided  to  make  it,  and  orders  were  issued  to 


558  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

that  effect.     But  the  Generals  opposed  to  the  night  attack 
persuaded  General  Lee  to  call  a  second  council  of  war,  and 
in  that  council  General  Jackson  was  overruled,  and  the  or- 
ders were  countermanded.     General  Hoke — than  whom,  (if 
we  except  Lee  and  Jackson)  there  was  no  more  gallant  nor 
skillful  officer  in  either  army — assures  me  that  Jackson  did 
wish  to  make  a  night  attack;  that  he  (Hoke)  received  orders 
to  that  effect,  and  had  begun  to  execute  them,  when  he  was  re^ 
called  from  the  field.  JSTotwithstanding  all  denials,  emanating 
from  high  sources,  the  proof  is  unquestionable  and  decisive. 
The  testimony  of  Dr.  Hunter  McGuire  puts  the  matter  be- 
yond all  dispute.     Dr.  McGuire  says :     "At  Fi'edericksburg, 
after  Burnside's  repulse,  Jackson  asked  me  how  many  hand- 
ages  I  had.     I  told  him,  and  asked  why  he  wanted  to  know. 
He  said  that  he  wanted  to  have  a  piece  of  white  cloth  to  tie 
on  each  man's  arm  so  that  his  soldiers  might  recognize  each 
other  in  a  night  attack,  and  he  asked  to  be  allowed  to  make 
such  an  attack,  and  drive  his  foe  into  the  river  or  capture 
him.     Subsequent  events  demonstrated  that  he  knew  the  state 
of  things  within  the  hostile  lines,   and  would  have  accom- 
plished his  purpose."     It  is  now  well  known  that  the  Fed- 
eral army  was  utterly  demoralized,  and  that  Jackson  would- 
have  captured  or  destroyed  it.     As  Napoleon  was  fond  of  say- 
ing— "not  a  man  of  them  would  have  escaped."     The  casu- 
alties in  the  regiment  were  9  killed,  32  wounded.     After  this 
great  battle  we  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Moss  Neck,  below 
Fredericksburg  and  did  picket  duty  on  the  Rappahannock. 
The  Federals  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  we 
could  easily  hear  their  brass  bands  playing  their  national  airs. 
The  winter  was  severe,  and  the  roads  almost  impassable.     We 
helped  to  "pole"  them,  and  put  them  in  good  condition.  Gen- 
eral Jackson's  headquarters  were  near  the  Thirty-third  Eeg- 
iment. 

One  fine  morning.  Lieutenant  Morrison,  one  of  Jackson's 
aides,  came  over  to  the  Thirty-third  and  said  to  Captain  Wil- 
loughby  Avery,  "General  Jackson  is  walking  about  his  tent 
this  morning  like  a  caged  lion.  The  Yankee  music  across 
the  Rappahannock  greatly  annoys  him."     "Napoleon,"  he 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  559 

says,  "would  not  have  permitted  this.     The  enemy  ought  to 
be  driven  into  the  Potomac." 

CHANCELLOESVILLE. 

While  at  Moss  l^eek  General  Lane  was  presented  with  a 
sword  and  General's  sash,  and  a  fine  saddle  and  bridle,  the 
gift  of  the  officers  of  the  Brigade,  as  a  slight  testimonial  of 
their  esteem.  Colonel  Barber,  of  the  Thirty-seventh,  pre- 
sented them  in  a  neat  and  graceful  speech. 

In  April,  1863,  the  enemy  began  to  make  demonstrations 
in  our  front,  and  we  were  ordered  to  occupy  the  second  line 
of  works  near  Hamilton's  Crossing.  1  May  the  brigade 
was  in  the  famous  flank  march  to  Chancellor  sville. 
At  night  we  formed  line  of  battle  not  far  from  that 
place  throwing  forward  a  heavy  line  of  skirmishers.  The 
next  day  (2d)  about  dark  we  were  ordered  to  advance  to  the 
front  for  a  night  attack.  Jackson  had  swept  the  Federals 
before  him  like  a  whirlwind  and  he  was  anxious  to  complete 
the  victory.  The  Thirty-third  was  deployed  as  skirmishers 
across  the  plank  road,  and  the  line  of  battle  in  rear  was  as 
follows :  Seventh  and  Thirty-seventh  on  the  right  and  Eigh- 
teenth and  Twenty-eighth  on  the  left — the  left  of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  and  the  right  of  the  Eighteenth  resting  on  the  road. 
The  Thirty-third  thus  occupied  the  post  of  danger,  but  it  was 
also  the  post  of  honor.  A  small  force  of  the  enemy  succeeded 
in  getting  in  between  the  skirmish  line  (Thirty- third)  and 
the  Seventh  Regiment  on  our  right.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Smith,  (One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Pennsylvania) 
came  up  to  the  Seventh  vsdth  a  "white  handkerchief  tied  to  a 
stick,  to  learn,  as  he  said,  whether  we  were  friends  or  foes." 
He  said  he  did  not  wish  to  surrender.  The  simpleton  imag- 
ined General  Lane  would  allow  him  to  return;  and  when, 
subsequently,  his  whole  command  was  captured,  he  had  the 
presumption  to  contend  that  the  Confederates  had  acted  in 
bad  faith. 

About  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  Generals  Jackson  and  Hill 
with  their  staff  officers  and  couriers,  rode  past  the  Eighteenth 
on  the  plank  road,  and  turned  into  the  woods  on  the  left,  in 
front  of  the  Eighteenth.     It  was  dark,  and  the  Eighteenth 


560  North  Cakolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

did  not  know  who  they  were.  The  cry  of  Yankee  cavalry 
was  raised,  and  the  Eighteenth  fired,  in  obedience  to  orders, 
and  General  Jackson  fell  mortally  wounded.  It  was  a  crush- 
ing blow.  Our  sun  had  set — the  glory  of  the  centuries.^  Jack- 
son wlas  a  giant  of  giants — a  soldier  of  Napoleonic  genius  for 
war. 

Dr.  McGuire  tells  us  that  at  Malvern  Hill  when  a  portion 
of  our  army  was  beaten,  and  to  some  extent  demoralized.  Hill, 
Ewell  and  Early  came  to  tell  him  they  could  make  no  resist- 
ance if  McClellan  attacked  them  in  the  morning.  "It  was 
difficult  to  wake  General  Jackson,  as  he  was  exhausted  and 
very  sound  asleep.  I  tried  it  myself,  and  after  many  efforts 
partly  succeeded.  When  he  was  made  to  understand  what 
was  wanted,  he  said,  'McClellan  and  his  army  will  be  gone 
by  daylight,'  and  went  to  sleep  again.  The  generals  thought 
him  mad,  but  the  prediction  was  true."  Jackson's  mind 
leaped  like  lightning  to  an  infallible  conclusion.  That  was 
the  perfection  of  genius. 

When  Jackson  and  Hill  were  wounded,  the  night  attack 
of  course  was  given  up,  and  another  disposition  was  made  of 
the  troops  in  front.  The  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth 
were  withdrawn  from  the  left  of  the  road,  and  the  left  wing 
of  the  Thirty-third  was  withdrawn  as  skirmishers.  _  The 
right  of  the  brigade  was  thrown  back  about  midnight,  and  the 
order  from  right  to  left  was,  Twenty-eighth,  Eighteenth 
Thirty-third,  Seventh,  Thirty-seventh.  A  little  after  mid- 
night, Sickles,  with  two  strong  lines,  attacked  our  right  with 
spirit  and  vigor.  The  Eighteenth,  Twenty-eighth  and  left 
wing  of  the  Thirty-third  repulsed  him  handsomely.  In-  a 
short  time  Sickles  renewed  the  attack,  but  was  again  driven 
back  with  great  slaughter.  On  Sunday,  3  May,  the  brigade 
charged  the  enemy  in  their  intrenohments,  and  completely 
routed  them,  though  they  were  vastly  superior  in  numbers. 
Some  of  the  troops  passed  over  the  breastworks,  and  took  sev- 
eral prisoners.  Biit  the  works  could  not  be  held,  for  the  en- 
emy had  twenty-nine  pieces  of  artillery  near  the  Chancellor 
House  which  at  once  opened  a  terrific  fire  of  shell,  grape  and 
canister,  and  it  was  not  possible  for  flesh  and  blood  to  stand 
the  withering,  concentrated  fire  of  these  Federal  batteries. 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  561 

Besides,  our  support  failed  us,  our  right  was  turned,  and 
fresh  troops  were  advancing  against  us.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances. Colonel  Avery,  in  obedience  to  instructions,  or- 
dered a  retreat.  We  reformed  a  little  in  our  rear,  refilled 
our  cartridge  boxes  and  moved  into  the  woods  to  the  left  of 
the  plank  road  in  order  to  support  General  Colquitt,  whose 
ammunition  had  almost  given  out.  We  remained  in  line  all 
night,  with  heavy  skirmishing  in  front.  General  Lane  says : 
"Never  have  I  seen  men  fight  more  gallantly,  and  bear 
fatigue  and  hardships  more  cheerfully.  I  shall  always  feel 
proud  of  the  noble  bearing  of  my  brigade  in  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  the  bloodiest  in  which  it  has  ever  taken  part, 
when  the  Thirty-third  discharged  its  duties  so  well  as  skir- 
mishers and  with  the  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  gal- 
lantly repulsed  two  night  attacks  made  by  vastly  superior 
numbers,  and  when  the  Seventh  and  Thirty-seventh  vied  with 
each  other  as  to  who  shoiild  first  drive  the  Federals  from 
their  works." 

General  Heth,  who  commanded  the  Light  Division  after 
A.  P.  Hill  was  wounded,  says :  "Lane's  Brigade,  supported 
by  McGowan's  Brigade,  and,  ("ostensibly")  by  the  Fortieth 
and  Forty-seventh  Virginia  Regiments,  advanced  and  charged 
the  enemy,  who  was  supported  by  twenty-nine  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery. I  cannot  conceive  of  any  body  of  men  ever  being 
subjected  to  a  more  galling  fire  than  this  force.  The  brig- 
ades of  Lane,  McGowan  and  a  portion  of  Heth's  (Colonel 
Brockenborough  commanding)  notwithstanding,  drove  the  en- 
emy from  their  works,  and  held  them  for  some  time;  btit 
were  finally  compelled  to  fall  back."  Captain  Saunders  in 
his  official  report  as  commander  of  the  regiment — Colonel 
Avery  being  wounded — makes  honorable  mention  of  Lieu- 
tenant Price,  of  Company  B,  and  Lieutenant  Farrow,  of 
Company  H.  He  also  states  that  the  conscripts  fought  very 
heroically,  side  by  side  with  the  old  veterans.  Major  Mayhew, 
of  the  Thirty-third,  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  third  day's 
charge.  His  death,  which  occurred  a  few  days  afterward, 
was  a  heavy  blow  to  our  regiment.  He  was  a  brave  and  skill- 
ful officer,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  regiment.  He  was 
originally  Captain  of  Company  F,  Hyde  County,  which  was 
36 


562  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

composed  of  as  brave  and  true  men  as  ever  lived.  I  knew 
Major  Mayhew  well.  A  gentler,  nobler,  more  loyal  heart 
never  beat  in  the  breast  of  man.  God  rest  his  soul.  In 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  Lane  lost  nearly  one-third  of  his 
command.  Our  regimental  loss  was,  killed  28,  wounded  105. 
Among  the  killed  were  Captain  John  D.  Callais,  Com- 
pany G;  Lieutenants  Joseph  D.  Boushall  and  William  K. 
Babb,  Company  E ;  and  Sergeant  Weaver,  Company  D — 
good  men,  and  sturdy,  faithful  soldiers. 

GETTYSBTJKG. 

After  the  battle  we  returned  to  our  old  camp  at  Moss  Neck, 
and  remained  there  until  5  June.  After  the  death  of  Jack- 
son A.  P.  Hill  was  made  Lieutenant-General,  and  was  as- 
signed to  Jackson's  old  corps.  Pender  was  put  in  command 
of  the  Light  Division,  in  the  place  of  A.  P.  Hill.  25  June 
we  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Shepherdstown.  1  July  we  left 
Cashtown,  advancing  towards  Gettysburg  on  the  left  of  the 
road  in  the  following  order  from  right  to  left — Seventh, 
Thirty-seventh,  Twenty-eighth,  Eighteenth,  Thirty-third — 
right  of  the  Seventh,  resting  on  the  road.  We  encountered 
the  enemy  and  drove  them  back  some  distance.  After  we 
had  marched  about  a  mile  we  were  ordered  to  the  right  of  the 
road,  and  formed  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  division,  which 
was  also  the  right  of  the  army.  About  4  p.  m.  we  came  up 
with  the  enemy  in  force,  and  after  severe  fighting  the  brigade 
consisting  of  the  Thirty-third,  Eighteenth,  Twenty-eighth 
and  Thirty-seventh,  (the  Seventh  having  been  detached  to 
fight  the  cavalry)  drove  them  back  in  gallant  style.  2  July 
the  regiment  was  not  engaged  though  we  were  exposed  to  a 
severe  and  continuous  shelling.  In  the  famous  charge  on  3 
July  the  brigade  formed  the  left  of  the  second  or  supporting 
line,  and  the  Thirty-third  was  on  the  left  of  the  brigade. 
Scales'  Brigade  was  on  our  right,  and  both  brigades  (Lane's 
and  Scales')  were  temporarily  under  the  command  of  Major- 
General  Trimble.  The  attacking  column  consisted  of  Pick- 
ett's Division  on  the  right  and  Heth's  Division  (Pettigrew) 
on  the  left.  Wilcox's  Brigade  was  to  march  in  rear  of  Pick- 
ett's right  to  guard  the  flank,  and  Heth  was  supported  by 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  563 

Lane's  and  Scales'  Brigades.  Longstreet's  and  Hill's  Artil- 
lery and  part  of  Swell's  were  to  open  fire  simultaneously, 
and  tlie  attacking  column  was  to  advance  under  the  combined 
fire  of  these  Confederate  batteries.  General  Lee  says  "the 
batteries  were  directed  to  be  pushed  forward  as  the  infantry 
progressed,  to  protect  their  flanks  and  to  support  their  at- 
tack closely."  If  this  had  been  done  the  battle  would  have 
been  ours.  But  the  ammunition  was  exhausted  before  we 
started.  This  fact  General  Lee  says,  was  unknown  to  him. 
One  hundred  and  fifteen  Confederate  guns  opened  fire  about 
1  o'clock.  Eighty  Federal  guns  replied  to  them.  This  artil- 
lery duel  continued  for  two  hours  when  the  fire  on  the  Fed- 
eral side  slackened  and  almost  ceased.  The  attack  began 
about  3  p.  m.  The  assaulting  column  moves  steadily  on  un- 
der a  hot  and  heavy  fire  both  of  musketry  and  artillery. 
Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  the  formation  of  the  lines 
and  the  character  of  the  enemy's  works,  (the  stone  fence,  etc.) 
Pickett's  men  come  first  upon  the  enemy.  They  hold  their 
ground  for  a  time,  but  it  is  almost  impossible  to  live  under 
such  a  tempest  of  fire.  Pickett  staggers  and  falls  back.  Davis 
of  Pettigrew's  command,  falters  and  flees.  Lane  and  Scales 
leap  to  the  front.  They  overtake  Pettigrew  and  the  two  lines 
(Pettigrew  and  Trimble)  then  become  one  (Major  Saunders) 
and  the  advance  is  continued.  They  reach  the  stone  wall. 
Pettigrew  is  broken  in  pieces  and  leaves  the  field.  Lane  and 
Scales  fight  on.  Their  right  and  left  are  wholly  unprotected. 
Pickett  and  Pettigrew  are  gone.  The  Federal  fire  (artillery 
and  musketry)  is  concentrated  upon  these  two  matchless  bri- 
gades. They  mount  their  breastworks.  A  furious  volley  is 
poured  into  them  by  the  second  Federal  line.  They  retreat, 
not  in  disorder,  but  as  General  Trimble  says,  "sullenly 
and  slowly,  in  almost  as  good  order  as  they  had 
advanced."  Peerless  soldiers.  In  the  procession  of  the  cen- 
turies doubtless  we  might  find  equal  courage  and  devotion 
in  the  annals  of  war,  but  the  instances  have  been  at  long  in- 
tervals. Von  Moltke,  the  German,  says  our  army  was  a 
"mob."  Triton  of  minnows !  Oh  that  Stonewall  Jack- 
son could  have  had  him  in  his  front  about  six 
hours.      He  would  have  gone  down  in  history  by  the  side 


564  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

of  Burnside,  Pope  and  Nathaniel  P.  Banks.  We  can- 
not wonder  at  Trimble's  language  to  Lane :  "If  tlie  troops 
I  had  the  honor  to  command  today  (Lane's  aaid  Scales^ 
Brigades)  couldn't  take  that  position,  all  hell  can't  take  it." 
General  Trimhle  denies  that  he  used  the  profane  language  at- 
tribiited  to  him  by  General  Lane,  but  says  he  "used  some  em- 
phatic expression  of  commendation,"  etc.  There  are  men 
who,  as  Wellington  says,  never  even  "stumble  on  the  truth." 
A  certain  writer,  whose  name  I  am  glad  I  do  not  know,  says  : 
"The  right  (Pickett)  behaved  gloriously;  the  left  (Petti- 
grew)  faltered  and  fled.  Each  body  acted  according  to  its 
nature,  for  they  were  made  of  different  stuff ;  the  one  of  com- 
mon earth,  the  other  of  finest  clay.  Pettigrew's  men  were 
North  Carolinians,  Pickett's  were  superb  Virginians."  This 
man  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  insane  asylum.  I  cannot  reply 
to  such  childish  twaddle.  Has  this  man  ever  read  Lee's  gen- 
eral order  as  to  the  conduct  of  certain  troops  ?     I  forbear. 

General  Trimble,  who  commanded  Lane's  and  Scales'  Brig- 
ades on  the  third  day,  says :  "We  passed  over  the  remnant  of 
their  line  (Pettigrew's)  and  immediately  after  some  one  close 
by  my  left  sung  out,  'three  cheers  for  the  Old  North  State,' 
when  both  brigades  (Scales'  and  Lanes')  sent  up  a  hearty 
shout,  on  which  I  said  to  my  aid,  "Charley,  I  believe  those 
fine  fellows  are  going  into  the  enemy's  line."  My  men 
(Lane's  and  Scales'  Brigades)  were  the  last  to  leave  the  field. 
This  I  know  as  I  rode  in  the  line  between  the  two  Brigades 
(Lane's  and  Scales')  from  the  start  down  to  the  Emmetts- 
burg  road,  passing  over  the  wreck  of  Lleth's  Division  (Pet- 
tigrew's). Before  my  line  recoiled  under  a  concentrated  fire 
from  my  front  and  left,  I  looked  to  the  right  where  Pickett's 
men  had  been  seen  to  advance  and  beheld  nothing  but  isolated 
and  scattered  remnants  of  that  splendid  line.  *  *  * 
Thus  I  am  sure  that  my  command  continued  the  contest  some 
time  after  Pickett's  force  had  been  dispersed.  General  Trim- 
ble in  these  statements  is  substantially  supported  by  Gen- 
eral Lane  and  Colonel  Avery,  of  the  Thirty-third.  These  of- 
ficers say  the  "whole  right  had  given  way"  before  Lane's 
Brigade  left  the  field.  General  Trimble  says  further :  "No 
one  acquainted  with  the  fact  can,  for  a  moment,  doubt  the 


THIRTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 


1.  James  M.  Hunt,  1st  Lieut..  Co.  D.  B. 

S.  John  G,  Justice,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  6. 

3.  James  W.  Gibbs,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  F.  7. 

4.  Isaac  L.  Farrow,  2d  Lieut.^  Co.  H.  8. 


Major  F.  Joines,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  D. 
George  H.  Snow,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  H. 
Wilson  H.  Lucas,  1st  Lieut,  Co.  A. 
James  W.  Atkinson,  Color  Sergeant 
Co.  G. 


Thirty-Third  Eegiment.  565 

intrepid  bravery  and  splendid  bearing  of  Pickett's  men ;  they 
did  all  that  any  men  could  do  under  the  circumstances,  but 
others  did  as  well,  went  as  far  or  farther,  fought  longer,  and 
lost  as  heavily." 

General  Lane  says :  "General  Thomas,  who  could  see  from 
his  position  in  the  road  every  thing  that  was  going  on,  in- 
formed me  that  Brockenborough's  Brigade,  which  was  on 
the  left  of  Heth's  (Pettigrew's)  Division,  did  not  advance 
further  than  the  road,  and  that  Davis'  Brigade,  which  was 
next  to  it,  pushed  forward,  in  advance  of  the  general  line,  and 
was  driven  back.  The  remaining  brigades  of  Heth's  (Petti- 
grew's) Division  were  Pettigrew's  and  Archer's.  As  soon 
as  Pettigrew's  command  gave  back  Davis',  Lowrance's 
(Scales)  Brigade  and  my  own,  without  even  having  halted, 
took  position  on  the  left  of  the  troops  that  were  fighting 
(Pettigrew's  Brigade  and  Archer's.)  That  is,  we  occu- 
pied that  part  of  the  fighting  line  formerly  held  by  Davis, 
of  Pettigrew's  (Heth's)  Division.  My  brigade  was  now 
the  extreme  left  of  the  attacking  force,  and  the  Thirty- 
third  Begiment  was  on  the  left  of  the  brigade.  I  never 
saw,  even  in  drill,  a  more  beautiful  line  than  my  brigade 
kept  as  it  advanced  under  that  murderous  fire.  The  field 
was  open — no  troops  in  front  of  us,  and  it  was  our  yell, 
as  we  joined  the  front  line  that  caused  General  Trimble  to 
make  that  remark,  "I  believe  those  fine  fellows  are  going  into 
the  enemy's  line."  The  men  reserved  their  fire  in  accord- 
ance with  orders,  until  within  good  range  of  the  enemy,  and 
then  opened  with  telling  effect,  repeatedly  driving  the  can- 
noneers from  their  pieces,  completely  silencing  the  guns  in 
our  front  and  breaking  the  line  of  infantry  which  was  formed 
on  the  crest  of  the  hill.  We  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  stone  wall.  Some  of  my  right  had  gone  over  the  fence, 
yelling  furiously.  My  left,  under  Colonel  Avery,  was  here 
very  much  exposed,  and  a  column  of  infantry  was  thrown 
forward  by  the  enemy  in  that  direction  which  enfiladed  my 
whole  line.  When  I  ordered  Colonel  Avery,  in  obedience  to  in- 
structions from  General  Longstreet,  to  face  to  the  left  for  the 
purpose  of  meeting  the  fianking  column  of  the  enemy,  he  re- 


566  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

plied :  "My  God,  General,  do  you  intend  rushing  your  troops 
into  such  a  place  unsupported,  when  the  whole  right  has  given 
way?"  I  looked  to  the  right  and  saw  that  it  was  as  he 
stated ;  no  line  of  battle  was  any  where  visible  on  the  right. 
Colonel  Avery  had  already  reached  the  fence  and  his  men 
were  firing  and  cheering.  My  brigade,  I  know,  was  the  last 
to  leave  the  field,  and  it  did  so  by  my  order."  Major  Joseph 
H.  Saunders,  of  the  Thirty-third,  says :  "Just  before  I  was 
,shot,  I  distinctly  remember  seeing  a  Yankee  color-bearer  just 
in  front  of  the  left  of  the  regiment  get  up  and  run  away, 
trailing  his  flag  and  followed  by  his  regiment,  so  that  there 
was  nothing  to  keep  our  regiment  from  going  into  the  ene- 
my's ranks.  I  see  from  the  "Virginian"  that  Captain  Young 
states  Lane's  and  Scales'  Brigades  did  not  reach  the  point  at- 
tained by  Pettigrew's.  As  to  this  point  I  can  be  perfectly 
positive  as  we  overtook  the  first  line,  and  the  two  lines  (Petti- 
grew  and  Trimble)  then  became  one,  and  the  advance  was 
continued.     There  can  be  no  mistake  about  this." 

Colonel  Lowrance,  commanding  Scales'  Brigade,  says: 
"We  silenced  the  pickets  in  our  front.  *  *  ■  *  ISTow  all 
had  apparently  forsaken  us.  The  two  brigades  (Lane's  and 
Scales')  now  reduced  to  mere  squads,  not  numbering  in  all 
800  men,  were  the  only  lines  to  be  seen  upon  that  vast  field, 
and  with  no  support  in  view,  the  brigade  retreated." 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Pettigrew's  old  brigade  and 
Archer's  maintained  the  contest  a  short  time  after  Davia 
had  fled,  but  Lane  and  Scales  continued  to  fight  some 
time  after  Pettigrew  and  Archer  had  been  swept  from 
the  field.  Thus  it  is  undisputable  that  Lane  and  Scales 
went  to  the  front  and  stayed  there  some  minutes  firing  and 
cheering,  after  Pettigrew  and  Pickett  had  entirely  disap- 
peared. In  thus  remaining  on  the  field  of  battle  and  con- 
tinuing the  fight  after  all  the  other  troops  had  retreated,  they 
were  exposed  to  a  raking  artillery  fire  on  both  flanks,  and  to 
a  blinding,  overwhelming  artillery  and  musketry  fire  in  front. 
In  the  language  of  General  Trimble — a  gallant  old  hero — - 
we  "maintained  our  ground  after  they  (the  other 
troops)  had  been  driven  back."  Our  brigade,  too,  retreated 
in  obedience  to  orders  (unlike  the  troops  of  Pettigrew  and 


Thirty-Third   Regiment.  567 

Pickett)  not  in  disorder,  but  "sullenly  and  slowly,  in  almost 
as  good  order  as  they  had  advanced."  There  is  nothing  supe- 
rior to  it  in  all  history.  It  is  the  crowning  glory  of  these 
two  incomparable  brigades.  Match  such  heroism  if  you 
can — surpass  it  you  cannot. 

But,  on  the  other  hand.  Captain  Young,  aide-de-camp  to 
General  Pettigrew,  says :  "Our  brigade  (Pettigrew's)  gave 
way,  and  simultaneously  with  it  the  whole  line.  The  sup- 
ports, under  Major-General  Trimble,  did  not  reach  as  far  as 
we  had."  This  account  differs  wholly  from  the  statements 
made  by  General  Trimble,  General  Lane,  Colonel  Avery, 
Major  Saunders  and  Colonel  Lowrance.  Thus  by  the  testi- 
mony of  unimpeachable  witnesses  we  prove  that  Trimble's 
men  (Lane  and  Scales)  went  as  far  as  or  farther  than  any 
other  troops  engaged — that  they  were  the  last  to  leave  the 
field — that  Trimble  continued  the  contest,  unaided,  for  some 
time  after  Pickett's  and  Pettigrew's  men  had  been  driven 
from  the  field,  exposed,  all  the  while,  to  a  crushing  musketry 
and  artillery  fire  on  both  flanks  and  in  his  front.  Pickett 
and  Pettigrew's  men  broke  and  fled  without  orders.  Lane's 
and  Scales'  North  Carolinians  stayed  on  the  field  until  they 
were  ordered  to  retreat,  and  they  "marched  back  slowly  and 
sullenly  in  almost  as  good  order  as  they  had  advanced."  If 
on  this  bloody  day  Pickett  and  Pettigrew  had  remained  on 
the  field  and  supported  Lane's  and  Scales'  Brigades,  the  re- 
sult might  have  been  different.  The  casualties  in  the  regi- 
ment were  10  killed,  53  wounded.  The  brigade  loss  was  660 
out  of  an  effective  total  of  1,355.  Major  Joseph  H.  Saun- 
ders, of  the  Thirty-third,  a  capital  soldier  and  a  true  man, 
was  seriously  wounded  in  the  third  day's  charge.  He  was 
near  the  stone  wall,  and,  with  a  cheer,  was  leading  his  men 
against  the  enemy,  when  he  fell,  shot  through  the  face,  and 
remained  unconscious  for  several  hours. 

Among  others  who  here  laid  down  their  lives  in  defence  of 
all  that  was  dear  were  Lieutenants  H.  H.  Baker  and  Thomas 
A.  Cowan,  of  Company  A.  They  were  manly  men,  and  fear- 
less soldiers.  July  4  it  rained  hard  all  day  and  that  night, 
unmolested,  we  began  our  retreat  through  mud  and  water. 


568  North  Carolina  Troops,   l861-'65. 


EETE.EAT  TO  VIEGIZSTIA. 


July  11  we  formed  line  of  battle  at  Hagerstown,  where  we 
remained  until  the  13th.  We  had  frequent  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy,  but  no  actual  engagement.  On  the  night  of  the 
13th  we  left  Hagerstown.  It  was  very  dark  and  rainy,  and 
we  fared  worse,  if  possible,  than  we  did  on  the  retreat  from 
Gettysburg  on  the  night  of  the  4th.  By  command  of  Major- 
G-eneral  Heth,  who  was  temporarily  in  command  of  the  Light 
Division,  Lane's  Brigade  formed  the  rear  guard  at  Falling 
Waters  on  the  14th,  and  it  alone  held  the  bridge,  though  re- 
peatedly attacked,  until  every  man  had  crossed.  It  then 
slowly  retired,  in  perfect  order,  vigorously  shelled  by  the  en- 
emy. General  Heth  was  charmed  with  the  gallant  bearing 
of  the  brigade.  He  said  to  General  Lane :  "In  covering  the 
retreat  you  have  done  nobly.  I  expected  your  whole  brigade 
would  be  killed,  wounded  or  captured."  General  Pettigrew — 
the  Sir  Philip  Sidney  of  the  South — wns  killed  at  Falling 
Waters. 

After ,  crossing  the  Potomac  the  brigade  encamped  near 
Culpepiser  Court  House  for  some  days,  and  then  moved  to 
Orange  Court  House,  and  did  picket  duty  at  Morton's  Ford 
until  Stuart's  fight  at  Jack's  Shop  on  22  September.  We 
were  then  ordered  to  Liberty  Mills  as  a  support  to  Stuart's 
Cavalry,  but  when  we  reached  that  place  the  fight  was  over. 
General  Stuart  had  defeated  the  enemy.  We  went  into  win- 
ter quarters  at  Liberty  Mills  and  did  picket  duty  beyond  the 
mills,  and  on  the  Stanardsville  road. 

General  Pender  died  of  the  wound  which  he  received  at 
Gettysburg.  General  Lee  pays  him  the  highest  compliment 
in  his  power  when  he  says :  "We  would  have  succeeded"  (at 
Gettysburg)  "had  Pender  lived."  Shortly  after  Pender's 
death  Wilcox  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  "Light 
Division."  While  in  camp  at  Liberty  Mills  a  great  many 
furloughs  were  granted,  and  every  effort  was  made  to  lighten 
the  burdens  of  the  men  who,  at  so  great  a  sacrifice,  had  so 
gallantly  upheld  the  honor  of  our  arms. 

During  the  winter  we  made  a  very  trying  march  through 
snow  and  mud  to  Madison  Court  House.     Our  object  was 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  569 

to  catch  some  Federal  cavalry  raiders,  but  we  had  poor  suc- 
cess. 

In  October  the  Federal  commander,  General  Meade, 
moved  towards  Washington  along  the  Orange  &  Alexandria 
Railroad — apparently  unwilling  to  fight  General  Lee  on  the 
Rappahannock.  At  the  unfortunate  battle  of  Bristoe  Sta- 
tion, 14  October,  Lane's  Brigade  formed  line  of  battle,  with 
bullets  whistling  all  about  them,  but  did  not  engage  the  en- 
emy, though  expecting  every  moment  to  be  ordered  to  the 
fighting  line.  Darkness  seems  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  un- 
equal conflict.  Our  brigade  helped  to  tear  up  the  railroad, 
and  we  did  the  work  thoroughly.  October  25th  we  encamped 
at  Brandy  Station,  and  remained  there  several  days.  No- 
vember 7th  Hoke's  (Colonel  Godwin)  and  Hay's  Brigades 
suft'ered  heavily  while  doing  picket  duty  near  Rappahannock 
Station.  They  were  completely  surrounded  and  most  of 
them  were  captured.  The  next  morning,  8  November,  the 
brigade  fell  back,  formed  line  of  battle  near  Culpepper  Court 
House,  and  repulsed  the  enemy's  cavalry  charge,  sustaining 
but  little  loss.  On  the  9th  we  went  back  to  our  old  camp  at 
Liberty  Mills. 

MINE    EUN. 

At  Mine  Run,  2  Decernber,  we  were  drawn  tip  in  line  of 
battle,  preparatory  to  a  night  attack,  but  at  daybreak  we  dis- 
covered there  was  no  enemy  to  fight.  During  the  night  he 
had  quietly  decamped.  The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  no 
fires  were  allowed,  and  the  men  suffered  no  little  in  the 
trenches  and  on  the  skirmish  line.  At  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness, 5  and  6  May,  1864,  the  brigade  greatly  distinguished 
itself.  It  was  ordered  to  the  fighting  line  about  5  p.  m.  (5 
May)  when  our  troops  in  front,  fighting  Hancock,  a  skillful 
and  determined  officer,  could  hardly  hold  their  ground.  Col- 
onel Venable,  of  General  Lee's  staff,  said  to  Colonel  Palmer, 
of  A.  P.  Hill's  Corps,  "Thank  God,  I  will  go  back  and  tell 
General  Lee  that  Lane  has  just  gone  in  and  will  hold  his 
ground  until  other  troops  arrive  tonight."  Lane  did  hold 
his  groxmd,  and  actually  drove  back  the  enemy,  greatly  supe- 
rior in  numbers,  a  short  distance  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 


570  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

We  remained  in  the  woods  in  mire  and  mud  until  about  9  p. 
m. — the  two  lines,  Federal  and  Confederate,  being  but  a 
few  yards  apart.  We  could  almost  hear  the  Federals  breath- 
ing. Colonel  Davidson,  of  the  Seventh,  in  the  darkness  (and 
it  was  very  dark),  lost  his  bearings,  and  stumbled  on  the  Fed- 
erals. They  quietly  put  out  their  hands  and  drew  him  in. 
j^ot  a  word  was  spoken. 

Lieutenant  Isaac  L.  Farrow,  Company  H,  lost  his  life  in 
this  battle.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  always  at  the  post  of 
duty. 

About  9  p.  m.,  in  obedience  to  orders  we  withdrew  from 
this  position,  and  bivouacked  on  a  hill  in  our  rear,  expecting 
to  be  relieved  by  Longstreet  at  daybreak  the  next  morning, 
but  for  some  reason  Longstreet  failed  to  appear  at  the  ap- 
pointed time.  A  little  before  sunrise,  we  settled  down  to  a 
good  breakfast  cooked  from  Yankee  rations  captured  the  even- 
ing before,  when,  suddenly,  sharp  and  rapid  firing  was  heard 
in  our  front,  followed  by  the  hasty  retreat  of  our  skirmish 
line.  We  formed  line  of  battle  as  quickly  as  possible  behind 
some  improvised  breastworks  of  logs  and  dirt.  In  a 
minute,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  the  enemy  in  large  force  was 
upon  us.  Colonel  Avery  walked  up  and  down  the  line  en- 
couraging our  men,  both  by  actions  and  words.  He  was  but 
a  few  feet  from  the  writer  of  this  sketch.  I  said  to  him: 
"Colonel,  get  down  behind  the  breastworks.  You  will  be 
killed  if  you  walk  about  in  that  way." 

"ISTo,  no,"  said  he,  "it  will  make  the  men  fight  better." 

We  stayed  the  onset  for  a  few  minutes,  but  no  fire  could  be 
hotter,  and  we  were  compelled  to  retreat.  The  trees  were 
literally  shot  to  pieces. 

I  never  saw  Colonel  Avery  again.  He  received  five 
wounds  that  morning,  and  died  a  glorious  death  a  few  weeks 
afterward.  He  was  a  brave  and  faithful  ofiicer,  a  true 
friend,  and  the  knightliest  of  men.  General  Lane  says  of 
this  fight:  "We  opposed  this  force  for  a  short  time  (the 
Thirty-third  fighting  like  heroes)  but  could  not  long  stand 
the  terrible  fire  in  our  front  and  flank."  The  casualties  in 
the  Thirty-third,  5  and  6  May,  were :  Killed,  3  officers  and  40 
men ;  wounded,  5  officers  and  50  men ;  missing,  38  men. 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  571 

spottstlvania. 

At  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  12  May,  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  Lane's  Brigade  saved  Lee's  army  from  a  terrible 
defeat.  Johnson's  line  at  the  Salient  had  been  broken  and  the 
Federals  were  pouring  into  the  huge  gap  thus  made  in  our 
ranks,  when  Lane's  Brigade  arrested  their  progress  on  the 
right.  I  never  saw  such  heroism  as  was  then  displayed,  both  by 
officers  and  men.  It  was  impossible  to  surpass  it.  The  Fed- 
erals were  advancing  in  overwhelming  numbers  and  with 
deafening  yells,  but  Lane's  Brigade,  so  placed  that  it  could 
attack  them  in  front  and  on  the  flank,  not  only  held  its 
ground,  but  it  advanced  beyond  the  entrenchments,  over  the 
fallen  timber,  and  drove  the  enemy  a  considerable  distance 
to  the  rear.  General  Lane  himself  rode  up  to  the  brigade 
when  the  fire  was  hottest,  his  lips  quivering  with  the  glow 
and  ardor  of  battle,  and  said  to  us:  "You  must  hold  your 
ground ;  the  honor  and  safety  of  the  army  demand  it."  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Cowan,  of  the  Thirty-third,  seized  the  colors 
of  his  regiment,  and  with  a  loud  shout  rushed  upon  the  foe. 
The  Thirty-third  followed  him,  and  swept  everything  before 
them.  The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  behaved  with 
equal  intrepidity,  and  the  army  was  saved.  That  fight  alone 
would  make  Lane's  Brigade  immortal.  General  Lane,  in  his 
official  report,  says :  "It  is  impossible  for  me  to  speak  in  too 
high  terms  of  my  command  in  repulsing  this  terrible  attack 
of  the  enemy — men  could  not  fight  better,  nor  officers  behave 
more  gallantly;  the  latter,  regardless  of  danger,  would  fre- 
quently pass  along  the  line  and  cheer  the  men  in  their  glorious 
work.  We  justly  claim  for  this  brigade  alone  the  honor 
of  not  only  stemming,  but  rolling  back  this  tide  of  Federal 
victory  which  came  surging  furiously  to  our  right."  Colonel 
Venable,  of  Lee's  staff  says:  "They  (the  Federals)  were 
checked  by  General  Lane,  who,  throwing  his  left  flank  back 
from  the  trenches,  confronted  their  advance."  An  English 
war  correspondent  thus  writes  to  his  paper  in  London: 
"Lane's  North  Carolina  veterans  stopped  the  tide  of  Federal 
victory  as  it  came  surging  to  the  right."  General  Early's 
testimony  is  to  the  same  effect. 


572  North  Carolina  Troops,   186]-'65. 

oapt0eed  thkee  flags. 

In  the  fight  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  (12  May)  in 
front  of  the  works  to  the  left  of  the  brick  kiln,  the  brigade 
fought  well,  and  won  high  praise  from  Greneral  Lee  himself. 
The  object  was  to  relieve  Ewell  by  attacking  Burnside's  flank 
and  rear.  The  brigade  moved  forward  cheerfully  and 
quickly  and  soon  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  oak  woods,  and 
captured  a  battery  of  six  guns,  b^it  were  unable  to  bring  them 
off.  We  struck  Burnside's  flank  and  rear  and  took  him  com- 
pletely by  surprise.  Our  sudden  and  sharp  attack  demoral- 
ized him.  Lane  captured  nearly  400  prisoners  and  three  bat- 
tle flags.  General  Early  says:  "Lane's  attack  on  the  en- 
emy's flank  and  rear  contributed  materially  to  the  repulse  of 
the  assaulting  column,  as  it  was  thereby  thrown  into  much 
confusion.  Mahone's  Brigade  (Colonel  Weisiger)  had  been 
ordered  to  support  Lane,  but  it  got  lost  in  the  woods  and  never 
fired  a  gun,  except  at  Lane's  Brigade."  General  Lane  says: 
"The  infantry  firing  in  our  rear  was,  for  a  short  time,  more 
severe  than  that  in  front,  as  Mahone's  Brigade  poured  such  a 
fire  into  us  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cowan  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  McGill  had  to  rush  back  and  ask  them  not  to  fire  into 
friends."  General  Mahone  rode  up  to  the  Thirty-third  and 
said  to  Colonel  Cowan  in  a  sharp,  piping  voice:  "Go  right 
straight  back.  I  will  take  great  pleasiire  in  reporting  you 
to  General  Lee ;  you  have  left  my  brigade  in  the  woods  to  do 
all  the  fighting."  And  yet  Colonel  Weisiger  (Mahone)  got 
lost  in  the  woods,  never  fired  a  gun  at  the  enemy,  biit  fired 
several  guns  at  his  friends,  and  was  actiially  led  out  of  the 
woods  by  that  gallant  soldier,  Captain  E.  J.  Hale,  of  Lane's 
Brigade.  I  do  not  think  this  important  battle,  as  General 
Early  says  it  was,  is  mentioned  in  the  Confederate  Military 
History.  Colonel  Venable  writes :  "General  Lee  directs  me 
to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  flags  captured  by  Lane's 
Brigade  in  its  gallant  charge  of  yesterday,  and  to  say  that 
they  will  be  forwarded  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War, 
with  the  accompanying  note  and  the  names  of  the  brave  cap- 
tors." The  casualties  in  the  regiment  were :  Killed,  4  men ; 
wounded,  2  officers  and  IT  men.     Erom  the  13th  to  the  20th 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  573 

oJ^'May,  we  were  not  seriously  engaged,  though  the  regiment 
sustained  a  slight  loss  from  sharpshooting  and  shelling.  Our 
sharpshooters  were  commanded  by  Captain  J.  C.  Mills,  of 
Burke,  and  they  were  of  very  great  service  to  the  regiment. 
Captain  Mills  was  a  model  officer — brave,  cool,  resolute  and 
of  excellent  judgment. 

On  21  May,  the  regiment  made  a  reconnoissance  to  the 
right  of  the  court  house,  but  sustained  little  loss.  The  battle 
of  Jericho  Ford  was  fought  23  May.  Professor  Hill  (Con- 
federate Military  History)  says :    "Lane's  North  Carolinians 

*  *  *  became  entangled  in  a  river-side  fight  with  the 
Federal  line  posted  on  a  crest."  This  account  is  (uninten- 
tionally) misleading.  The  facts  are  these:  Lane's  men 
moved  into  the  battle  with  steadiness  and  resolution.  They 
drove  back  the  enemy  to  his  original  position,  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  maintained  their  ground,  removed  their  dead 
and  woimded  and  were  not  relieved  until  11  o'clock  at  night, 
long  after  the  firing  had  ceased.  True,  the  regiment  on  the 
right  of  the  Thirty-third  gave  way,  but  every  man  of  the 
Thirty-third  remained  firm.  The  enemy  on  our  right  ad- 
vanced towards  the  gap  made  by  the  fleeing  regiment,  and 
the  Thirty-third  was  thus  exposed  to  a  front  and  flank  fire, 
but  it  did  not  waver,  nor  hesitate,  but  boldly  charged  the  en- 
emy, drove  him  back  to  his  works  and.  steadfastly  held  their 
ground  until  relieved  at  11  o'clock  that  night,  long  after  the 
battle  was  over.  General  Lane  says:  "These  three  regi- 
ments of  my  brigade,  the  Thirty-third,  Eighteenth,  Twenty- 
eighth  (the  Seventh  was  on  detached  duty)  fought  very  gal- 
lantly. They  drove  the  enemy  back  to  a  commanding  posi- 
tion near  the  river,  held  the  groimd  over  which  they  fought, 
removed  all  their  dead  and  wounded,  and  were  not  relieved 
by  Davis'  Brigade  until  11  o'clock  that  night,  at  which  time 
the  firing  had  ceased."  The  casualties  in  the  regiment  were : 
Killed,  5  men;  wounded,  2  officers  and  27  men;  missing,  4 
men 

In  the  battle  of  Jericho  Ford  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  then 
Captain  of  Company  F,  and  Lieutenant  James  W.  Gibbs,  of 
Company  F — a  most  worthy  soldier- — were  badly  wounded. 
The  doctors  said :    "Captain  Weston  must  die,  it  is  impossi- 


574  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ble  for  him  to  live."  I  heard  them  say  it,  and  it  made  me 
mad.  I  said  to  them :  "If  you  think  I  am  going  to  die  you 
are  very  much  mistaken.     I  have  no  idea  of  dying." 

VAEIOUS    ENGAGEMENTS. 

On  31  May,  our  sharpshooters  had  a  brisk  encounter  vs^ith 
the  enemy  near  Starr's  .Farm,  on  the  Totopotomy  creek,  and 
the  entire  brigade  vs^as  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  both  of  in- 
fantry and  artillery,  though  not  engaged  in  actual  fighting. 
We  lost  several  men,  killed  and  wounded.  2  June  we 
marched  to  Cold  Harbor,  and  were  placed  in  the  second  line. 
In  the  afternoon  we  supported  Wharton's  Brigade  in  its  suc- 
cessful assault  on  Turkey  Eidge.  Subsequently,  we  occupied 
a  position  on  the  right,  between  Wharton  and  Thomas.  The 
regiment  fought  with  its  wonted  gallantry.  Here  Greneial 
Lane  was  severely  wounded  and  Colonel  Barry,  of  the  Eigh- 
teenth, took  charge  of  the  brigade.  The  casualties  in  the  reg- 
iment from  24  May  to  3  June  were :  Killed,  1  man ;  wound- 
ed, 1  man. 

June  13th  at  Riddle's  shop,  we  remained  in  line  of  battle 
for  a  considerable  time,  but  were  not  seriously  engaged.  22 
June,  at  Well's  farm,  three  miles  southeast  of  Petersburg, 
the  regiment  helped  to  drive  back  the  enemy,  who  was  en- 
deavoring to  get  possession  of  the  Weldon  Railroad.  23 
June,  while  relieving  Mahone,  the  brigade  was  exposed  to  a 
merciless  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery.  It  was  at  close 
range,  and  very  severe,  but  our  men  were  so  seasoned  and  dis- 
ciplined-that  they  never  flinched. 

Between  the  1st  and  middle  of  July  the  regiment  moved 
to  the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  on  28  July  took  part  in 
the  action  at  Gravelly  Hill.  In  this  engagement  (Gravelly 
Hill)  Adjutant  Spier  Whitaker  particularly  distinguished 
himself.  He  was  complimented  in  general  orders  for  his  gal- 
lant and  officer-like  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle.  Lieutenant 
Whitaker  was  a  valuable  ofiicer — clear-headed,  cool  and  cour- 
ageous. At  the  battle  of  Fussell's  Mill,  on  the  Darbytown 
road,  16  to  18  August,  the  brigade  was  conspicuous  for  its 
steadiness  and  its  courage.  Commanded  by  Colonel  Barber,  of 
the  Thirty-seventh,  the  brigade  captured  from  a  determined 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  575 

enemy  the  intrenchments  on  the  Darbytown  road,  from  which 
other  troops  had  been  routed,  in  the  presence  of  General  Lee. 

At  Eeams  Station,  25  August,  Lane's  Brigade  achieved  a 
signal  success.  About  2  p.  m.  a  Georgia  Brigade  and  Scales' 
attacked  Hancock  fiercely,  but  they  were  driven  back  in  dis- 
order. About  5  o'clock,  Cooke,  Lane  (General  Conner),  and 
MacRae  went  to  the  front  to  make  a  second  attack.  The  brig- 
ade moved  forward  promptly  over  fallen  trees,  brushwood 
and  other  obstructions,  with  a  ringing  rebel  yell,  and  the  Fed- 
eral line  was  ours.  The  enemy  fled  in  the  greatest  confu- 
sion. An  attempt  to  recapture  the  works  resulted  in  utter 
failure.  The  railroad  was  saved.  General  Lane,  in  his  his- 
tory of  the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  says  "General  Lee,  in 
speaking  of  this  fight  to  General  Lane,  said  that  the  three 
ISTorth  Carolina  brigades.  Lane's,  Cooke's  and  MacRae's, 
which  made  the  second  assault,  after  the  failure  of  the  first 
by  other  troops,  had  by  their  gallantry  not  only  placed  l^orth 
Carolina,  but  the  whole  Confederacy,  under  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude, which  cotild  never  be  repaid."  What  praise  could  be 
higher  ?  General  Lee  wrote  to  Governor  Vance :  "They 
(Lane,  McRae  and  Cooke)  advanced  through  a  thick  abatis  of 
felled  trees  imder  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  and 
carried  the  enemy's  works  with  a  steady  courage  that  elicited 
the  warm  commendation  of  the  corps  and  division  command- 
ers, and  the  admiration  of  the  army." 

At  Jones'  farm,  30  September,  the  brigade  (General  Lane 
in  command),  was  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  the  Thirty- 
third  was  on  the  right  of  the  brigade.  The  enemy  tried  to 
flank  us  on  our  right.  Colonel  Cowan  ordered  the  men  to  lie 
down  at  the  bottom  of  a  hill,  and  when  the  enemy  got  opposite 
our  colors,  the  Thirty-third  rushed  to  the  top  of  the  hill  and 
poured  so  heavy  a  fire  into  the  enemy  that  he  quickly  fled, 
leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  behind  him. 

Colonel  William  M.  Barber,  of  the  Thirty-seventh,  was 
killed  30  September.  He  was  an  ofiicer  of  unusual  merit 
and  promise. 

Next  day,  1  October,  the  Thirty-third  was  in  the  fight  at 
the  Pegram  House,  and  helped  to  drive  the  enemy  from  his 
incomplete  works,  and  held  them  until  dark.     It  then  re- 


576  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

turned  to  the  works  near  the  Jones  House,  where  in  a  short 
time  it  went  into  winter  quarters. 

December  8th  the  brigade  was  sent  to  drive  off  the  cavalry 
force  which  was  endeavoring  to  destroy  the  Petersburg  & 
Weldon  Railroad,  but  on  reaching  Jarratt's  Station,  we  found 
the  enemy  had  retreated.  The  weather  was  exceedingly 
cold,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  men  were  intense.  The  bri- 
gade was  ordered  to  support  the  attack  on  Fort  Steadman, 
and  it  performed  its  part  nobly  in  helping  to  repel  the  deter- 
mined assault  made  on  the  main  line  of  the  Confederate  works 
near  our  winter  quarters.  General  Lee  ordered  General 
Lane  to  attack  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  position  on  a  hill 
near  the  Jones  House.  General  Lane  dislodged  him  by  the 
efficient  aid  of  his  sharpshooters,  commanded  by  Major 
Wooten,  joi  the  Eighteenth.  Major  Wooten  was  one  of  the 
best  officers  in  the  service.  The  sharpshooters  were  sup- 
ported by  the  brigade.  The  winter  in  the  trenches  at  Peters- 
burg— 1864-'65 — was  a  most  trying  one  in  many  respects. 
The  chaff  was  winnowed  from  the  wheat. 

On  the  night  of  1  April  the  brigade  was  shelled  continu- 
ously until  daybreak  the  next  morning.  The  regiments  in 
the  works  from  right  to  left  were  in  the  following  order: 
Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-seventh,  Eighteenth,  Thirty-third. 
The  Seventh  was  on  detached  dtity.  The  men  were  placed 
from  six  to  ten  paces  apart — a  mere  skirmish  line.  Against 
this  weak  force  Grant  hurled  his  crushing  masses,  at  day- 
break the  next  morning.  We  foiight  desperately,  but  our 
thin  line  was  pushed  back  by  sheer  force  of  numbers  until  it 
was  broken  in  pieces.  We  then  retreated  behind  our  winter 
quarters  and  continued  the  contest,  each  man  for  himself.  A 
part  of  the  regiment  fell  back  to  the  plank  road  under  Colonel 
Cowan  and  a  part  to  Battery  Gregg,  under  General  Lane. 
Battery  Gregg  was  fiercely  attacked  and  fell  after  a  most 
heroic  resistance.  Color  Sergeant  Atkinson,  of  the  Thirty- 
third,  after  the  Federals  had  mounted  the  parapet,  and  were 
yelling  f urioiisly,  left  the  fort,  and  made  for  the  rear,  waving 
his  flag  defiantly  at  the  astonished  enemy.  The  Federals 
fired  at  him  repeatedly,  but  he  escaped  unhurt.  It  was  a 
daring  deed  that  will  live  in  history.     Our  men  cheered  him 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  577 

long  and  loudly,  even  after  he  had  reached  the  Confederate 
works.  In  this  fight  General  A.  P.  Hill  was  killed.  He 
was  a  cool,  gallant,  sagacious  officer.  Under  his  leadership 
the  Light  Division  won  an  undying  fame.  Here,  too,  fell 
Captain  John  D.  Fain,  of  Company  C.  Colonel  Cowan, 
Captain  Fain  and  myself  were  standing  in  a  group,  watch- 
ing the  movements  of  the  enemy.  Presently  we  heard  that 
unmistakable  thud,  and  Captain  Fain  fell  heavily  forward, 
mortally  wounded.  He  begged  iis  to  take  him  off  the  field, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  do  so  at  that  time.  In  five-  minutes 
he  was  dead.  I  never  knew  a  purer  man.  He  was  the  soul 
of  honor — so  gentle,  so  manly,  so  heroic  that  no  one  could 
help  laving  him.  We  held  the  inner  line  of  works  until 
night,  when  Petersburg  was  evacuated,  and  we  began  our  last 
retreat. 

April  3  we  crossed  the  Appomattox  at  Goode's  bridge,  and 
on  the  5th  had  some  brisk  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  near 
Amelia  Court  House.  ISTear  Farmville,  while  crossing  the 
river,  the  enemy  opened  fire  upon  us  with  his  artillery,  and 
we  lost  a  few  men.  We  had  nothing  to  eat.  It  was  impossi- 
ble to  procure  any  food,  and  the  enemy  was  keeping  closely 
upon  us.  We  marched  grimly,  resolutely  on,  not  dreaming 
the  end  was  so  near. 

SUEEENDEE. 

April  9  we  were  ordeired  to  occupy  a  position  on  the  left 
of  the  road,  near  Appomattox  Court  House,  and  on  the  fight- 
ing line.  While  we  were  moving  to  this  position  at  a  double 
quick  we  were  suddenly  halted  and  a  Federal  officer  came 
from  the  front  and  rode  down  our  line.  Pie  smiled,  as  he 
rode  quickly  on,  but  it  was  the  wickedest  smile  I  ever  saw  on 
any  man's  countenance.  ■  The  report  quickly  spread  that 
General  Lee  had  surrendered.  We  could  not  believe  it  and 
the  officers  vehemently  denied  it.  General  Lane,  however, 
assured  us  the  report  was  true,  and  we  bowed  to  the  inevita- 
ble. Lieutenant  Mclntyre,  of  the  Thirty-third,  said  to  me: 
"Major,  let's  not  surrender.  Let's  cut  our  way  through." 
Presently  he  whispered :  "Won't  you  have  a  drink  of  qui- 
37 


578  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-'65. 

nine  whiskey  ?"  Lieutenant  Mclntyre  was  a  brave  and  use- 
ful officer.  That  night  we  lay  down  on  the  ground  and  shed 
bitter  tears,  feeling  that  we  had  no  home  and  no  country. 

The  next  morning  an  order  came  from  General  Lane, 
directing  Colonel  Cowan  to  make  a  formal  surrender  of  the 
Thirty-third  Regiment.  Colonel  Cowan  and  I  were  sitting 
under  a  large  oak  tree.  Colonel  Cowan  read  the  order, 
jumped  up,  his  eyes  flashing  fire,  and  said:  "I  won't  sur- 
render." Then,  turning  to  me,  he  said :  "Major  Weston,  take 
charge  of  the  regiment."  He  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off 
to  the  rear.  I  never  saw  him  again.  Colonel  Cowan  was 
a  brave  and  most  efficient  officer.  Like  General  Hoke,  he 
was  a  bom  soldier.  After  Colonel  Cowan  left  I  took  charge 
of  the  regiment.  We  marched  across  the  creek,  stacked  arms 
in  rear  of  the  regiment  which  preceded  us,  and  returned  to 
our  bivouac.  The  following  officers  surrendered  at  Appomat- 
tox: 

James  A.  Weston,  Major;  Spier  Whitaker,  Jr.,  Adjutant; 
Hiddick  Gatling,  Captain  Company  H;  George  W.  Sander- 
lin,  Captain  Company  E ;  William  J.  Callais  Captain  Com- 
pany G;  W.  T.  Mclntyre,  First  Lieutenant  Company  D; 
Joseph  C.  Mills,  First  Lieutenant  Company  G;  John  W. 
Wooten,  Second  Lieutenant  Company  G ;  John  A.  Vigal,  As- 
sistant Surgeon;  T.  J.  Eatman,  Chaplain.  Ten  officers  and 
108  men  surrendered  to  the  enemy,  but  they  surrendered  with 
honor.  According  to  Moore's  Eoster  of  North  Carolina 
Troops,  the  whole  number^ — the  aggregate — in  the  Thirty- 
third  Eegiment  during  the  entire  war  was  1,600.  A  regi- 
ment of  "mighty  men" — men  of  heroic  mould  and  loftiest 
patriotism.  Avery,  Walton,  Mills,  Happoldt,  Tate  of 
Burke;  Cowan,  Summers,  Hill,  Turner,  Hallman,  Sherrill, 
of  Iredell ;  Jenkins,  Gatlin,  Hyman,  Price,  Lyon,  Lawrence, 
of  Edgecombe;  Cozine,  Fain,  Gibson,  Moore,  Craige,  Ross, 
Misenheimer,  Stoup,  of  Cabarrus ;  Parks,  Hunt,  Joines,  Mc- 
lntyre, Weaver,  Childers,  Pardew,  of  Wilkes;  Sanderlin, 
Gatling,  Boushall,  Babb,  Cooper,  Lewis,  Caldwell,  of  Gates  • 
Mayhew,  Gibbs,  Watson,  Lucas,  Swindell,  Oarawan,  Farrow 
Weston,  Midyett,  Jennett,  Eastwood,  Murray,  Williams 
Boomer,  Gaskill,  of  Hyde ;  Massey,  Callais,  McDonald,  Woot- 


Thirty-Third  Regiment.  579 

en,  Bradshaw,  MclSTate,  Atkinson,  Brock,  of  Cumberland;  An- 
derson, White,  ISTicholson,  Goslin,  Conrad,  Marshall,  of  For- 
syth; McKoy,  Kennedy,  Beaman,  Bartlett,  Dale,  of  Green; 
Snow,  Sasser,  of  Wake;  Hoke,  of  Lincoln;  Whitaker  and 
Baker,  of  Halifax;  Tlencher,  of  Chatham;  Saunders,  of 
Orange — I  cannot  enumerate  them — men  of  whom  any  peo- 
ple in  any  age  or  country  might  well  be  proud. 

A  word  as  to  the  morals  of  our  command.  The  Thirty- 
third  Regiment  was  not  especially  noted  for  its  piety,  though 
its  soldiers  were  among  the  best  men  on  earth.  They  had  no 
religion  "to  speak  of,"  as  Bishop  Griswold  used  to  say,  but 
they  were  very  regular  in  their  attendance  upon  divine  ser- 
vices, and  no  men  could  be  more  respectful,  more  attentive  or 
more  reverent.  Our  chaplain.  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Eatman,  was 
a  godly  man,  and  his  influence  for  good  was  largely  felt,  and 
most  gratefully  acknowledged. 

The  writer  begs  leave  to  make  his  best  acknowledgments  to 
General  James  H.  Lane  for  invaluable  aid  in  the  preparation 
of  this  sketch.  General  Lane  was  a  most  capable  officer — 
hard  working,  painstaking,  accurate  and  thorough.  He  neg- 
lected no  duty.  He  was  always  in  the  right  place  at  the 
right  time,  ready  "to  do  or  to  die."  His  men  loved  him  and 
trusted  him.  They  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  judg- 
ment and  skill.  He  had  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  genius 
of  common  sense,  and  his  superiority  as  a  brigade  commander 
was  shown  on  many  a  hard-fought  field.  May  Heaven's  best 
blessings  rest  upon  him. 

I  am  also  indebted  for  much  useful  information  to  Adju- 
jant  Spier  Whitaker,  of  Raleigh;  Captain  Joseph  C.  Mills, 
of  Burke;  Colonel  J.  T.  Johnson,  of  Catawba;  General 
Robert  F.  Hoke,  of  Raleigh;  Dr.  Richard  B.  Baker,  of 
Catawba;  Mrs.  .  L.  O'B.  Branch,  of  Raleigh;  Major 
James  H.  Foote,  of  Wilkes ;  Miss  Ann  Saunders,  of  Raleigh ; 
Dr.  J.  F.  Shaffner,  of  Forsyth ;  Sergeant  J.  P.  Little,  of  Ca- 
tawba; Major  William  M.  Robbins,  of  Iredell;  Captain  Jas. 
A.  Summers,  of  Tennessee,  formerly  of  Iredell;  Lieutenant 
John  W.  Happoldt — an  excellent  soldier — of  Burke;  Lieu- 
tenant Columbus  L.  Turner,  of  Iredell;  Captain  J.  T.  Wal- 
ton, of  Gaston,  and  Mrs.  Robert  H.  Jones,  of  Raleigh. 


580  NoKTH  Carolina  Tboops,  1861-'65. 

Our  Surgeons,  Doctors  J.  F.  Shaffner  and  John  A.  Vigal, 
were  the  kindest  and  best  of  men.  They  were  ideal  Surgeons 
— capable,  honest,  firm,  sympathetic,  self-sacrificing,  coura- 
geous and  unremitting  in  their  attentions  to  the  sick  and 
wounded,  oftentimes  exposing  themselves  to  imminent  peril 
in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties.  By  such  unflinching 
heroism  and  devotion  to  duty  they  won  the  undying  gratitude 
of  the  entire  command.  Dr.  Richard  B.  Baker  was  an  able, 
conscientious  surgeon,  the  equal  in  every  respect  of  Drs, 
Shaiiner  and  Vigal,  but  after  the  battle  of  JSTew  Bern  he  waS 
transferred  to  another  command. 

Amid  the  gloom  of  our  defeat  we  found  that  among  the 
Federal  soldiers  there  were  some  big-hearted  men.  An  officer 
of  the  Thirty-third  said  to  a  Federal  Commissary:  "Give 
me  some  bread  for  my  men,  for  they  have  had  nothing  to  eat 
for  three  days."  "I  can't  do  it,"  said  the  commissary,  "but 
walk  about  the  tent  carelessly  and  fill  your  haversack  with 
crackers  and  loaf  sugar,  and  your  canteen  with  whiskey,  and 
I  won't  see  you."     The  officer  did  it. 

I  shall  always  have  a  soft  place  in  my  heart  for  the  mem- 
ory of  General  Grant.  He  treated  us  with  great  kindness 
and  consideration,  and  did  much,  very  much,  to  blunt  the' 
sting  of  defeat.     It  is  his  best,  his  greatest,  monument. 

The  Southern  soldiers  were  the  equals,  in  every  possible 
respect,  of  any  soldiers  that  ever  fought  for  God  or  man.  The 
world  must  bow  before  such  men.  We  failed  only  becauser 
it  was  impossible  to  succeed. 

"It  is  not  in  mortals  tO'  command  success. 
We  did  more,  we  deserved  it." 

James  A.  Weston.- 
Hickory,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THIRTY-FOURTH  REGIMENT. 


1.    Eli  H.  Miller,  Lieut. -Colonel. 
8.    A.  Q.  Walters,  Captain,  Co.  E. 


3.  W.  B.  Lowranoe,  Captain  and  Adit. 

4.  T.  D.  I.attimore,  2d  Lieut ,  Co.  F. 


THIRTY-FOURTH  REQinmT. 


By  T.  n.  LATTIMORE,  Second  Libutrnant,  Company  F. 


The  Thirty-fourth  Eegiment  of  ISTorth  Carolina  Troops 
was  composed  of  the  following  companies : 

Company  A — Ashe  County — Captain,  S.  IST.  Wilson. 

Company  B — Rutherford  and  Cleveland  Counties — Cap- 
tain, John  Edwards. 

Company  C — Rutherford  County — Captain,  M.  0.  Dick- 
erson. 

Company  D — Rowan  County — Captain,  William  A. 
Houk. 

Company  E — Lincoln  County — Captain,  John  F.  Hill. 

Company  F — Cleveland  County — Captain,  Abram  G. 
Walters. 

Company  G — Mecklenburg  County — Captain,  William 
R.  Myers. 

Company  H — Cleveland  County — Captain,  Samuel  A. 
Hoey. 

Company  I — Rutherford  County — Captain,  James  0. 
Simmons. 

Company  K — Montgomery  County — Captain,  David  R. 
Cochran. 

The  regiment  was  organized  at  High  Point,  on  26  October, 
1861,  and  during  its  existence  was  successively  officered  as 
follows : 

Colonels — CoUett  Leventhorpe,  Richard  H.  Riddick, 
William  L.  J.  Lowrance. 

Lieutenant-Colonels — William  A.  Houk,  Charles  J. 
Hamarskold,  John  L.  McDowell,  George  T.  Gordon,  George 
M.  Norment,  Eli.  H.  Millei',  H.  W.  Abernethy. 

Majoes — Martin  Shoffner,  William  A.  Owens,  Eli  H. 
Miller,  Joseph  B.  McGee,  Francis  L.  Twitty,  Geo.  M.  Clark. 

Chaplain — A.  R.  Bennick. 


582  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

Adjutants— James  Kiddick,  William  B.  Lowrance. 

Assistant  Quaeteemasters— Joseph  B.  Carrier,  John 
W.  Clark. 

SuEGEON — John  F.  Miller. 

Assistant  Suegeon — B.  B.  Williams. 

Seegeant-Majoes— Charles  B.  Todd,  George  AtweU,  H. 
H.  Rickerts,  O.  Sergeant,  W.  W.  Hargrove. 

QuAETEEMASTEE— T.  B.  Twitty,  Hospital  Steward. 

Deum  Majoe — F.  Bonrgin. 

We  spent  the  winter  of  1861  at  High  Point  and  Raleigh 
under  rigid  discipline,  drilling  hard,  and  having  diseases 
which  our  mothers,  in  their  kindness  and  watchfulness,  had 
kept  us  from  in  our  boyhood,  to-wit,  measles,  mumps,  whoop- 
ing-cough, etc. 

The  Spring  of  1862  found  us  at  Hamilton,  IST.  C,  on  the 
Roanoke  river,  "playing  war."  Colonel  Leventhorpe  had  us 
to  believe  that  we  could  sink  all  the  gun-boats  that  could  come 
up  that  river.  Later  we  went  to  Goldsboro,  where  we  re-en- 
listed for  three  years  or  "during  war,"  at  the  request  of  the 
Confederate  Congress,  under  an  act,  called  by  some,  "The 
Conscript  Act."  Up  to  this  time  we  thought  we  had  seen 
something  of  war,  crossing  swamps  and  streams  where  there 
were  no  bridges,  but  we  found  out  later  how  little  we  knew 
of  the  actual  hardships  of  long  and  continuous  war. 

From  Goldsboro  we  went  to  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  and  for 
the  first  time  were  attached  to  a  brigade  and  had  a  "sure 
enough"  General  to  command  us,  and  could  really  see  the  en- 
emy from  our  picket  posts. 

Well,  we  couldn't  persuade  the  Yankees  to  fight  us,  and 
having  no  order  to  disturb  them,  we  struck  camp  and  marched 
back  to  Richmond,  where  we  were  attached  to  Pender's  Brig- 
ade, composed  of  the  Thirteenth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty-second, 
Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina  Regiments. 

The  history  of  this  brigade  tells  the  history  of  each  regi- 
ment up  to  the  end  of  the  war.  As  an  individual  member 
I  am  not  ashamed  of  any  part  of  its  history,  and  would  be 
willing  to  apply  the  test  of  comparison  with  any  brigade  in 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 


Thirty-Fourth  Regiment.  583 

On  26  June,  1862,  being  a  part  of  A.  P.  Hill's  Light  Divis- 
ion, we  were  ordered  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  at  Me- 
chanicsville,  where  we  had  our  first  experience  in  real  war, 
we  were  very  anxious  to  fight ;  but  some  of  us  had  serious  mis- 
givings as  to  how  we  would  act  when  the  test  came.  After 
being  formed  into  line  of  battle  we  marched  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy  and  came  in  sight  of  him  just  before  dark.  We 
had  been  taught  that  the  proper  thing  to  do  was  to  raise  the 
"rebel  yell"  and  charge,  which  we  proceeded  to  do,  and 
found  ourselves  in  a  creek  not  far  from  the  eneray's  works. 
In  this  fight  our  regiment  lost  8  or  10  killed  and  15  or  30 
wounded.  Late  at  night  the  brigade  was  withdrawn  and  re- 
newed the  attack  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  27  June, 
when  the  enemy  retired  toward  Gaines'  Mill. 

In  the  engagement  at  this  last  place  Pender's  Brigade  was 
among  the  first  troops  to  open  the  fight.  Here  many  of  us 
saw  General  Lee  for  the  first  time,  who  rode  up  while  the 
brigade  was  being  formed  into  line  of  battle,  whereupon  Gen- 
eral Pender  called  the  attention  of  his  men  by  saying  to  them 
"the  eyes  of  your  chieftain  are  upon  you."  The  writer  of 
this  sketch  witnessed  every  principal  engagement  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia  from  this  time  to  the  end  of  the  war, 
but  in  no  other  battle  in  the  long  succession  was  the  mus- 
ketry to  be  compared  to  that  of  27  June,  1862,  at  Gaines' 
Mill.  The  fighting  continued  till  after  dark  when  the  Con- 
federates were  victorious,  but  at  a  fearfiil  cost.  The  Thirty- 
fourth  Regiment  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded.  Among 
the  killed  were  some  of  the  bravest  men  that  ever  shouldered 
a  musket  or  drew  a  sword.  Here  fell  Captain  Walters,  one 
of  nature's  noblemen.  At  the  same  time  14  of  his  men  were 
killed  and  25  wounded.  Other  companies  of  his  regiment 
lost  equally  as  heavily.  Colonel  R.  H.  Riddiek  was  severely 
wounded.  "Moore's  Roster"  says  he  was  killed  here,  but  this 
is  a  mistake ;  he  was  killed  at  Ox  Hill. 

On  28  June,  with  sad  hearts  over  the  loss  of- so  many  com- 
rades, we  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  On  the  30th,  at 
Frazier's  Farm,  Pender's  Brigade  was  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  charging  and  capturing  a  battery  of  artillery,  which 
was  pouring  a  fearful  fire  into  us,  and  driving  them  entirely 


584  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

from  the  field.  In  this  fight  the  Thirty-fourth  Eegiment 
sustained  a  terrible  loss.  Among  the  killed  I  recall  from 
memory  were  Lieutenants  Parks  and  Cowan,  of  Company  D, 
and  Shotwell,  of  Company  C,  all  brave  young  men.  Lieuten- 
ant Parks  on  reaching  the  battery,  laying  his  hand  upon  a 
gun,  remarked,  "This  is  my  cannon,"  and  was  killed  in- 
stantly. 

The  Thirty-fourth  was  not  actively  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Malvern  Hill  on  1  July,  but  was  under  heavy  artillery 
fire  for  several  hours. 

After  these  battles  we  camped  below  Eichmond  for  several 
weeks,  after  which  time  we  were  ordered  to  Gordons- 
ville  where  we  were  placed  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Stonewall  Jackson,  who  on  9  August,  J  8 62 — a 
very  hot  day — marched  out  to  Cedar  Run,  where  General 
Pope  was  in  waiting.  Pender's  Brigade  was  on  the  extreme 
left  and  drove  the  enemy  from  his  position  with  compara- 
tively small  loss  to  the  Confederates.  After  dark,  the  brig- 
ades still  being  in  line  of  battle  in  an  open  field,  a  mounted 
Federal  rode  up  within  a  few  steps  of  our  line  and  inquired 
what  troops  we  were.  An  ofiicer  stepped  forward  to  receive 
him,  and  approaching  nearer,  the  Federal  fired  at  him  with 
his  pistol.  He  wheeled  and  putting  spurs  to  his  horse  dashed 
away.  From  three  to  five  hundred  shots  were  fired  at  the 
fleeing  Yankee,  but  to  no  effect,  so  far  as  we  could  see.  I 
mention  this  incident  to  show  that  the  Northern  army  had 
some  brave  men  and  the  Confederates  some  poor  marksmen, 
especially  when  shooting  by  starlight. 

The  next  movement  of  the  regiment  was  with  Jackson  on 
his  famous  "flank"  movement.  Subsisting  almost  entirely 
on  green  corn,  we  reached  Manassas  Junction  27  August,  and 
were  engaged  in  driving  the  enemy  across  Bull  Bun,  after 
which  we  had  a  grand  feast  from  the  abundant  supply  cap- 
tured at  Manassas  Junction.  After  a  few  hours'  needed  rest 
we  marched  back  to  Manassas  Plains,  and  were  engaged  al- 
most continiiously  on  29  and  30  August  in  resisting  the  as- 
savilts  of  the  enemy,  and  we  were  in  the  last  charge  that  swept 
the  enemy  from  the  fleld  late  Saturday  afternoon.      The  last 


Thirty-Fourth  Regiment.  585 

fighting  done  at  Second  Manassas  was  by  Pender's  Brigade, 
after  dark  near  the  field  hospital  of  the  Federals. 

At  the  battle  of  Ox  Hill,  1  September,  1862,  this  regiment 
suffered  severe  loss.  The  battle  was  fought  during  a  pouring 
rain.  Among  the  lost.  Colonel  R.  H.  Riddick  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Eli  H.  Miller  fell  mortally  wounded.  Both  were 
brave  and  efficient  officers.  Their  loss  to  the  regiment  was 
irreparable.  Colonel  Riddick  had  been  in  the  Mexican  war 
and  was  a  fine  disciplinarian. 

The  next  day  we  took  up  our  march  to  Maryland,  and 
crossing  the  Potomac  at  Leesburg,  Va.,  rested  a  few  days  at 
Frederick  City,  proceeded  from  there  to  Williamsport,  re- 
crossed  the  Potomac  on  the  night  of  14  September  and  drove 
the  enemy  into  their  works  on  Bolivar  Heights,  in  front  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  thereby  enabling  the  Confederate  artillery, 
undercover  of  darkness,  to  be  placed  in  a  position  which  caused 
the  enemy  to  surrender  early  on  the  morning  of  15  September. 
We  took  11,500  prisoners  and  76  pieces  of  artillery.  The 
Thirty-fourth  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  pontoon  bridge  and 
was  entrusted  with  t|ie  counting  and  discharging  of  the  pris- 
oners, after  conducting  them  to  the  Maryland  side  of  the 
river.  We  then  moved  by  rapid  march  to  Sharpsburg  and 
reached  that  point  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  last  fighting 
done  by  the  right  of  Lee's  army.  The  regiment  at  this  time, 
owing  to  hard  marching  and  exhausting  fighting,  was  a  mere 
skeleton.  In  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  there  were  but  four 
commissioned  officers  in  the  whole  regiment.  One  of  these. 
Lieutenant  Bassinger,  was  killed. 

On  20  September  our  regiment  assisted  in  driving  back 
the  Federal  force  which  followed  Greneral  Lee  into  Virginia, 
killing  many  of  them  at  Shepherdstown,  who  were  attempting 
to  recross  the  river  on  a  dam. 

After  this  the  regiment  was  allowed  rest  and  for  the  first 
cime  in  six  weeks  to  change  their  clothing,  not  having  seen 
our  wagon  train  with  baggage  since  leaving  Orange  Court 
House.  ISTothing  worthy  of  note  occurred  until  November, 
^hen  the  regiment  marched  with  Jackson's  corps  to  Freder- 
icksburg. It  was  actively  engaged  in  the  great  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  13  December,  1862,  where  it  is  said  12,000 


586  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

of  the  enemy  were  killed  or  wounded  in  thirty  minutes.  The 
Thirty-fourth  occupied  an  unfortified  position  on  the  railroad, 
fighting  under  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy.  Besides  the  un- 
usual number  of  killed  and  wounded,  there  was  great  suffer- 
ing from  intense  cold,  being  exposed  tO'  -^e  bitter  December 
weather  without  fire.  The  remainder  of  the  winter  was  spent 
at  Moss  ISTeck,  below  Fredericksburg,  doing  picket  duty  on 
the  Rappahannock. 

During  this  winter,  which  was  so  rigorous,  even  to  those  in 
comfort,  many  of  the  soldiers,  for  want  of  shoes  for  their 
frost-bitten  feet,  covered  their  feet  with  green  beef  hides. 
Owing  to  scarcity  of  provisions  they  were  more  sorely  tried 
during  this  winter,  but  were  not  discouraged,  and  when  the 
spring  of  '63  opened  they  were  ready  to  meet  the  enemy 
with  their  accustomed  zeal  and  courage.  The  Thirty-fourth 
was  with  General  Jackson  on  his  great  flank  movement  at 
Chancellorsville,  and  was  at  the  head  of  the  brigade  on  the 
plank  road,  and  near  the  spot  where  the  murderous  bullets 
took  from  us  our  beloved  hero.  After  a  long  exposure  to  a 
frightful  cannonading  on  the  plank  road  the  brigade  was 
formed  on  the  left,  the  right  resting  on  the  same  road.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  3d  the  brigade  assaulted  the  enemy 
behind  his  works,  built  during  the  night,  and  after  hard 
fighting,  he  was  completely  routed  and  driven  out.  During 
the  fight  the  woods  caiight  on  fire  from  the  explosion  of  hos- 
tile shells.  The  scene  was  sickening — the  dead  and  wounded 
on  both  sides  were  burnt  to  a  crisp.  ]!^umbers  were  so  charred 
that  their  comrades  could  not  recognize  and  identify  them. 
After  seeing  the  survivors  of  the  Federal  army  safely  over 
the  Rappahannock,  the  regiment  returned  to  camp  at  Moss 
Neck,  where  it  remained  until  5  June,  1863,  when  it  set  out 
on  the  march  to  fatal  Gettysburg;  was  engaged  and  suffered 
heavy  loss  on  the  second  day  of  July.  Among  the  killed 
being  the  gallant  and  highly  esteemed  Major  George  M. 
Clark,  of  Montgomery  county. 

The  brigade  was  now  known  as  Scales',  General  Pender 
having  been  promoted,  and  fought  on  the  right  of  the  Cham- 
bersbtirg  road  and  was  exposed  to  a  deadly  enfilading  fire 
from  artillery  on  the  left  and  infantry  in  front,  from  be- 


Thirty-Fourth  Regiment.  587 

hind  breastworks.  For  the  first  time  in  its  history,  the  brig- 
ade was  repulsed  by  this  thunderous  fire,  but  nothing  daunted 
the  men  leaped  to  the  fray  on  the  third  day  and  were  in  the 
famous  charge  about  which  so  much  has  been  written.  Our 
brigade  was  in  the  second  line  under  General  Trimble,  march- 
ing into  the  struggle  with  magnificent  appearance,  but  was 
repulsed  and  driven  back  in  disorder,  as  was  every  other  com- 
mand engaged  in  that  destructive  charge.  Some  of  the 
Thirty-fourth  Regiment  were  captured  at  the  enemy's  works. 
The  retreat  from  Gettysburg  to  Hagerstown,  Md.,  cannot  be 
described.  The  soldiers  were  so  completely  covered  with 
mud  that  the  color  of  their  clothing  could  not  be  distinguish- 
ed. We  remained  at  Hagerstown  two  or  three  days,  subsist- 
ing on  very  short  rations,  but  all  the  time  skirmishing  with 
the  Yankees.  On  the  night  of  13  July  the  retreat  was  re- 
sumed toward  Falling  Water,  our  whole  march  being  through 
mud  and  rain. 

The  Thirty-fourth  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  about  one 
mile  from  the  pontoon  bridge,  and  was  among  the  last  troops 
to  cross  the  river.  Many  were  captured  near  the  bridge, 
some  crossing  after  the  artillery  duel  began  across  the  river. 
The  writer  and  two  men  were  all  that  escaped  of  his  com- 
pany. What  remained  of  the  regiment  camped  for  a  short 
time  at  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  was  engaged  in  a  cavalry 
fight  on  —  August;  had  several  men  captured,  and  was  then 
ordered  to  Orange  Court  House,  where  it  did  picket  duty  in 
the  winter  of  '63  and  '64. 

The  regiment  received  many  recruits  during  this  winter, 
mostly  men  between  forty  and  forty-five  years,  who,  with  rare 
exceptions,  made  poor  soldiers,  and  fell  far  short  of  filling  the 
places  of  those  who  had  been  killed  or  disabled.  Candor  com- 
pels the  admission  that  this  grand  old  regiment  toward  the 
close  of  the  war  was  not  what  it  had  been  from  the  beginning, 
and  without  presuming  to  speak  for  others,  the  same  may  be 
said  of  all  regiments  which  had  seen  like  service.  The  regi- 
ment was  at  Bristoe  Station  in  October,  1863,  but  was  not  ac- 
tively engaged.  However,  it  assisted  in  tearing  up  the  rail- 
road leading  to  the  Rappahannock  river,  and  was  in  line  of 
battle  at  Mine  Run  for  several  days  in  the  latter  part  of  'No- 


588  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

vember,  1863,  and  suffered  intensely  from  the  freezing 
weather. 

At  the  Wilderness  on  5  May,  1864,  the  regiment,  with  the 
brigade,  fought  on  the  right  of  the  plank  road,  holding  their 
position  till  night  against  a  strong  opposing  force.  Early 
next  morning  we  were  surpised  and  driven  back  by  an  over- 
whelming number  of  the  enemy  and  what  seemed  to  be  an  im- 
minent defeat  was  averted  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Greneral 
Longstreet's  corps. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  and  did  good  service  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House.  The  loss  in  this  battle  was  compara- 
tively light,  as  most  of  the  fighting  was  from  behind  breast- 
works. 

At  the  engagement  near  Hanover  Jimction,  on  23  May, 
1864,  the  regiment  was  engaged  and  lost  severely.  Three 
color-bearers  were  shot  down,  but  the  brave  band  held  their 
position,  and  buried  their  dead  and  carried  off  the  wounded. 

At  the  Second  Cold  Harbor  the  regiment  occupied  the  posi- 
tion on  the  right  at  Turkey  Kidge.  However,  it  was  not  ac- 
tively engaged,  but  was  exposed  for  a  long  time  to  the  rapid 
fire  of  the  enemy. 

On  13  June  we  were  in  the  engagement  at  Riddle's  Shop, 
and  for  more  than  a  mile  drove  the  enemy  in  a  running  fight. 
The  regiment  took  part  in  the  battle  near  Petersburg  on  22 
June.  At  Reams'  Station,  25  August,  Scales'  Worth  Caro- 
lina and  Anderson's  Georgia  Brigades  made  the  first  assault 
on  the  enemy's  works  and  were  repulsed  with  considerable 
loss,  the  right  of  the  line  being  exposed  to  a  frightful  enfilad- 
ing fire  of  artillery  and  musketry;  but,  while  feeling  the 
sting  of  defeat  in  our  attack,  with  swelling  hearts  we  wit- 
nessed the  gallant  charge  of  Cook's,  MacRae's  and  Lane's 
Brigades.  Excepting  some  small  skirmishing  this  last  fight 
ended  the  campaign  of  1864,  and  the  regiment  went  into  win- 
ter quarters  at  Battery  No.  45,  near  Petersburg.  During  the 
winter  the  regiment  made  a  forced  march,  through  rain,  sleet 
and  snow,  to  Bellfield  Station,  on  the  Petersburg  &  Weldon 
Railroad.  The  object  of  the  march  was  to  look  after  a  raid- 
ing party  of  Federal  cavalry.  On  our  arrival  we  found  that 
they  had  retired.     This  also  was  a  winter  of  intense  suffer- 


Thirty-Fourth  Regiment.  589 

ing  among  the  soldiers.  Almost  destitute  of  provisions  and 
clothing,  many  of  them  deserted  and  crossed  the  line  to  the 
enemy.  On  25  March  the  Thirty-fourth  was  thrown  for- 
ward to  support  the  picket  line,  which  was  about  one  mile  in 
front  of  the  main  line  of  works.  Superior  numbers  forced 
us  to  fall  back  to  the  works,  losing  considerably  in  killed, 
wounded  and  captured. 

On  1  April,  1865,  the  regiment  with  the  brigade,  occupied 
a  position  on  the  right,  south  of  Hatcher's  Run.  We  learned 
soon  after  daylight  that  the  Confederate  lines  between  us  and 
Petersburg  had  been  broken.  After  this  saddening  news  the 
regiment  repulsed  a  force  of  Federal  cavalry  and  then  re- 
treated to  Southerland's  Station,  where  a  portion  of  Heth's 
and  Wilcox's  divisions  hastily  constructed  breastworks  from  a 
rail  fence  behind  which  we  repulsed  two  desperate  assaults 
of  the  enemy,  killing  and  wounding  a  large  number,  and  cap- 
turing a  stand  of  colors  and  many  prisoners.  Discovering 
that  we  were  vastly  outnumbered  we  fell  back  to  the  Appomat- 
tox river.  There  was  no  way  of  crossing  the  river  except  in  a 
small  boat  which  was  scarcely  sufficient  to  carry  the  higher 
officers. 

The  regiment  marched  all  night  and  reached  Amelia  Court 
House  the  next  day.  At  this  time  the  ranking  officer  was 
Lieutenant-Colonel  George  ISTorment,  of  the  Thirty-fourth 
Regiment,  from  Mecklenburg  county.  Here  we  joined  the 
main  army  and  General  Lee  provided  for  us  the  much-needed 
rations.  The  regiment,  with  the  brigade,  protected  the  rear 
of  the  army  at  Farmville,  marching  several  miles  in  line  of 
battle,  beating  back  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  was  the  last  to 
cross  the  river.  As  we  went  out  from  the  river  a  heavy  artil- 
lery fire  was  poured  down  upon  the  regiment.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  9  April  the  brigade  was  moving  into  line  near  Appo- 
mattox Court  House,  and  was  in  range  of  the  enemy's  mus- 
ketry, when  orders  were  passed  along  the  line  to  cease  firing. 
All  understood  what  it  meant — the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia was  to  surrender.  We  then  fell  back  to  an  open  field, 
near  the  famous  apple  tree. 

The  Confederate  soldiery  which  had  cast  their  fortunes 
with  the  destiny  of  the  South,  had  suffered  untold  and  inde- 


590  North  Carolina  Troops,  ]861-'65. 

scribable  hardships  and  privations,  but  when  their  grand 
chieftain  rode  in  among  them  and  announced  the  terms  of  sur- 
render, the  agony  of  soul  and  the  depth  of  suffering  exceeded 
anything  ever  before  endured  in  the  cruel  war.  In  the  vast 
array  of  ragged  braves,  whose  courage  and  zeal  had  carried 
them  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  bronze  war-dogs  of  the  enemy, 
not  a  dry  eye  could  be  seen  anywhere.  It  seemed  that  they 
preferred  to  make  one  last  charge  and  become  engulfed 
in  death,  the  last  long  sleep,  to  the  painful  duty  of  giving  up 
their  tattered  flag  which  had  waved  over  them  in  so  many 
victories ;  but  all  was  over,  and  the  remnant  of  two  hundred 
officers  and  men  marched  out  and  stacked  their  trusty  mus- 
kets, laid  down  their  bullet-pierced  flag,  never  again  to  be 
unfurled  in  the  rage  of  battle.  Thus  ended  the  great  drama 
in  which  the  Thirty-fourth  played  no  mean  part.  The  regi- 
ment deserves  a  more  extensive  history  than  this  sketch, 
which  has  been  written  almost  entirely  from  memory ;  which 
must  necessarily  have  dimmed  with  the  recession  of  thirty 
odd  years ;  and  the  writer  regrets  that  he  has  not  had  access  to 
records  from  which  to  give  the  casualties  of  each  battle  in 
which  the  regiment  was  engaged. 

T.  D.  Lattimoee, 
Shelby,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THIETY-FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  M  W.  Ransom,  Colonel.  6.  Wm.  H.  S.  BurRwyn,  Captain,  Co.  H. 

S.  John  G  Jones,  Colonel.  6.  Robert  B.  Peebles,  Adjutant. 

3.  J.  T.  Johnson,  Colonel.  7.  David  G.  Maxwell,  Captain,  Co.  H. 

4.  Simon  B.  Taylor,  Lieut.-Colonel.  8.  P.  J.  Johnson,  Captain,  Co.  K. 

9.    Walter  Clark,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant. 


THIRTT-PIFTH  REGIMEfiT. 


By  WILLIAM  H.  S.  BURGWYN,  Captain,  Company  H. 


This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Ral- 
eigh, N.  C,  8  November,  1861.  Its  ten  companies  were  re- 
cruited in  the  following  counties  mentioned  in  order  of  Cap- 
tain's commissions,  viz. : 

Company  H,  from  Mecklenburg  county,  3  September. 
Company  A,  from  Onslow  county,  6  September. 
Company  B,  from  McDowell  county,  11  September. 
Company  C,  from  Moore  county,  12  September. 
Company  D,  from  Chatham  county,  20  September. 
Company  E,  from  Person  county,  25  September. 
Company  F,  from  Union  county,  4  October. 
Company  G,  from  Henderson  county,  5  October. 
Company  I,  from  Wayne  county,  11  October. 
Company  K,  from  Catawba  county,  15  October. 

The  Captain  (John  M.  Alexander)  of  the  Mecklenburg 
company,  resigned  on  1  October,  1861,  prior  to  the  regimen- 
tal formation  (8  November,  1861.)  The  date  of  Captain 
Hugh  M.  Dixon's  commission,  who  succeeded  him,  was  10 
October,  ranking  only  the  Captains  of  the  companies  from 
Wayne  and  Catawba,  and  therefore  the  Mecklenburg  com- 
pany became  Company  H  in  the  regimental  organization,  in- 
stead of  Company  A. 

According  to  "Moore's  Roster  of  North  Carolina  Troops" 
the  total  rank  and  file  of  these  ten  companies  from  first  to 
last  aggregated  as  follows : 

Company  A,  136 ;  Company  B,  133,  Company  C,  130, 
Company  D,  147 ;  Company  E,  196 ;  Company  F,  128  ;  Com- 
G,  123 ;  Company  H,  188 ;  Company  I,  133,  and  Company 
K,  156.     Total,  1,4T0. 

There  were  few  officers  or  men  in  the  regiment  of  distin- 


592      North  Carolina  Troops,  LSGl-'HS. 

guished  political  position.  The  rank  and  file  were  chiefly 
farmers  and  small  merchants,  comparatively  very  few  were 
owners  of  slaves ;  but  they  were  all  descended  from  ancestors 
whose  fortunes  and  blood  had  been  freely  spent  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution ;  they  volunteered  in  obedience  to  the  call 
of  their  State  to  resist  invasion ;  they  came  with  a  firm  deter- 
mination to  do  their  full  duty.  How  heroically  they  per- 
formed this  duty  will  more  fully  appear  in  the  following 
sketch. 

FIRST  organization  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

As  the  law  was  at  the  time  for  organizing  the  Confederate 
volunteers  in  North  Carolina,  the  enlisted  men  elected  their 
company  officers,  viz:  Captain,  one  First  and  two  Second 
Lieutenants.  These  company  officers  elected  their  field  officers, 
viz. :  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Major.  The  Colonel 
appointed  the  regimental  staff,  viz. :  Surgeon,  Assistant  Sur- 
geon, Quartermaster,  Commissary  and  Adjutant. 

The  election  for  field  officers  was  held  on  8  November, 
1861,  at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Raleigh,  under  supervision  of 
that  gallant  officer  and  cultured  gentleman.  Major  James 
Iredell,  commandant  of  the  camp,  subsequently  elected  Major 
of  the  Fifty-third  North  Carolina  regiment,  and  killed 
at  Spottsylvania. 

This  election  resulted  as  follows : 
Rev.  James  Sinclair,  Colonel. 
Marshall  D.  Ceaton,  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Oliver  Cromwell  Petway^  Major. 

Colonel  Sinclair  was  the  Chaplain  of  the  Fifth  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  It  was  reported  that  at  the  battle  of  the 
First  Manassas,  21  July,  1861,  Chaplain  Sinclair  had  acted 
with  conspicuous  bravery ;  assisted  in  rallying  his  regiment ; 
and  been  complimented  by  General  Longstreet  and  presented 
with  a  sword  by  that  officer.  These  rumors,  believed  at  the 
time,  though  false  in  fact,  doubtless  had  some  influence  in 
securing  his  election,  but  it  was  subsequently  apparent, 
that  even  in  those  stirring  times,  when  patriotism  was 
ablaze,  and  men  were  eager  to  get  to  the  front,  and  only 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  593 

wanted  good  leaders,  there  was  opportunity  for  trading 
votes. 

Colonel  Sinclair  appointed  as  Regimental  Surgeon,  Cap- 
tain James  R.  Ellis,  of  Company  K;  as  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Second  Lieutenant  Cader  G.  Cox,  of  Company  A; 
as  Quartermaster,  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  M.  Black,  of  Com- 
pany C,  and  as  Commissary,  First  Lieutenant  John  T.  Ken- 
nedy, of  Company  I.     T.  J.  Gates  was  appointed  Adjutant. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Craton  was  at  the  time  of  his  election 
Captain  of  Company  A,  in  the  Twenty-seventh  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  from  Wayne  county,  and  Major  Petway  was 
the  Adjutant  of  the  camp  of  instruction  where  the  regiment 
was  organized.  He  had  been  appointed  to  that  position  by 
Major  Iredell's  predecessor  in  command  of  the  camp.  Major 
Harry  K.  Burgwyn. 

Major  Gliver  Cromwell  Petway  was  a  cadet  at  the  Vir- 
ginia Military  Academy  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He 
was  descended  from  the  noted  Crowell  family  of  Halifax 
county,  ISTorth  Carolina,  whose  ancestor  was  a  brother  of  Gli- 
ver Cromwell,  after  whose  death  and  the  restoration  of  Charles 
the  II,  the  family  migrated  to  North  Carolina,  and  dropping 
the  letter  "m"  went  ever  afterward  by  the  name  of  "Crowell." 

Major  Petway  was  admirably  qualified  for  the  position, 
and  labored  most  faithfully  to  bring  his  regiment  to  a  high 
state  of  efiiciency.  In  his  untimely  death  at  Malvern  Hill,  1 
July,  1862,  while  gallantly  leading  his  regiment,  his  Colonel, 
Matt.  W.  Ransom,  having  been  painfully  wounded,  the  Con- 
federacy lost  one  of  its  most  meritorious  young  ofiicers. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Camp  Mangum,  perfecting  its 
drill  and  discipline,  until  3  January,  1862,  when,  at  the  re- 
quest of  General  Gatling,  commanding  the  Department,  it 
was  sent  to  ITew  Bern  to  take  part  in  the  defense  of  that  strat- 
egetically  important  city. 

BATTLE  OF  NEW  BEEN. 

Having  captured  Roanoke  Island   (10  February,  1862) 
General  Burnside,  early  in  March  following,  made  his  attack 
on  New  Bern.     That  distinguisheid  statesman,  patriotic  citi- 
38 


594  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861 -'65. 

zen  and  subsequently  accomplished  soldier,  Brigadier-General 
L.  O'B.  Branch,  whose  death  at  Sharpsburg  (17  September, 
1862)  cut  short  a  career  that  gave  promise  of  being  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  in  the  military  annals  of  the  State,  was  in  im- 
mediate command  of  the  Confederate  troops. 

General  Branch  formed  his  line  of  defense  at  right  angles 
to  the  river,  beginning  at  Fort  Thompson  on  the  ISTeuse,  and 
extending  it  across  the  country  to  near  Brice's  creek,  his 
troops  being  placed  as  follows :  from  left  to  right,  commenc- 
ing at  the  fort,  viz. :  Twenty-seventh,  Thirty-seventh,  Seventh, 
Thirty-fifth  ISTorth  Carolina  Eegiments,  Militia,  Twenty- 
sixth  jSTorth  Carolina  Kegiment  with  the  Thirty-third  North 
Carolina  Regiment  in  reserve.  The  batteries  of  Latham  and 
Brem,  six  pieces  each,  supported  this  line.  About  midway, 
the  line  was  intersected  by  the  railroad  from  ISTew  Bern  to 
Morehead  City.  At  this  point  of  intersection  there  was  a 
brickyard. 

The  Confederate  line  on  the  right  (west)  of  the  railroad, 
instead  of  being  a  prolongation  of  that  on  the  left  (east),  in 
order  to  avail  of  some  supposed  natural  advantages  of  the 
ground  and  a  small  stream,  was  formed  to  the  rear  about  one 
hundred  yards  up  the  railroad,  in  the  direction  of  New  Bern. 
This  brickyard  was  in  this  interval,  and  had  there  been  time, 
would  have  been  defended  by  earthworks  and  artillery.  The 
afternoon  before  the  battle.  Lieutenant  James  A.  Bryan,  ord- 
nance officer  on  General  Branch's  staff,  since  so  favorably 
known  in  the  State,  brought  down  several  pieces  of  artillery, 
with  ammunition  and  cartridges,  with  orders  to  Colonel  H. 
J.  B.  Clark,  commanding  the  militia,  to  have  the  same 
mounted.  Had  this  order  been  carried  out  the  next  day's  bat- 
tle might  have  resulted  differently. 

The  militia  under  Colonel  Clark  was  posted  at  the  brick- 
yard to  defend  this  interval ;  on  its  left  was  placed  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Eegiment  under  command  of  Colonel  Sinclair. 

Burnside  attacked  early  on  the  morning  of  14  March,  1862. 
After  the  battle  had  progressed  for  some  time  in  a  manner 
encouraging  to  the  Confederate  commander,  the  enemy,  per- 
ceiving the  weakness  of  the  Confederate  line  at  the  brick- 
yard, made  a  spirited  attack    at   this    point.     The   militia 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  595 

•'broke  and  fled."  This  demoralized  the  troops  on  their  left, 
and  the  enemy  seizing  the  opportunity,  advanced  through 
this  break  in  the  Confederate  line. 

The  Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  according  to  General  Branch's 
official  report,  "quickly  followed  the  example  of  the  militia, 
retreating  in  the  utmost  disorder." 

The  enemy  now  rushed  his  troops  through  the  abandoned 
works  and  enfilading  the  Confederates  on  either  side,  forced 
them  to  retire;  but  not  without  a  stubborn  resistance  from 
five  companies  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  sent  to  replace 
the  fled  militia;  from  the  Thirty-third  regiment  sent  to  the 
support  of  the  Thirty-fifth  and  from  the  left  wing  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment  under  command  of  its  gallant  Major, 
Abner  B.  Carmichael,  who  here  lost  his  life.  With  his  center 
pierced  and  the  enemy  now  firing  into  his  lines  from  the 
rear.  General  Branch  ordered  a  retreat  upon  New  Bern; 
and,  after  destroying  the  bridges  across  the  river  and  the  mili- 
tary supplies  in  the  city,  continued  his  retreat  upon  Kinston, 
where  reinforcements  were  received  and  the  troops  re-organ- 
ized during  this  and  the  subsequent  month. 

That  it  was  attributable  to  want  of  leadership  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Regiment  did  not  behave  better  on  this,  its  first  field  of 
battle,  is  established  by  the  fact,  that  in  every  subsequent 
battle  of  the  war  in  which  it  was  directly  or  remotely  con- 
nected, it  never  failed  to  act  in  such  a  manner  as  to  deserve 
and  win  the  encomiums  of  its  commanding  officers ;  and  that 
the  conduct  of  their  Colonel  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  at  New 
Bern  was  such  as  to  cause  the  officers  to  lose  all  confidence  in 
their  military  capacity  to  lead  them,  is  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  at  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  (10  April,  1862), 
neither  of  these  officers  were  re-elected ;  while  the  one  who  had 
shown  both  capacity  and  bravery,  the  youthful  Petway,  was 
advanced  higher  in  command  and  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The  rank  and  file  of  the  regiment  felt  keenly  the  conduct  of 
their  commanding  officers  and  the  injustice  done  th^m  by  this 
want  of  leadership,  and  were  impatient  for  any  opportunity 
to  redeem  themselves. 

On  the  retreat  to  Kinston,  when  troops  were  called  for  to 
act  as  a  rear  guard,  Company  D,  of  the  regiment  volunteered 


596  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

its  services.  Says  Colonel  Sinclair  in  his  official  report  of 
the  battle:  "Special  praise  is  due  to  Company  D,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Lassiter,  for  the  alacrity  with  which  they 
volunteered  to  defend  our  retreating  columns  when  the  ene- 
my's cavalry  was  reported  to  be  upon  us."  This  gallant  of- 
ficer, Captain  Hardy  J.  Lassiter,  from  Chatham  county,  was 
soon  to  yield  up  his  life  on  the  battlefield,  for  he  was  killed 
while  leading  his  company  in  that  memorable  charge  on  Mal- 
vern Hill  (1  July,  1862). 

On  lY  March,  1862,  the  Thirty-fifth  regiment  was  made 
a  part  of  French's  brigade,  and  on  9  April  it  was  assigned  to 
a  brigade  to  be  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Robert  Ran- 
som, Jr.,  who  had  shortly  before  been  ordered  to  North  Caro- 
lina to  assist  in  reorganizing  the  troops  assembled  at  Kin- 
ston.  The  Thirty-fifth  regiment  was  ever  afterwards  at- 
tached to  this  famous  brigade ;  well  might  it  say,  in  the  words 
of  the  Trojan  Hero:    "Magna,  pars  fui." 

KBOEGANIZATIOlSr  FOE  THE  WAR. 

After  five  months  of  service  and  battle  experience,  the  of- 
ficers of  the  regiment  were  much  better  qualified  to  select  a 
commanding  officer  than  when  at  Camp  Mangum. 

They  realized  how  important,  not  only  for  their  good  name 
but  for  their  safety  as  well,  it  was  to  have  a  cool,  brave,  expe- 
rienced and  resourceful  man  at  their  head ;  and  after  the  ma- 
turest  deliberation,  they  unanimously  chose  as  their  Colonel, 
Matt.  W.  Ransom,  at  the  time  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First 
North  Carolina  State  Troops,  and  then  in  command  of  his 
regiment  at  Kinston. 

This  accomplished  man  and  gallant  soldier  now  known 
to  the  country  as  an  eminent  statesman  and  brilliant  orator, 
who  for  more  than  twenty-one  years  represented  his  State  in 
the  United  States  Senate  and  latterly  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary of  his  country  at  the  sister  republic  of  Mexico,  was  then 
known  to  his  people  as  a  young  man  who  had  graduated  from 
his  State  University  with  distinguished  honors;  had  been 
elected  Attorney  General  when  but  a  few  years  out  of  college, 
member  of  the  Legislature  and  rapidly  taking  rank  as  an  ora- 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  597 

tor  and  advocate ;  who  had  been  selected  as  one  of  three  com- 
missioners to  proceed  to  Montgomery  and  represent  his  State 
before  the  Congress  of  the  new  Confederacy ;  who  had  volun- 
teered among  the  first,  and  appointed  to  high  conmiand  in  a 
regiment  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  in  the  short  time  of  his 
military  service  had  won  the  confidence  of  his  superiors  and 
admiration  of  his  men.  It  was  greatly  feared  by  the  officers  of 
the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  that  Colonel  Ransom  would  decline. 
His  friends  urged  him  to  do  so.  His  own  regiment  was  loath 
to  part  with  him.  Major-General  Holmes,  the  Department 
Commander  and  his  personal  friend,  advised  him  not  to  ac- 
cept, stating  among  other  reasons,  that  the  Colonel  of 
the  regiment  would  be  sure  to  lose  his  life.  That  for  the  next 
battle  or  two  the  regiment  would  feel  the  demoralization  of  its 
conduct  at  New  Bern  and  probably  require  to  be  rallied  and 
its  commander  to  greatly  expose  himself  and  he  would  njost 
likely  be  killed.  This  suggestion  of  his  friend  and  com- 
mander decided  the  matter,  but  not  as  General  Holmes 
wished.  Thanking  the  General  for  his  friendly  interest,  Col- 
onel Ransom  remarked  that  he  had  been  in  doubt  about  ac- 
cepting the  place,  but  "your  statement  of  the  situation 
makes  plain  my  duty  in  'the  premises."  Leaving  General 
Holmes'  presence  Colonel  Ransom  notified  the  committee  that 
he  would  accept  the  position. 

When  it  became  known  that  Colonel  Ransom  was  to  leave 
them,  the  officers  of  his  old  regiment  presented  him  with  a 
handsome  sword  as  a  testimonial  of  their  respect  and  esteem. 

As  before  stated.  Major  Petway  had  been  unanimously 
elected  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  John  G.  Jones,  of 
Company  E,  was  elected  Major,  thus  completing  the  reorgani- 
zation of  the  regiment  as  it  re-enlisted  for  the  war. 

Colonel  Ransom  appointed  his  regimental  staff,  viz. :  As 
Surgeon,  Dr.  Chas.  J.  O'Hagan,  at  that  time  Assistant  Sur- 
geon of  the  First  Cavalry,  appointed  by  General  Robert  Ran- 
som, Jr.,  then  Colonel  of  that  famous  command;  as  Quarter- 
master, Captain  Nicholas  M.  Long,  who  subsequently  re- 
signed and  was  succeeded  in  December,  1862,  by  Captain 
Joseph  M.  Rogers ;  as  Commissary,  Dr.  Chas.  J.  Gee,  and  as 
Adjutant,  Mr.  Nelson,  of  Wayne  county,  who  had  been  a 


598  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

cadet  at  West  Point.  This  gentleman  resigned  in  July 
1862,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Walter  Clark. 

Adjutant  Walter  Clark,  since  so  favorably  and  well  known 
as  a  learned  lawyer,  accomplished  jurist,  publicist,  editor  and 
author,  was  a  cadet  at  Colonel  Tew's  Military  Academy  at 
Hillsboro  when  the  war  broke  out.  Leaving  the  academy  in 
June,  1861,  at  the  age  of  14  he  joined  the  Twenty-second  reg- 
iment, J.  J.  Pettigrew,  Colonel,  as  drill  master,  accompanied 
the  regiment  to  Virginia,  and  was  stationed  at  Evansport,  on 
the  Acquia  Creek. 

In  November  of  the  same  year  he  is  again  drill  master  at 
Camp  Mangum  and  acting  as  Adjutant  of  the  Thirty-fifth 
Regiment  just  then  being  organized.  When  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  New  Bern  he  returned  to  Colonel  Tew's 
academy,  and  1  August,  1862,  was  appointed  by  Colonel 
Ransom  Adjutant  of  his  regiment,  and  joined  the  command 
as  it  was  entering  upon  the  Maryland  campaign  of  1862.  Was 
with  the  regiment  in  that  campaign  and  at  Fredericksburg 
acting  with  gallantry  and  efficiency  in  the  battles  of  Sharps- 
burg  and  Fredericksburg.  On  the  return  of  the  brigade  to 
North  Carolina  in  February,  1863,,  he  resigned  and  went 
to  Chapel  Hill,  where  he  graduated  2  June,  1864.  Was 
elected  Major  of  a  battalion  of  iive  companies  of  Junior  Re- 
serves the  day  after  his  graduation  and  3  July  1864,  was 
elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Seventieth  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  probably  the  youngest  officer  of  that  rank  in  either 
army,  being  then  17  years  of  age. 

In  May,  1862,  Captain  Hugh  M.  Dixon,  of  Company  H, 
resigned  and  First  Lieutenant  David  G.  Maxwell  was  pro- 
moted to  be  Captain  and  Silas  C.  Hunter  and  J.  R.  Baker 
made  First  and  Second  Lieutenants  respectively  of  the  com- 
pany. 

SEVEN"  PINES  AND  MALVEEN  HILL. 

Until  ordered  to  join  General  Jos.  E.  Johnston's  army  de- 
fending Richmond,  Ransom's  brigade  remained  in  and 
around  Kinston,  N.  C,  perfecting  its  drill  and  discipline  and 
defending  our  lines  in  eastern  North  Carolina.     It  -will  not 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  599 

be  considered  out  of  place  here  to  refer  to  our  brigade  com- 
mander, General  Eobert  Eansom,  Jr. 

This  distinguished  soldier  from  the  Old  ISTorth  Stat©  was 
born  at  the  home  of  his  ancestors  in  Warren  county.  He 
chose  the  military  as  his  profession,  and  was  educated  at 
West  Point.  Selecting  the  cavalry  as  his  arm  of  the  service, 
he  had  risen  to  be  a  Captain  in  the  Second  Dragoons  when 
the  war  broke  out. 

At  once  resigning  from  the  United  States  army  on  the  se- 
cession of  ISTorth  Carolina,  he  determined  to  flash  his  sword  in 
defense  of  his  native  State,  and  offered  his  services  to  Gov- 
ernor Ellis;  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  First  Cavalry, 
which  became  under  his  management  one  of  the  best  drilled, 
most  efficient  and  the  finest  looking  cavalry  regiment  in  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia.  It  never  lost  under  its  several 
successive  commanders  this  proud  distinction. 

Appointed  Brigadier  General,  he  was  sent  at  once  to  Kin- 
ston,  after  the  fall  of  New  Bern,  to  help  reorganize  the  troops 
in  camp  there,  and  was  put  in  command  of  a  brigade,  ever 
afterward  to  bear  his  name.  Applying  the  same  administra- 
tive ability  and  rigid  discipline  to  his  infantry  brigade  that 
he  had  exercised  towards  his  cavalry  regiment,  the  brigade 
rapidly  became  welded  into  a  well  drilled  and  disciplined 
command,  ready  and  eager  to  see  more  active  service  in  the 
great  theatre  of  war  then  raging  around  the  capital  of  the 
Confederacy.  This  wish  of  the  commander  and  of  his  brig- 
ade was  soon  to  be  gratified,  and  in  June,  1862,  Brigadier- 
General  Robert  Eansom,  Jr.,  with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  to 
Virginia  and  assigned  to  Huger's  Division.  The  brigade  as 
now  organized,  was  composed  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty- 
fifth,  Twenty-sixth,  Thirty-fifth  and  Forty-ninth  North  Car- 
olina Eegiments. 

From  25  to  28  June  the  brigade  was  involved  in  some  sharp 
minor  engagements  with  General  Philip  Kearney's  division 
on  the  Williamsburg  road  in  the  neighborhood  of  King's 
School  House  on  the  scene  of  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines.  It 
was  part  of  Magruder's  command,  though  it  belonged  regu^ 
larly  to  Huger's  division,  which  assaulted  Malvern  Hill  at 
the  close  of  the  day,  1  July,  1862. 


600  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

Speaking  of  this  assault,  General  D.  H.  Hill  says,  and 
General  Hill  never  was  lavish  of  his  praise : 

"I  never  saw  anything  more  grandly  heroic  than  this  ad- 
vance after  snnset  of  the  nine  brigades  under  Magruder's  or- 
ders. Unfortunately  they  did  not  move  together,  and  were 
beaten  in  detail. 

"As  each  brigade  emerged  from  the  woods  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  guns  opened  upon  it,  tearing  great  gaps  in  its  ranks ; 
but  the  heroes  reeled  on  and  were  shot  down  by  the  reserves  at 
the  guns  which  a  few  squads  reached." 

In  this  charge  the  Thirty-fifth  Eegiment  lost  both  its  com- 
manders. Colonel  Kansom  was  twice  wounded,  first  through 
the  right  arm  rendering  it  powerless,  and  then  in  the  right 
side  by  a  piece  of  shell. 

Turning  over  the  command  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Petway, 
Colonel  Ransom  lay  upon  the  field  only  to  hear  in  a  few 
minutes  that  his  gallant  Lieutenant-Colonel  was  killed  lead- 
ing the  regiment  up  the  hill. 

Here  also  fell,  with  many  others,  Captain  Hardy  J.  Las- 
siter,  of  Company  D,  heretofore  mentioned. 

Probably  no  regiment  of  Magruder's  command  suffered 
more  in  killed  and  wounded  on  this  ever-memorable  assault 
than  the  Thirty-fifth,  and  being  its  first  battle  after  New 
Bern,  then  and  there  established  its  reputation  for  unsur- 
passed fortitude  and  intrepidity  in  battle ;  a  reputation  main- 
tained from  Malvern  Hill  to  Appomattox. 

Major  John  G.  Jones  now  became  Lieutenant-Colonel  and 
Captain  John  M.  Kelly  of  Company  C,  was  promoted  to  be 
Major,  and  Pirst  Lieutenant  Evander  McN.  Blue  to  be  Cap- 
tain of  the  company. 

MAEYLAITD    CAMPAIGN    OF    1862. 

When  General  Lee's  army  left  Richmond  to  meet  the  Fed- 
eral general.  Pope,  at  the  Second  Manassas,  Ransom's  brig- 
ade remained  with  the  troops  left  behind  to  defend  Rich- 
mond and  Petersburg,  and  to  assist  in  the  construction  of 
the  fortifications  around  those  cities.  Colonel  Vance  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  having  been  elected  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  at  his  request  and  others,  his  old  regiment 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  601 

on  26  August,  1862,  was  transferred  to  Martin's  and  subse- 
quently to  Pettigrew's  brigade,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863 
the  Fifty-sixth  North  Carolina  Eegiment,  Paul  F.  Faison 
Colonel,  was  assigned  to  take  its  place,  and  thereafter,  Ean- 
som's  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty- 
fifth,  Thirty-fifth,  Forty-ninth  and  Fifty-sixth  North  Caro- 
lina Regiments. 

On  27  August,  1862,  the  brigade  left  Richmond  en  route 
to  join  Lee's  army,  then  invading  Maryland,  and  with  Walk- 
er's brigade,  composed  of  the  Twenty-seventh,  Forty-sixth, 
Forty-eighth  North  Carolina,  the  Third  Arkansas,  and  the 
Thirtieth  Virginia  Regiments,  under  command  of  Brigadier- 
General  J.  G.  Walker,  formed  "Walker's  Division"  during 
this  campaign. 

We  reached  the  Potomac  River  7  September,  1862,  and 
waded  through  at  Cheek's  Ford,  where  it  was  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  wide  and  waist  deep.  There  was  great  enthusiasm, 
and  as  the  men  would  step  on  the  Maryland  shore  they  gave 
the  "rebel  yell." 

After  marching  as  far  as  the  Monocacy  River,  we  were  or- 
dered back  to  blow  up  the  aqueduct  over  the  canal,  and  on 
the  11th  recrossed  the  Potomac  at  Point  of  Rocks,  and,  march- 
ing in  the  direction  of  a  little  town  called  Hillsboro,  on  the 
Harper's  Ferry  road,  we  reached  and  occupied  Loudon 
Heights  on  14  September.  The  batteries  of  our  division 
from  those  heights  shelled  the  enemy  in  Harper's  Ferry  until 
that  place  surrendered  on  the  15th.  That  same  day  we 
marched  twelve  miles  toward  the  Shenandoah,  and  that  night 
at  1  a.  m.  started  for  Shepherdstown,  and  at  1  a.  m.  on  the 
16th  crossed  into  Maryland,  wading  the  Potomac  for  the 
third  time  within  nine  days. 

BATTLE  OF  SHAEPSBUEG. 

At  3  a.  m.  on  17  September,  1862,  we  were  aroused  and 
marched  to  take  our  position  in  line  for  what  was  to  be  one 
of  the  great  battles  of  the  war.  Our  brigade  was  first  moved 
to  the  extreme  right  of  Lee's  army,  but  about  9  a.  m.  it  was  or- 
dered to  the  left  to  support  Jackson. 

Quoting  from  "Confederate  Military  History,"  Vol.  4: 


602  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

"The  second  stage  of  the  battle  was  now  reached.  Hooker 
has  retired,  Mansfield  has  been  brought  to  a  stand;  Jack- 
son, worn  and  exhausted,  has  rested;  Hood's  brigade  has 
been  so  cut  to  pieces  that  when  its  dauntless  commander  was 
asked,  'where  is  your  brigade  ?'  he  answered :  'Dead  on  the 
field.'  D.  H.  Hill's  three  brigades  have  been  drawn  in  and 
only  a  small  force  guards  the  Confederate  left — not  enough 
to  stop  a  brigade,  when  Sedgwick  and  Sumner  in  the  lead 
with  his  three  brigades,  moved  towards  the  Dunkard  Church. 

"Just  then,  Walker  at  the  head  of  his  six  North  Carolina, 
one  Arkansas  and  one  Virginia  Regiments,  charged  head-long 
upon  the  left  flank  of  Sedgwick's  lines.  Taken  at  such  dis- 
advantage and  in  spite  of  the  heroic  bravery  of  Sumner  and 
Sedgwick  the  division  was  driven  off  to  the  north  with  terri- 
ble loss." 

Says  General  Eobert  Eansom  in  his  ofiicial  report  of  the 
battle :  "About  9  a.  m.  we  were  ordered  to  the  left  to  support 
Jackson.  Passed  along  the  rear  of  our  entire  line  of  battle 
and  arrived  about  10  a.  m.  near  the  woods  which  the  com- 
mands of  Hood  and  Early  were  struggling  heroically  to  hold, 
but  gradually  and  sullenly  were  yielding  to  the  irresistible 
weight  of  overwhelming  numbers." 

In  his  ofiicial  report  General  Walker  says :  "General  Ran- 
som's brigade  having  driven  the  enemy  through  and  from 
the  woods  with  heavy  loss,  continued  with  his  own  brigade 
and  Colonel  Hall's  Forty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment  to 
hold  it  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  day,  notwithstanding 
three  determined  infantry  attacks,  which  each  time  were  re- 
pulsed with  great  loss  to  the  enemy,  and  against  a  most  per- 
sistent and  terrific  artillery  fire,  by  which  the  enemy  hoped, 
doubtless,  to  drive  us  from  our  strong  position,  the  very  key 
of  the  battlefield.  His  hopes,  however,  were  not  realized. 
True  to  their  duty,  for  eight  hours  our  brave  men  lay  upon  the 
ground  taking  advantage  of  such  undulations  and  shallow 
ravines  as  gave  promise  of  partial  shelter,  while  this  fearful 
storm  raged  a  few  feet  above  their  heads,  tearing  the  trees 
asunder,  lopping  off  huge  branches  and  filling  the  air  with 
shrieks  and  explosions,  realizing  to  the  fullest  the  fearful  sub- 
limity of  battle. 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  603 

"During  this  time,  in  the  temporary  absence  of  General 
Kansom  to  post  the  Twenty-fourth  regiment,  which  had  gone 
too  much  to  the  left,  the  enemy  made  a  furious  attack  with 
heavy  masses  of  infantry  upon  the  position  occupied  by  Gen- 
eral Ransom. 

"Colonel  Ransom,  of  the  Thirty-fifth  ISTorth  Carolina,  in 
temporary  command  of  the  brigade,  not  only  repulsed  the  en- 
emy, but  pursued  him  across  the  field  as  far  as  the  post  and 
rail  fences,  inflicting  upon  him  so  severe  a  punishment  that 
no  other  attempt  with  infantry  was  made  on  the  position 
during  the  day."  In  this  charge,  Lieutenant-Colonel  E.  A. 
Palfrey,  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts,  and  two  other  offi- 
cers, were  captiired  by  Adjixtant  Clark  and  Lieutenant  (after- 
wards Captain)  S.  G.  Howie,  of  Company  F.  Colonel  Pal- 
frey, who  was  wounded,  had  a  beautiful  sword  with  an  in- 
scription that  it  had  been  presented  to  him  by  the  town  of 
Concord,  and  he  asked  that  it  might  be  preserved.  He  was 
exchanged,  became  a  General  and  wrote  a  work,  "Antietam 
and  Fredericksburg."  After  the  war  he  wrote  General  Ran- 
som (then  in  the  United  States  Senate)  in  regard  to  his 
sword,  who  had  it  traced  up  and  returned  to  him. 

The  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  nobly  bore  its  part  in  this  try- 
ing ordeal.  Early  in  the  action  while  advancing  on  the  en- 
emy, the  regiment  had  to  surmount  a  strong  post  and  rail 
fence.  Subjected  to  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  small  arms, 
while  forming  for  the  charge  after  getting  over  the  fence,  the 
regiment  apparently  was  in  some  confusion.  Fearing  his 
men  were  wavering,  Colonel  Ransom,  who  was  on  horseback, 
with  his  right  arm  in  a  sling,  spurred  to  the  color-bearer  and 
called  for  the  flag.  This  was  seized  by  one  of  the  young  of- 
ficers of  the  regiment  and  handed  to  the  Colonel,  who,  calling 
upon  the  men  to  be  firm  and  follow  him,  went  forward. 
Without  hesitation  the  regiment  advanced  and  drove  the  en- 
emy from  its  front  with  great  loss ;  and  at  no  time  during  the 
battle  was  there  any  wavering  or  hesitation. 

During  a  lull  in  the  battle  General  Jackson,  with  General 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  visited  our  lines,  which  were  in  the  famous 
"West  Woods."     General  Jackson  had  on  an  old  worn  uni- 


604  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

form,  his  slouch  hat  was  pulled  down  over  his  eyes,  and  he 
was  riding  a  mighty  sorry-looking  claybank  horse. 

He  rode  up  to  where  Colonel  Kansom  was  standing  and 
said  he  wanted  him  to  advance  and  take  a  battery  that  was  in 
sight.  Colonel  Eansom  replied  he  would  do  so  if  he  ordered 
it,  but  that  he  was  afraid  he  would  fail.  Jackson  replied 
he  had  just  witnessed  his  charge  upon  that  battery  and  he 
thought  if  he  would  try  again  he  could  take  it.  Colonel  Kan- 
som replied  he  had  tried  it  and  when  he  got  on  top  of  the  hill 
he  saw  what  he  thought  was  the  greater  part  of  McClellan's 
army  behind  it.  Jackson  asked :  "Have  you  a  good  climber 
in  your  command  ?"  Colonel  Kansom  called  for  volunteers, 
and  Private  Wm.  S.  Hood,  Company  H,  jumped  up  and  said 
he  could  climb.  Jackson  picked  out  a  tall  hickory  tree  and 
told  him  to  go  up  it.  Hood  pulled  off  his  shoes  in  a  jiffy 
and  went  up  like  a  squirrel.  When  he  got  near  the  top  Jack- 
son, sitting  on  his  horse,  under  the  tree,  asked  him:  "How 
many  troops  are  over  there."  Hood  uttering  an  exclama- 
tion of  amazement,  replied :  "Oceans  of  them."  Jackson 
sternly  said:  "Count  the  ilags,  sir!"  Hood  began:  "One, 
two,  three,  four,  etc.,  etc."  General  Jackson  repeating  after 
him  the  numbers  until  he  had  counted  thirty-nine,  when  Jack- 
son said:  "That  will  do,  come  dovsTi,  sir."  All  this  time  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters  were  firing  at  Hood. 

General  Jackson  then  turned  to  Colonel  Kansom  and  asked 
him  what  made  him  charge  that  battery  with  all  those  troops 
defending  it.  Colonel  Kansom  answered  that  he  saw  a  very 
large  body  of  troops  preparing  to  charge  him,  which  he  could 
not  resist,  and  he  determined  to  charge  them  first  as  the  best 
means  of  preventing  their  attack;  but  he  did  not  know  the 
strength  of  the  enemy  until  in  the  charge  he  reached  the  hill 
where  the  battery  was  and  saw  the  force  of  the  enemy  be- 
hind it. 

As  he  was  leaving  General  Jackson  gave  orders  to  renew 
the  attack  when  "the  rattle  of  his  small  arms  should  be 
heard,"  as  he  expected  to  attack  the  enemy  on  his  left  flank. 
This  attack  was  never  made. 

In  recognition  of  his  daring.  Private  Hood  was  made  or- 
derly to  General  Kansom  immediately  after  the  battle,  and 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  605 

faithfully  discharged  his  duties  as  orderly  for  the  brigade, 
until  at  the  assault  on  Fort  Steadman,  25  March,  1865,  he 
was  killed  charging  the  enemy's  works. 

Among  our  killed  in  this  battle  was  the  dashing  Captain 
Walter  M.  Bryson,  of  Company  G.  Lieutenant  John  J.  Case 
succeeded  him  as  Captain.  Lieutenant  Case  was  at  home,  a 
poor  tailor,  barely  making  a  living ;  he  had  no  social  position 
and  was  quite  ignorant  of  letters.  He  was  popular  with 
his  men,  but  not  esteemed  among  his  fellow  officers  because  of 
his  record  at  home.  At  this  battle,  his  conduct  was  so  con- 
spicuously gallant  as  to  attract  Colonel  Ransom's  attention. 
He  proved  himself  to  be  the  gamest  of  the  game,  and  was  pro- 
moted Captain  against  the  protest  of  a  number  of  the  officers, 
Colonel  Ransom  being  his  staunch  advocate. 

When  this  sketch  appeared  in  the  papers,  it  being  the 
request  of  Judge  Clark  that  these  histories  should  be  pub- 
lished in  the  newspapers  so  that  errors  might  be  detected  and 
corrected  prior  to  their  final  publication  in  the  State's  his- 
tory, it  brought  a  communication  from  Captain  D.  G.  Max- 
well, of  Charlotte,  which  is  so  interesting  and  does  such  jus- 
tice to  a  gallant  young  Confederate  soldier  boy.  Private  Wm. 
S.  Hood,  that  the  writer  has  concluded  to  incorporate  Captain 
Maxwell's  communication  as  part  of  the  record  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  as  a  personal  tribute  to  the  young  soldier  with 
whom  he  had  the  honor  to  serve  in  the  same  company. 
Says  he : 

THIETT  FIFTH  AT  SHAEPSBTJEG. 

"In  Sunday's  (13  August,  1899)  issu.e  of  the  Raleigh  Post 
was  published  a  sketch  of  the  Thirty-fifth  North  Carolina 
Regiment  in  the  war  between  the  States,  by  Colonel  W.  H.  S. 
Burgwyn,  in  which  there  are  several  incidents  of  the  battle  of 
Sharpsburg  in  regard  to  Colonel  Matt.  W.  Ransom,  Adjutant 
Walter  Clark,  First  Lieutenant  W.  H.  S.  Burgwyn  and  Pri- 
vate William  S.  Hood,  of  Company  H,  that  Colonel  Burgwyn 
neglects  to  mention.  Modesty  prevents  him  from  making  a 
personal  allusion,  and  as  to  the  others  doubtless  he  had  for- 
gotten, but  General  Matt.  Ransom  has  not  forgotten  them,  for 
in  a  conversation  with  the  writer  a  few  years  ago  he  said  that 


606  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

he  distinctly  remembered  the  incidents,  and  I  am  confident 
that  Judge  Walter  Clark  ("Little  Clark,"  as  he  was  en- 
dearingly called  by  the  men  of  the  regiment,  a  mere  boy,  bare- 
ly 16  years  old,  and  Adjutant)  has  not  forgotten  them,  for  he 
has  a  memento  engraved  upon  one  of  his  hands  which  will 
never  efface  from  his  mind  the  scenes  of  that  bloody  day. 

When  going  into  the  fight  that  morning  the  field  officers 
had  all  dismounted  except  "Little  Clark,"  who  persistently 
sat  in  his  saddle  when  a  big  mountain  private,  I  think  from 
Company  B,  ran  forward  and  pulled  the  Adjutant  from  his 
horse,  exclaiming:  "Git  off'n  this  horse,  you  darned  little 
fool,  you'll  git  killed,"  when  a  minie  ball  struck  Clark  on  the 
hand,  the  mark  of  which  I  think  can  be  seen  today.  Just 
prior  to  this,  our  regiment  had  filed  throiigh  a  gap  and 
in  forming  line  of  battle  by  changing  front  forward  on  the 
first  company,  in  their  eagerness  to  get  into  line  several  com- 
panies became  entangled  and  seemingly  confused,  when  Col- 
onel Matt.  W.  Eansom  called  for  the  colors.  Being  in  com- 
mand of  the  two  color  companies  (C.  and  H)  I  ordered  Stew- 
art, the  color-bearer  (a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war)  to  give 
the  colors  to  Colonel  Eansom.  His  reply  was,  "I'll  be  d — d 
if  I  do  it."  Then  Burgwyn  and  I  took  the  colors  from  him 
and  Lieutenant  Burgwyn  carried  them  forward  and  gave 
them  to  Colonel  Eansom,  who  was  still  mounted  on  his  horse 
in  front  of  the  regiment,  ajad  called  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
John  Gr.  Jones  to  tell  his  wife  and  children,  if  killed,  that  he 
carried  the  colors  of  his  regiment  in  this  charge.  Fortu- 
nately, however,  Colonel  Eansom  was  not  wotmded  in  this 
fight,  although  exposed  and  under  fire  nearly  the  whole  day. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  when  we  had  charged  and  driven  the 
gunners  from  the  battery  on  the  hill  in  our  front  and  could 
not  hold  it  on  account  of  flank  batteries  that  seemed  to  con- 
centrate their  fire  upon  the  abandoned  battery,  we  retreated 
to  our  original  position,  about  300  yards,  at  foot  of  a  hill  in 
the  woods.  In  a  few  minutes  thereafter  a  Yankee  officer, 
mounted  on  a  bob-tail  horse,  rode  up  to  the  abandoned  bat- 
tery, apparently  to  view  our  position,  when  I  suppose  100 
guns  were  fired  at  him.  He  sat  unconcernedly  upon  his 
horse,  when  Colonel  Eansom  cried  out :    "Cease  firing ;  don't 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  607 

shoot  that  brave  man!"  The  Yankee  officer,  wheeling,  re- 
treated as  deliberately  as  he  had  come.  A  short  time  there- 
after, the  firing  having  ceased  in  our  immediate  front  and  be- 
fore Private  Hood,  of  my  company,  had  volunteered  to  climb 
the  tree  for  General  Jackson,  Colonel  Matt.  W.  Ransom  came 
to  my  company  (we  were  all  lying  down)  and  ordered  me  to 
detail  the  best  man  in  my  company  to  go  forward  and  ascer- 
tain the  position  and  movements  of  the  enemy.  Immediately 
young  Hood  sprang  to  his  feet  and  asked  permission  to  go, 
and  as  he  struck  a  "turkey  trot"  across  the  field  with  his  gun 
at  a  trail,  I  could  see  a  smile  of  admiration  upon  the  face  of 
the  old  Roman  when  he  asked  the  name  of  the  boy  soldier,  and 
commanded  me  to  lie  down,  and  to  report  to  him  upon  Hood's 
return.  Hood  was  gone  for  at  least  an  hour  (which  was  a 
long  time  imder  such  circumstances),  so  long  that  Colonel 
Ransom  and  T  were  both  uneasy  as  to  his  fate.  Finally  Hood 
returned  and  gave  such  a  satisfactory  statement  as  to  all  that 
he  had  seen,  that  Colonel  Ransom  complimented  him  and  or- 
dered him  to  return  to  his  company.  Hood  told  me  that  on 
the  field  among  the  dead  and  wounded  he  found  a  Federal 
field  officer  badly  wounded  and  crying  for  water.  He  gave 
the  officer  his  canteen  of  water.  The  officer  offered  to  give 
Hood  his  gold  watch  and  chain  and  all  the  money  he  had  to 
carry  him  within  our  lines  for  treatment.  Hood  told  him 
that  it  was  an  impossibility;  but  when  he  encountered  the 
Yankee  pickets  he  informed  them  of  this  officer's  condition 
and  proposed  to  conduct  them  to  the  place  where  the  officer 
was  lying,  which  proposition  was  readily  accepted.  The  of- 
ficer was  laid  upon  a  stretcher  and  carried  within  the  Federal 
lines.  Hood  could  easily  have  been  captured,  but  his  magna- 
nimity and  kindness  towards  this  wounded  officer  gained  for 
him  the  admiration  of  the  Federal  pickets,  who  treated  him 
kindly,  gave  him  coffee  and  allowed  him  to  return  to  his  com- 
mand. (Could  any  but  American  soldiers  have  done  this  ?) 
A  short  time  after  Hood's  return  General  Jackson  asked 
Colonel  Ransom  for  a  man  to  climb  a  tree.  Hood  again  vol- 
unteered, as  Colonel  Burgwyn  states,  except  that  he  did  not 
"take  his  shoes  off  in  a  jiffy,"  from  the  fact  that  he  had  no 
shoes  on  his  feet,  they  being  so  sore  he  could  not  wear  any. 


608  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

He  was  not  only  barefooted  but  ragged,  dirty  and  lousy.  His 
condition,  however,  was  not  an  exception,  as  "there  were 
others." 

After  our  retreat  across  the  Potomac,  on  the  morning  of 
20  September,  Lieutenant  Burgwyn  and  I  were  calling  upon 
some  officers  of  the  regiment  and  when  returning  to  our  com- 
pany Orderly  Sergeant  Campbell  informed  us  that  General 
Robert  Eansom  had  called  for  me  and  left  an  order  for  Pri- 
vate Hood  to  report  to  him.  Soon  thereafter  we  resumed  our 
march  towards  Martinsburg,  Va.  I  saw  nothing  more  of 
Hood  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  General  Robert  Ean- 
som was  passing  our  regiment  at  the  gallop,  Hood  following 
him,  mounted  upon  one  of  General  Ransom's  horses  with 
spurs  on  his  bare  feet.  He  lifted  his  old  greasy  cap  and 
saluted  iis  as  he  passed.  He  remained  with  General  Eansom 
as  a  courier  until  Colonel  Matt.  W.  Ransom  was  promoted  to 
Brigadier-General,  with  whom  he  remained  until  killed  at 
Fort  Steadman,  25  March,  1865.  He  was  buried  on  the  field 
clothed  in  one  of  General  Ransom's  uniforms. 

Both  of  the  Generals  Ransom  were  very  much  attached  to 
Hood  and  every  time  General  Matt,  was  wounded  Hood  ac- 
companied him  to  the  hospital  and  to  his  home  and  remained 
with  him  until  able  to  return  to  his  command.  He  was  a 
handsome  boy,  only  16  years  old  when  enlisted;  black  eyes, 
long  black  hair,  fair  skin,  indeed  a  noble  type  of  a  Southern 
lad.  He  wrote  a  beautiful  hand  and  the  writer  often  had 
him  detailed  to  assist  in  making  out  reports,  pay  rolls,  etc. 
He  was  a  son  of  A.  I.  Hood,  of  Clear  Creek  Township,  Meck- 
lenburg county,  who  moved  to  Tyler,  Texas,  soon  after  the 
war.  D.  G.  Maxwell, 

Late  Captain  Co.  H,  Thirty-fifth  IST.  C.  Regiment. 

Charlotte,  E".  C,  10  January,  1900." 

On  18  September  our  brigade  occupied  the  same  woods  we 
held  on  the  day  before,  and  late  that  night  we  silently  re- 
treated, to  the  Potomac,  crossing  at  Shepherdstown,  and 
marched  in  the  direction  of  Martinsburg ;  and  from  there  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Winchester,  where  we  remained  in  biv- 
oxiac  until  23  October.     While  here,  in  recognition  of  his 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  609 

gallantry  and  abilities  as  an  officer,  and  as  an  expression  of 
their  respect  and  esteem,  the  officers  of  his  brigade,  on  20  Oc- 
tober, presented  General  Robert  Ransom  with  a  magnificent 
horse. 

Colonel  Ransom,  who  had  not  fully  recovered  from  the  ef- 
fects of  his  wounds  received  at  Malvern  Hill,  was  obliged 
to  go  home  for  treatment,  and  on  14  October,  at  dress  parade, 
he  made  an  eloquent  speech  to  his  men,  complimenting  them 
for  their  fortitude  on  their  many  weary  marches  since  the 
campaign  opened,  and  for  their  bravery  in  the  late  battle,  and 
commended  them  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  their  brig- 
ade commander  with  the  assurance  that  he  would  return  at 
the  earliest  moment. 

MILLWOOD,    PARIS,    UPPEEVILLE. 

On  23  October,  1862,  we  broke  camp  and  marching  through 
Culpepper  Court  House  and  Madison  Court  House,  we  ar- 
rived near  Fredericksburg  on  23  JSTovember,  where  we  went 
into  camp  to  await  the  pending  battle  at  that  place.  While 
on  this  march,  orders  were  received  to  discharge  all  men  un- 
der 18  and  over  40  years  of  age,  and  some  fifty  men  were 
sent  home  in  this  way. 

BATTLE  OF  FEEDEEICKSBUEG. 

At  4  a.  m.  11  December,  1862,  we  heard  the  two  signal 
guns  which  it  had  been  agreed  upon  would  announce  that 
General  Burnside  had  commenced  his  attack,  and  we  hur- 
riedly took  up  our  march  for  the  line  of  battle. 

In  this  battle  Brigadier-General  Robert  Ransom,  Jr.,  com- 
manded a  division  consisting  of  his  own  and  Cooke's  Brigade. 
This  latter  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Fifteenth,  Twenty- 
seventh,  Forty-sixth  and  Forty-eighth  ISTorth  Carolina  Reg- 
iments. 

To  General  Ransom  was  assigned  the  defence  of  the  posi- 
tion on  Marye's  and  Willis'  Heights,  occupied  by  the  Wash- 
ington artillery.  At  the  foot  of  these  heights  ran  a  road  with 
a  stone  wall  on  the  side  facing  the  city,  from  which  direction 
liie  enemy  advanced  to  make  their  attacks.     Behind  this 

39 


610  North  Cabolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

stone  wall  Cobb's  brigade  was  placed,  with  Eansom's  Divis- 
ion supporting  him,  posted  in  rear  and  in  close  supporting 
distance  of  the  batteries  on  Marye's  and  Willis'  heights.  The 
Twenty-fourth  North  Carolina  Regiment  was  placed  on  the 
right  of  Cobb's  Brigade  behind  the  wall  and  the  Twenty-fifth 
North  Carolina  Regiment  advanced  to  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

From  about  11  a.  m.  until  dark  the  enemy  made  his  as- 
saults to  carry  these  heights..  In  no  one  of  them  was  he  suc- 
cessful.    His  loss  was  fearful. 

At  one  time  it  became  necessary  to  supply  Cobb's  men 
with  ammunition,  and  two  regiments  of  Cooke's  Brigade, 
Twenty-seventh  and  Forty-sixth  North  Carolina,  were  sent  to 
his  support,  and  near  the  close  of  the  contest  the  Twenty-fifth 
North  Carolina  Regiment  "took  position,  shoulder  to  shoul- 
der," with  those  brave  men  behind  the  stone  wall,  which  Gen- 
eral Bumside  had  attempted  so  many  times  during  the  day, 
with  desperate  gallantry,  to  capture. 

The  Confederate  army  in  this  battle,  owing  to  its  defensive 
fight,  did  not  suffer  in  proportion  to  the  enemy,  and  the  loss 
in  the  Thirty-fifth  North  Carolina  Regiment  was  not  large  in 
numbers,  but  the  deaths  of  the  "modest,  but  brave  and  manly" 
Major  John  M.  Kelly,  of  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Holt  of  Company 
D,  and  of  Lieutenant  John  H.  Conley,  of  Company  B,  were 
greatly  deplored. 

Captain  James  T.  Johnston,  of  Company  K,  now  became 
Major  by  virtue  of  his  seniority,  and  his  First  Lieutenant, 
Philip  J.  Johnston,  was  promoted  to  be  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany. 

After  returning  to  our  camp.  General  Robert  Ransom,  on 
18  December,  called  the  officers  of  his  brigade  to  his  tent  to 
solicit  their  charity  for  the  people  of  Fredericksburg.  The 
general  headed  the  list  with  one  hundred  dollars,  one-third 
of  his  month's  pay.  This  generous  example  of  their  com- 
mander was  generally  followed  by  the  officers  of  the  brigade. 
I  am  not  aware  of  an  instance  of  like  generosity  on  the  p^rt 
of  a  Confederate  brigade. 

WINTER  OF  1862-1863. 
On  3  January,  1863,  the  brigade  at  daybreak  took  up  its 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  611 

march,  ostensibly,  for  a  new  camp.  The  men  started  out 
loaded  down  with  camp  impedimenta  and  winter  quarters  fix- 
ings, but  marching  past  the  site  selected  for  the  camp,  we 
halted  only  after  a  fifteen  mile  march.  As  we  marched, 
one  by  one,  the  planks,  breadtrays,  stools,  water  buckets,  etc., 
etc.,  were  grudgingly  discarded  until  at  the  end  of  the  day's 
march,  while  our  impedimenta  was  gone,  our  hearts  were 
light  with  the  hope  that  we  were  on  the  way  to  JSTorth  Caro- 
lina. This  proved  to  be  true,  for  after  marching  through 
Richmond  we  took  the  cars  at  Petersburg  for  Kenansville,  N. 
C,  our  destination. 

On  the  return  of  the  brigade  to  Worth  Carolina,  Adjutant 
Walter  Clark  resigned,  and  on  13  May,  1863,  Lieutenant 
Robert  B.  Peebles,  of  Company  E,  Fifty-sixth  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  was  appointed  by  Colonel  Ransom  to  suc- 
ceed him. 

When  the  war  broke  out  Lieiitenant  Peebles  was  a  student 
at  the  State  University ;  was  easily  among  the  brightest  men 
in  one  of  the  largest  classes  that  had  ever  been  in  the  insti- 
tution, taking  the  first  distinction  in  all  his  studies.  Having 
completed  his  junior  year,  he  at  once  joined  the  company 
that  was  being  raised  in  his  county  (Northampton)  and  was 
appointed  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  soon  promoted  to  be  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant;  he  remained  with  the  company  until  ap- 
pointed adjutant  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment.  From  this 
time  on  until  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  when  he  was 
Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General  on  General  Matt. 
W.  Ransom's  staff,  he  practically  was  never  absent  from  duty, 
participating  in  every  battle  or  skirmish  in  which  his  regi- 
ment or  command  was  engaged,  and  always  acting  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  inspire  the  confidence  of  his  superiors  and  win 
the  admiration  of  his  men. 

No  duty  was  too  arduous  and  no  detail  too  perilous  for  him 
to  undertake,  and  on  the  first  opportunity  he  received  de- 
served promotion,  and  succeeded  as  chief  of  the  brigade  staff, 
the  lamented  Captain  Sterling  Gee,  killed  at  Five  Forks,  1 
April,  1865. 

On  that  dreadful  night  of  17  June,  1864,  when  the  enemy, 
after  carrying  our  outer  lines  advanced  to  capture  Petersburg, 


612  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'66. 

and  the  fall  of  the  city  seemed  assured,  Kansom's  Brigade 
was  ordered  to  the  support  of  General  Wise.  About  mid- 
night it  became  the  duty  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  to 
charge  and  drive  the  enemy  from  the  captured  works.  Here 
the  regiment  sustained  dreadful  loss.  Its  Colonel,  J.  Gr- 
Jones,  was  killed,  and  the  larger  part  of  the  regiment  killed 
and  wounded,  and  many  captured. 

Adjutant  Peebles  not  knowing,  in  the  darkness  and  con- 
fusion, who  was  in  command,  assumed  to  act  himself,  and 
after  a  hand  to  hand  encounter  at  breastworks,  several  hun- 
dred of  the  enemy  surrendered  to  less  than  one-half  that  num- 
ber of  the  survivors  of  the  Thirty-fifth. 

Again,  at  the  assault  on  Fort  Steadman  (25  March,  1865) 
and  in  the  retreat  from  Petersburg,  Adjutant,  now  Captain 
Peebles,  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry  and  soldierly  bear- 
ing. Since  the  war  Captain  Peebles  has  achieved  enviable 
distinction  as  a  successful  lawyer  and  is  a  recognized  leadei* 
in  the  Democratic  party  of  his  State. 

Ransom's  Brigade  in  the  spring  of  1863  was  in  the  De- 
partment of  North  Carolina,  General  D.  H.  Hill  command- 
ing, and  stationed  at  different  times  at  Goldsboro,  Kinston 
and  Wilmington.  While  in  bivouac  at  Kinston  (14  April, 
1863)  and  guarding  the  roads  leading  from  New  Bern  at 
Core  Creek,  Gum  Swamp  and  Wise's  Fork,  complaint  was 
made  by  a  lady  that  some  of  her  chickens  had  been  stolen  by 
the  soldiers.  The  men  having  been  identified  as  belonging  to 
a  company  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  the  Captain  of  that 
company  was  ordered  to  have  the  chickens  paid  for.  This  in- 
cident is  an  ilkistration  of  how  careful  the  Confederate  au- 
thorities were  to  prevent  depredations  by  the  soldiers. 

About  the  first  of  June,  1863,  the  brigade  was  ordered  to 
Virginia  and  camped  near  Petersburg,  and  later  was  sent  to 
work  on  the  fortifications  at  City  Point. 

At  this  time  General  Robert  Ransom  was  promoted  to  be 
Major-General,  and  on  15  June  Colonel  Matt.  W.  Ransom, 
who  had  been  unanimously  recommended  by  the  officers  of 
the  Twenty-fifth,  Thirty-fifth,  Forty-ninth  and  Fifty-sixth 
Regiments  of  the  brigade  as  his  successor,  was  promoted  Brig- 
adier-General over  the  three  senior  Colonels  in  the  brigade. 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  613 

On  his  return  to  camp  that  day,  the  officers  of  the  regi- 
ment called  on  General  Ransom  in  a  hody  to  express  their 
congratulations  on  his  deserved  promotion  and  their  regrets 
at  losing  him  as  their  commander.  The  Surgeoi.,  Dr. 
O'Hagan,  was  our  spokesman.  After  the  gentlemen 
had  left  his  tent,  General  Ransom  remarked  to  a  friend  that 
he  was  so  much  embarrassed  by  the  complimentar}' 
things  said  of  him  by  the  eloquent  doctor  that  in  his  reply 
he  "made  the  meanest  speech  of  his  life." 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  now  became  Colonel,  Major 
Johnston  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  S.  B.  Taylor,  of 
Company  A,  Major  by  seniority  of  rank;  First  Lieutenant 
Henry  W.  Humphrey  was  promoted  to  be  Captain  of  the 
company. 

At  this  time  Captain  David  G.  Maxwell,  of  Company  H, 
who  had  volunteered  among  the  first  and  had  held  the  posi- 
tions of  Second  and  First  Lieutenant  and  Captain  of  his 
company,  and  was  greatly  endeared  to  his  men  and  respected 
by  his  brother  officers,  was  forced  to  resign  from  ill  health, 
the  medical  examining  board  unanimously  approving  the 
same.  Captain  Maxwell's  departure  was  much  regretted  by 
officers  and  men,  not  only  of  his  company,  but  of  the  entire 
regiment. 

First  Lieutenant  Wm.  H.  S.  Burgwyn  was  promoted  to  be 
Captain  of  the  company,  which  position  he  held  until  trans- 
ferred in  January,  1864,  to  the  staff  of  Clingman's  Brigade. 

ENGAGEMENT   AT   BOON^S    MILL^   N.    C. 

In  July,  1863,  Ransom's,  Jenkins'  and  Cooke's  Brigades 
were  in  Ransom's  (Robert,  Jr.)  division.  Department  of 
Richmond. 

While  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  being  fought  (1-3  July, 
1863)  this  division  was  at  Bottom  Bridge  under  General  D. 
H.  Hill  to  meet  the  enemy  advancing  on  Richmond  from 
Williamsburg,  Va. 

While  in  camp  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  27  July,  1863, 
the  advance  of  Coionel  Spear  from  Winton  on  Weldon,  being 
known,  Ransom's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  Garysburg. 
The  Thirty-fifth  regiment  left  that  same  afternoon  on  the 


614  North  Qakolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

mail  train,  arriving  that  night.  General  Eansom  left  the 
same  night  on  an  engine.  Reaching  Garysburg  at  daybreak, 
he  found  there  a  section  of  artillery  with  two  guns,  which  he 
ordered  down  to  Boon's  Mill,  distant  seven  miles,  where  the 
main  road  from  Jackson  to  Garysburg  and  Weldon  crosses 
the  swamp.  Four  companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth  regi- 
ment, in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harris,  had  pre^ 
ceded  him  to  the  miU. 

Detailing  Captain  Burgwyn,  of  Company  H,  Thirty-fifth 
Eegiment,  whose  home  was  in  the  county,  to  mount  a  squad  of 
his  company  and  go  on  a  scouting  expedition,  there  being  no 
cavalry  near  at  hand,  early  in  the  morning  of  28  July,  1863, 
General  Eansom,  with  his  staff,  proceeded  to  Jackson,  distant 
ten  miles,  to  obtain  information  of  the  enemy's  movements. 
About  12 :30  p.  m.  he  left  Jackson  to  return  to  Boon's  Mill 
to  make  disposition  to  meet  Colonel  Spear,  who  was  reported 
rapidly  advancing.  When  General  Eansom  had  gotten  about 
half  a  mile  distant  a  great  shout  was  heard  in  the  direction  of 
Jackson  and,  stopping  to  ascertain  the  cause,  the  enemy's  cav- 
alry were  seen  charging  over  the  hill  about  150  yards  dis- 
tant. 

It  was  now  a  question  as  to  whose  horses  were  the  fastest,  as 
two  miles  or  more  lay  between  the  Confederate  commander 
and  his  men,  who  were  taking  their  ease,  ignorant  of  the  per- 
ilous situation  of  their  General.  The  horses  of  the  General 
and  his  staff  being  fresh  the  enemy  did  not  gain  on  them, 
though  in  reach  of  and  subject  to  the  enemy's  fire  all  during 
the  pursuit. 

Dashing  at  full  speed  across  the  bridge,  General  Ransom 
called  out  to  have  the  planks  taken  up  and  the  men  to  fall  in 
ranks.  The  enemy,  seeing  the  situation  and  more  or  less 
disorganized  from  the  pursuit,  halted  to  reform  their  columns 
for  attack.  This  gave  time  for  the  Confederate  infantry, 
most  of  whom  were  bathing  in  the  mill  pond,  to  get  their  guns, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  order  was  restored  and  our  lines  estab- 
lished. The  enemy  now  brought  up  his  artillery  and  for  an 
hour  or  more  shelled  the  Confederate  position.  Dismount- 
ing his  cavalry.  Colonel  S.  P.  Spear  attempted  an  advance 
down  the  road  to  the  mill,  which  was  met  by  a  quick  fire  from 


Thikty-Fifth  Regiment.  615 

our  men  and  this  advance  checked.  About  this  time  Lieuten- 
ant Vassar,  of  the  Macon  Light  Artillery,  with  two  guns,  ar- 
rived from  Garysburg,  which  were  put  in  position  behind 
some  earthworks  erected  by  General  French  the  year  before. 
They  at  once  opened  fire.  By  this  time  the  fight  was  hot. 
The  enemy  now  attempted  to  carry  our  position  by  an  at- 
tack on  the  right  and  left  flanks,  and  succeeded  under  cover 
of  the  thick  swamp  undergrowth  in  getting  their  men  directly 
in  our  rear  across  the  pond,  which  curves  here  nearly  at  right 
angles.  This  movement  was  promptly  met  by  advancing  the 
artillery  to  the  front  and  shelling  the  woods  with  grape  and 
canister  and  by  a  brave  fire  from  the  infantry.  The  fight 
had  now  lasted  some  five  hours.  Foiled  in  his  expectation  to 
surprise  the  Confederates  and  reach  the  Weldon  bridge  with- 
out serious  opposition.  Colonel  Spear  late  in  the  evening 
withdrew  and  during  the  night  retreated  through  Jackson, 
whence  he  came.  This  repulse  of  Colonel  Spear,  whose  force 
consisted  of  a  "brigade  of  cavalry  and  nine  pieces  of  artil- 
lery," with  a  supporting  force  of  infantry  at  Winton,  'N.  C, 
by  not  more  than  two  hundred  Confederate  infantry  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  was  not  only  a  brilliant  military 
achievement  of  the  greatest  moment,  as  a  defeat  of  the  Con- 
federates would  have  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  the  rail- 
road bridge  over  the  Roanoke  at  Weldon,  which  was  one  of 
the  main  lines  of  railroad  connecting  Richmond  and  the 
South,  and  in  the  occupation  by  the  enemy  of  a  large  section 
of  the  richest  portion  of  the  State,  from  which  the  Confeder- 
ate government  largely  drew  its  supplies ;  but  also  preserved 
this  section  of  North  Carolina  ever  afterwards  from  the  en- 
emy's presence.  The  crops  of  1863  and  1864  were  saved  to 
the  people  as  if  no  war  was  raging  near  them,  and  the  slave 
population  remained  quietly  at  work  on  the  plantations 
during  the  balance  of  the  war. 

This  victory,  coming  so  soon  after  his  promotion,  was 
doubly  gratifying  to  General  Ransom's  friends,  and  the  fact 
that  his  home  lay  less  than  two  miles  distant,  whence  the 
sound  of  the  guns  and  the  noise  of  the  battle  were  trem- 
blingly listened  t6  by  his  delicate  wife  and  small  children,  af- 
fords a  striking  illustration  of  the  nature    of   this    contest 


616  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

waged  by  the  Southern  people,  in  which  truly  it  may  be  said 
they  were  fighting  "for  their  altars  and  their  fires,  God,  and 
their  native  land." 

While  the  fighting  was  going  on  at  Boon's  Mill  the  Thirty- 
fifth  regiment  had  been  sent  to  defend  another  road  leading 
to  Garysburg  and  Weldon,  and  next  day  this  regiment  joined 
in  the  pursuit  of  Colonel  Spear  in  his  retreat  to  Winton. 

While  Colonel  Spear  was  on  his  cavalry  raid,  Major-Gen- 
eral  Foster  was  at  Winton  with  an  infantry  command  sent 
from  ISTew  Bern  in  support  of  Colonel  Spear;  and  had  the 
latter  succeeded,  General  Foster  would  have  followed  with 
his  infantry  to  have  made  permanent  the  occupation  of  the 
country  which  his  cavalry  had  overrun. 

In  the  winter  of  1863-'64  Eansom's  Brigade  was  assigned 
to  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  xmder  Major-General 
George  E.  Pickett.  The  Thirty-fifth  Kegiment  during  this 
time  was  on  outpost  duty  at  Hamilton,  on  the  Koanoke,  some 
sixty  miles  down  the  river  from  Weldon. 

On  9  March,  1864,  "General  Kansom  with  his  brigade  and 
a  cavalrj"^  force,  drove  the  Federals  from  Suffolk,  Va.,  cap- 
turing a  piece  of  artillery  and  quartermaster  stores  of  much 
value." 

CAPTTJEE   of   PLYMOUTH,   N.    C. 

Ransom's  Brigade  with  the  Eighth  N'orth  Carolina  Begi- 
ment  of  Clingman's,  and  Hoke's  and  Terry's  Virginia  Brig- 
ades, and  Forty-third  ISTorth  Carolina  Eegiment,  were  the  in- 
fantry assigned  Brigadier-General  B.  F.  Hoke  in  his  expedi- 
tion to  capture  Plymouth ;  he  was  ably  assisted  also  by  the 
ironclad  ram  Albemarle,  built  at  Halifax,  on  the  Boanoke, 
and  commanded  by  Captain  J.  W.  Cooke.  The  Albemarle  was 
not  finished  when  the  time  came  tO'  move,  but  this  energetic 
and  able  naval  ofiicer  had  his  forges  blazing  and  carpenters 
putting  the  last  work  upon  the  ship  as  it  steamed  down  the 
river  to  take  part  in  the  fight. 

On  20  April,  1864,  General  Hoke  stormed  and  carried  the 
Federal  works,  but  not  without  heavy  loss.  Ransom's  Brig- 
ade alone  losing  87  killed  and  more  than  500  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  Thirty-fifth  was  the  greatest  sustained  by  any  reg- 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  617 

iment.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of  this  regiment  to  assault  the  for- 
midable fort  on  the  eastern  front  of  the  town.  It  was  taken 
from  its  regular  place  on  the  left  of  the  brigade  and  placed  in 
the  center  so  as  to  strike  this  work. 

During  the  night  of  19  April,  General  Eansom  forced  the 
passage  of  Coneby  Creek,  a  narrow,  but  deep  stream,  on  the 
east  of  the  town.  Brigadier-General  Henry  W.  Wessels,  the 
Federal  commander,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  says :  "After 
dark  the  enemy  in  strong  force  succeeded  in  effecting  the 
crossing  of  Coneby  Creek  below  the  town  and  massed  his 
columns  on  my  left.  This  disaster  is  unexplained,  and 
placed  me  in  a  most  critical  position."  Undoubtedly  the  pas- 
sage of  this  stream  was  a  great  tactical  move  on  the  part  of 
the  Confederate  commander.  Diiring  the  night  General 
Eansom  formed  his  lines  for  tlie  assault  and  gave  his  men  a 
few  hours  of  much  needed  rest.  When  the  order  to  charge 
was  given,  which  was  at  daybreak  on  20  April,  1864,  officers 
and  men  seemed  animated  with  but  one  determination,  and 
that  was  to  be  the  first  troops  to  enter  the  fort.  Reaching  the 
deep  ditch  surrounding  the  fortifications  the  regiment  rushed 
into  it  and  climbing  up  its  sides,  bristling  with  guns,  crowded 
through  the  embrasures,  over  the  parapet  and  wherever  they 
could  find  an  entrance,  and  were  in  possession  of  the  works 
before  the  enemy  could  recover  from  the  audacity  of  the  at- 
tack. During  this  time  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Eighth 
Regiments  captured  a  fort  on  the  right  on  the  east  front  of 
the  town,  and  nearer  the  river.  The  enemy  now  retreated 
into  the  houses,  making  barricades  of  them  and  firing  from 
the  upper  stories.  To  dislodge  them  it  became  necessary  to 
capture  the  works  directly  on  the  river  bank  and  then  its  forti- 
fications on  the  western  front. 

Reforming  his  brigade  General  Ransom  successively  car- 
ried these  works,  then  a  fight  from  house  to  house  took  place. 
The  enemy  were  at  length  driven  from  all  their  positions, 
losing  in  captured  some  two  thousand  prisoners ;  the  balance 
fled  to  Fort  Williams,  the  main  fortification  of  the  town.  Gen- 
eral Ransom,  preparatory  to  assault,  made  a  reconnoissance  of 
the  place.  It  was  seen  to  be  thoroughly  defended  by  good 
guns ;  was  surrounded  by  a  ditch  thirty  feet  deep  and  thirty 


618  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

feet  wide,  with  a  stockade  in  the  center  of  pine  poles  ten  and 
twelve  inches  in  diameter,  joined  together  by  iron  cables,  and 
the  entrance  protected  by  a  massive  iron  door. 

General  Kansom  now  signalled  for  the  Albemarle  to  come 
up,  which  was  below  the  town,  having  attacked  and  destroyed 
or  driven  off  all  the  gunboats  in  the  river,  killing  Lieutenant 
Commander  Flusser  of  the  gunboat  Miami,  and  sinking  the 
gunboat  Southfield. 

The  Albemarle  steamed  up  to  the  foot  of  the  main  street 
leading  from  the  river  to  the  entrance  of  the  fort  and  opened 
fire. 

The  first  shot  falling  short,  killed  and  wounded  several 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  regiment,  which  lay  across  the  street  a 
short  distance  from  the  fort,  awaiting  the  order  to  assault. 
This  regiment  was  withdrawn  nearer  the  river  and  the  Albe- 
marle again  opened  on  Fort  Williams. 

After  exploding  three  or  four  shells  inside  the  work,  Gen- 
eral Ransom  sent  Colonel  Bearing,  acting  on  his  staff,  to  de- 
mand its  unconditional  surrender. 

General  Wessels  desired  to  see  the  officer  in  command.  Gen- 
eral Hoke  was  sent  for,  and  after  a  brief  interview  between 
them.  General  Wessels,  satisfied  that  further  resistance  was 
in  vain,  hoisted  the  white  flag.  General  Wessels  says  his  loss 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  was  2,834. 

General  Wessels  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  enumer- 
ating his  forces,  says :  "There  were  also  present  portions  of 
two  companies  Second  North  Carolina  volunteers,  native 
troops,  under  Captains  Johnson  and  Haggard.  *  *  * 
During  its  siege  and  in  the  night  a  considerable  number  of 
North  Carolina  soldiers  (many  of  them  deserters  from  the 
enemy,  and  all  of  them  fearing  bad  treatment  in  the  event 
of  capture),  left  their  companies  without  authority,  escaping 
in  canoes,  being  picked  up,  as  I  have  understood,  by  our 
boats  in  the  sound." 

This  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  minor  victories  of  the 
war.  Brigadier-General  Hoke  was  telegraphed  by  President 
Davis  his  promotion  to  be  Major-General.  The  Legislature 
of  North  Carolina,  by  formal  resolution,  thanked.  Generals 
Hoke  and  Ransom  and  Commander  J.  W.   Cooke,  of  the 


Thiett-Fifth  Eegiment.  619 

"Albemarle,"  and  the  ofiBoers  and  men  of  their  commands 
for  this  great  feat  of  arms,  and  the  Confederate  Congress 
passed  similar  resolutions. 

General  Hoke  moving  at  once  on  Washington,  E".  C,  the 
Federal  commander,  General  Palmer,  hastily  evacuated  the 
place,  setting  fire  to  the  town. 

General  Hoke  then  pushed  on  to  'New  Bern;  at  onfe  in- 
vested the  city,  captured  its  outer  works  and  was  preparing 
for  assault  with  every  prospect  of  success  when,  under  per- 
emptory orders  from  President  Davis  and  Generals  Lee  and 
Beauregard  to  return  to  Virginia,  he  withdrew  his  command, 
and,  making  one  of  the  most  rapid  marches  on  record,  reached 
Petersburg  on  10  May,  1864. 

BATTLE  OF  DEEWEy's  BLUFF. 

On  13  May,  1864,  while  occupying  the  outer  line  of  works 
defending  Drewry's  Bluff,  Ransom's  Brigade  was  attacked 
by  Butler's  advance  with  overwhelming  force. 

After  gallantly  repulsing  these  attacks,  though  flanked  on 
the  right  and  in  the  rear,  the  brigade  held  its  own  and  during 
the  night  withdrew  to  the  main  line  of  defenses.  In  this 
fight  Captain  Cicero  Durham,  commanding  a  battalion  of 
sharpshooters  and  known  as  the  "fighting  quartermaster  of 
the  Forty-ninth,"  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant  Waverly  John- 
ston, of  General  Ransom's  staff,  painfully  wounded.  On 
the  next  day  while  rallying  his  line  of  sharpshooters.  General 
Ransom  was  badly  wounded  in  the  left  arm. 

The  Surgeons  at  first  advised  that  the  limb  be  amputated, 
as  the  ball  had  shattered  both  the  bones  of  the  forearm.  Gen- 
eral Ransom  submitted  himself  to  the  Surgeons  with  the  in- 
junction to  save  his  arm  even  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  Sur- 
geon O'Hagan  contended  that  the  arm  could  be  saved.  Cut- 
ting off  the  injured  ends  of  the  bones  he  left  to  nature  to 
unite  the  separated  ends ;  and  in  due  time  the  Surgeon's  prog- 
nosis was  verified,  and  though  shorter  than  before,  the  arm 
became  serviceable  and  the  use  of  the  hand  retained. 

Colonel  Ransom  never  displayed  his  good  judgment  of  men 
in  a  greater  degree  than  when  he  selected  this  gentleman  as 


620  NoETH  Carolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

surgeon  of  his  regiment.  Dr.  O'Hagan  was  one  of  the  most 
skillful  Surgeons  in  the  army.  In  a  controversy  with  Dr. 
Hunter  McG-uire  in  October,  1862,  Surgeon-General  of  Jack- 
son's Corps,  Dr.  O'Hagan  demonstrated  his  mastery  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  his  ability  as  well,  to  sustain  himself  in  his  the- 
ory and  practice  of  surgery.  After  the  war,  at  his  home  in 
Greenville,  Pitt  county.  Dr.  O'Hagan  practiced  with  success 
and  increased  reputation,  attaining  the  very  highest  standing 
among  his  brethren  of  the  medical  profession.  He  was  also 
a  speaker  of  exceptional  grace  and  eloquence ;  of  high  literary 
attainments,  ranking  with  the  best  belles  lettres  scholars  of 
his  State. 

In  the  main  battle  of  Drewry's  Blufl  (16  May,  1864)  the 
Thirty-fifth  regiment  formed  part  of  the  support  to  Major- 
General  Eobert  Ransom's  command,  and  bravely  did  its  part 
in  gaining  the  victory  over  Butler. 

After  the  battle  of  Drewry's  Bluff,  Ransom's  brigade  occu- 
pied the  trenches  in  front  of  Butler  at  Bermuda  Hundreds, 
and  on  20  May,  six  companies  of  the  Thirty-fifth  regiment 
were  ordered  to  advance  the  picket  lines.  This  they  did 
with  wonderful  gallantry,  but  at  great  loss.  Captain  Wm. 
A.  Ellis,  of  Company  I,  was  killed  and  Captain  Robert  E. 
Petty,  of  Company  D,  dangerously  wounded. 

When  the  Surgeon,  Dr.  O'Hagan,  told  Captain  Ellis  he 
was  dying,  he  said :  "Tell  General  Ransom  I  die  like  a  sol- 
dier, and  please  send  my  body  home."  This  request  was 
faithfully  attended  to  by  his  General,  who  at  the  time  was 
lying  wounded  in  Richmond. 

At  first  it  was  thought  that  Captain  Petty  could  not  sur- 
vive. He  was  shot  twice,  one  ball  passing  through  the  body. 
Dr.  O'PIagan  advised  him  to  make  his  will,  as  there  was  little 
hope  for  him.  "Why,"  said  Captain  Petty,  "Doctor  I  have 
no  more  intention  of  dying  than  I  have  of  flying  this  minute. 
I  will  be  back  in  sixty  days  fighting  these  scoundrels."  Sure 
enough,  in  sixty  days  Captain  Petty  was  back  with  his  com- 
mand, and  as  Major  Petty  had  the  honor  to  command  the  reg- 
iment at  the  final  surrender  at  Appomattox. 

A  number  of  the  ofiicers  and  men  of  the  regiment  were 
killed  and  wounded  while  occupying  the  lines  at  Bermuda 


Thiety-Fifth:  Regiment.  621 

Hundreds.  Among  the  killed  was  Orderly  Sergeant  Wm.  H. 
Campbell,  of  Company  H,  than  whom  there  was  not  a  better 
or  braver  soldier  in  the  regiment. 

PETEBSBUEG  ON  THE  NIGHT  OF  17  JUNE^  1864. 

After  his  defeat  at  Cold  Harbor  General  Grant  deter- 
mined to  capture  Petersburg  by  rapidly  transferring  his  army 
to  the  South  of  the  James  before  General  Lee  could  detect  his 
intentions.  On  13  June,  1864,  he  detached  General  W.  F. 
Smith  with  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  who  reached  Bermuda 
Hundreds  on  the  14th,  and  by  next  morning  began  his  attack 
on  Petersburg. 

To  oppose  these  troops,  only  Wise's  Brigade  and  some  tran- 
sient forces,  the  whole  amounting  to  not  more  than  2,400 
effective  men,  were  available.  These  embraced  a  small  cav- 
alry force  under  General  Dearing  and  Archer's  militia ;  but 
these  militia  proved  themselves  rivals  in  valor  of  the  veter- 
ans by  whose  side  they  fought.  All  day  this  handful  of  men 
resisted  the  attack  of  16,000  of  Grant's  troops,  but  late  in 
the  evening  they  were  driven  from  their  position,  and  the 
enemy  carried  the  line  of  redoubts  from  Nos.  5  to  9.  Had 
this  success  of  General  Smith's  corps  been  vigorously  pushed 
Petersburg  must  have  fallen. 

At  9  :30  a.  m.  on  15  June,  Beauregard  telegraphed  Bragg 
to  send  him  Ransom's  Brigade.  The  brigade  was  then  at 
OhafSn's  Bluff.  It  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Beaure- 
gard at  once,  and  marching  all  night  reached  Petersburg 
about  sunrise  on  the  16th.  Arriving  in  sight  of  the  inner 
line  of  the  works  defending  Petersburg  the  enemy  were  seen 
advancing  upon  the  same.  At  a  run,  through  a  storm  of  shot 
and  shell,  the  Confederates  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  works 
just  in  time  to  meet  the  enemy's  charge  and  drive  them  back. 
The  Thirty-fifth  regiment  were  among  the  first  of  the  brigade 
to  arrive,  and  repulsed  two  assaults  of  the  enemy. 

Hancock  now  reinforces  Smith,  and  Beauregard  orders 
Johnson's  division  from  the  lines  of  Bermuda  Hundreds. 
Burnside's  corps  is  now  added  to  the  Federal  attacking  col- 
umns. Hancock,  now  in  command,  his  forces  augmented  to 
53,000,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  16th  attacked  all  along  the 


622  ISToETn  Caeoli^a-  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

line  held  by  10,000  Confederates.  Night  closed  the  unequal 
contest  with  the  lines  still  firmly  held  by  Beauregard.  During 
the  night  Warren's  Corps,  17,000,  reinforced  the  enemy. 
Early  on  lY  June  the  fighting  was  renewed.  Assault  after 
assault  was  made  only  to  be  repulsed  until  just  at  dark  a  part 
of  the  Confederate  line  was  pierced  and  Battery  14  was  cap- 
tured by  Leslie's  Division  of  the  ISTinth  army  corps.  About 
11  p.  m.,  Eansom's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  the  support  of 
Wise,  who  had  been  driven  from  the  salient  occupied  by  his 
brigade. 

Ransom's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  charge  and  re-establish 
the  line,  l.'he  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  struck  the  heel  of  the 
salient,  formed  in  the  shape  of  a  horse  shoe  and  received  the 
enemy's  fire  both  from  the  front  and  flanks.  Reaching 
the  works  a  hand  to  hand  combat  took  place,  the  men  fighting 
with  only  the  parapet  of  the  rifle  pits  separating  them. 

Here  the  colors  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  were  captured 
by  Corporal  Young,  of  the  First  Michigan,  but  the  Thirty- 
fifth  captured  three  fiags  from  the  enemy.  The  loss  of  the 
regiment  was  very  heavy. 

It  carried  into  action  28  ofiicers  and  nearly  500  men,  and 
brought  out  8  ofiicers  and  less  than  200  men.  Its  gallant 
commander,  John  G.  Jones,  was  shot  down  early  in  the 
charge ;  rising  he  advanced  a  few  feet,  when  he  fell  a  second 
time.  Calling  for  help,  he  was  again  going  forward ;  when 
shot  a  third  time  he  fell  to  rise  no  more. 

The  gallant  and  chivalrous  Captain  Thomas  J.  Blackwell, 
of  Company  B,  was  here  killed,  many  others  killed  and  wound- 
ed and  a  number  captured.  Captain  Philip  J.  Johnson,  of 
Company  K,  mounted  the  breastworks,  and  in  a  hand  to  hand 
encounter  with  a  Federal  Major,  was  shot  in  the  hand,  caus- 
ing his  sword  to  fall  from  his  grasp ;  he  was  now  at  the  mercy 
of  his  antagonist,  when  one  of  Captain  Johnston's  men  shot 
the  Federal  officer  through  the  head.  Ordering  some  imag- 
inary reinforcements  to  advance,  in  stentorian  tones,  Captain 
Johnston  called  upon  the  enemy  to  surrender,  or  all  be  killed, 
and  some  300  came  over  the  works  and  gave  themselves  up. 

During  the  night.  General  Beauregard  withdrew  to  a  new 
and  shorter  line  of  defenses  nearer  the  city.     In  the  death 


Thiety-Fifth  Regiment.  623 

of  Colonel  Jones  the  regiment  sustained  a  loss  almost  irrepar- 
able. He  had  been  a  student  at  Wake  Forest  College;  was 
a  Baptist  preacher  before  he  entered  the  army ;  was  without 
any  military  training,  awkward  and  unsoldierly  in  his  car- 
riage; but  of  unsullied  character  and  indomitable  courage. 
His  military  aptness  was  of  slow  growth,  but  developed  as 
he  gained  experience  until  at  his  death  he  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  best  soldiers  of  his  rank  in  the  army.  Prior  to  the 
battle  of  Sharpsburg,  his  courage  was  questioned;  as,  unfor- 
tunately for  his  reputation,  he  was  excused  on  account  of 
sickness  and  was  not  present  at  the  battles  in  which  his  regi- 
ment had  been  engaged  prior  to  the  Maryland  campaign  of 
1862.  At  Sharpsburg  his  conduct  was  altogether  creditable ; 
and  thenceforth  he  won  the  confidence  of  his  superiors  and  of 
his  men.  It  was  currently  believed  in  the  regiment,  that 
while  stationed  at  Kenansville,  I^.  C,  in  the  winter  of  1863 
and  1864,  he  met  a  young  lady  of  very  high  social  position 
and  great  personal  charms;  he  became  much  interested  in 
her,  but  did  not  presume  to  declare  his  passion  until  he  had 
won  her  by  "the  dajigers  he  had  passed,"  and  that  he  only 
waited  until  he  could  wear  the  wreath  of  a  Brigadier-General 
on  his  collar,  when  he  would  solicit  her  hand. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  T.  Johnston  and  Major  S.  B.  Tay- 
lor now  became  respectively  Colonel  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
and  Captain  Robert  E.  Petty,  of  Company  D,  Major  of  the 
regiment.  First  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Freeman  was  promoted 
to  be  Captain  of  Company  B. 

On  18  June,  1864,  General  Meade  made  the  last  of  his 
series  of  assaults  to  carry  the  fortifications  defending  Peters- 
burg. He  had  now  the  larger  part  of  his  army  confronting 
the  Confederate  lines,  something  like  70,000  men.  These  lat- 
ter had  been  reinforced,  and  there  were  now  about  20,000 
Confederate  troops  to  resist  the  attacks  of  these  seventy  thou- 
sand. 

The  assault  was  made  by  the  commands  of  Warren,  Bum- 
side,  Bimey  and  Martindale.  "At  noon  came  the  grand 
attack,  which  was  promptly  repulsed.  At  4  p.  m.  the  Fed- 
erals tried  it  again,  but  met  with  signal  defeat."     General 


624  North  Oaeoliita  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Grant  now  issued  an  order  for  the  cessation  of  further  at- 
tacks, and  the  siege  of  Petersburg  commenced. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  CRATER. 

Ransom's  brigade  constructed  the  breastworks  at  the  Cra- 
ter and  were  in  the  trenches  on  the  left  of  the  salient  occupied 
by  Pegram's  Battery  and  Elliott's  South  Carolina  Brigade 
at  the  time  of  the  explosion  of  the  mine  (30  July,  1864). 

The  Twenty-fifth  and  Forty-ninth  Regiments  of  the  Brig- 
ade were  drawn  out  of  the  works  to  assist  in  repelling  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  now  pouring  through  this  interval  in 
the  Confederate  defenses ;  and  subsequently  they  united  with 
Mahone's  Division  in  driving  the  Federals  out  of  the  cap- 
tured works  back  to  their  lines. 

During  this  time  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  extending  its 
front  to  occupy  the  space  vacated  by  the  withdrawn  troops,  re- 
pelled the  several  assaults  of  the  enemy  as  they  attempted  to 
carry  our  works  adjacent  to  those  destroyed  by  the  explo- 
sion. 

It  will  be  interesting  here  to  state  that  the  colors  of  the 
First  Michigan  were  captured  at  this  battle  by  Sergeant  J. 
W.  Connell,  of  Company  F,  Twenty-second  South  Carolina 
Regiment.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  flag  of  the  Thirty- 
fifth  regiment  had  been  captured  by  this  Michigan  command 
the  night  of  17  June,  as  previously  stated. 

SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG. 

The  last  act  in  the  drama  was  now  to  be  played.  The 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  between  5  May  and  31  Decem- 
ber, 1864,  had  inflicted  a  loss  of  more  than  108,000  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  on  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  sustain- 
ing itself  a  loss  of  40,000 ;  but  how  it  would  end  was  now 
apparently  only  a  question  of  time.  In  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg, the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  performed  its  full  duty. 
For  eight  months  and  more  "it  lived  in  the  ground,  walked  in 
wet  ditches,  ate  its  cold  rations  in  ditches,  slept  in  dirt-cov- 
ered pits."  The  breastworks  of  the  two  armies  were  in  many 
places  so  near  that  one  exposing  any  part  of  his  person  was 
sure  to  be  shot  at  and  usually  killed  or  wounded.     The  picket 


Thibty-Fifth  Regiment.  625 

posts  could  only  be  relieved  at  night  by  crawling  along 
ditches  to  and  from  them.  Mortar  shells  were  incessantly 
coming  down  from  above.  There  was  no  shelter  from  sun 
or  rain.  'No  food  could  be  cooked  there,  but  the  scanty  ration 
was  brought  in  bags  on  the  shoulders  from  the  cook  yards 
sometimes  a  mile  distant. 

Frequently  it  became  necessary  for  General  Lee  to  with- 
draw troops  from  some  portion  of  his  line  to  resist  a  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  against  the  Petersburg  &  Weldon  and 
Southside  railroads. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1864,  Ransoms's  brigade  was 
ordered  to  attack  and  drive  back  the  enemy  at  the  Davis 
house.  They  had  to  charge  some  distance  through  an  abatis 
of  felled  trees.  The  men  had  to  pick  their  way  through  the 
interlaced  timbers  and  advance  without  regard  to  company  or 
regimental  formations. 

This  advance  was  so  gallantly  done  as  to  evoke  from 
General  Lee,  who  witnessed  the  charge,  the  remark:  "That 
he  had  often  heard  of  men  straggling  to  the  rear,  but  he  had 
neyer  before  seen  men  straggle  to  the  attack." 

FOET    STEADMAN HAEe's    HILL. 

In  the  assault  on  Fort  Steadman,  25  March,  1865,  General 
Matt.  W.  Ransom  commanded  his  own  and  Wallace's  South 
Carolina  brigade.  In  his  report  of  this  brilliant,  but  disas- 
trous attack.  General  Lee  says:  "The  two  brigades  com- 
manded by  General  Ransom  behaved  most  handsomely."  The 
Thirty-fifth  regiment  lost  largely  in  killed,  wounded  and  pris- 
oners. 

Here,  Courier  Wm.  Hood,  of  Company  H,  referred  to  in 
the  account  of  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg,  was  killed.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  couriers,  prompt  to  carry  orders,  under  all  cir- 
cumstances trustworthy  and  fearless. 

"In  this  assault.  Colonel  Johnston,  Captain  S.  G.  Howie, 
Company  F,  and  many  others  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment, 
and  about  half  of  Ransom's  brigade,  were  taken  prisoners. 


40 


626  North  Cakolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

five  poeks. 

At  Five  Forks  (1  April,  1865)  that  dark  day  for  the  Con- 
federacy, the  Thirty-fifth  regiment,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  fight  for  four  hours,  until  it  ended  in  what  may  be  called 
a  wreck,  behaved  with  its  accustomed  courage  amd  fortitude. 
Here  Lieutenant-Colonel  Taylor  was  wounded  and  captured 
and  about  half  of  the  regiment  made  prisoners.  Colonel 
Taylor  ,  who  was  in  command  of  his  regiment  and  had  been 
twice  previously  wounded,  received  his  third  wound — a 
minie  ball  fracturing  the  bones  of  his  right  arm,  forever 
disabling  him  from  its  full  use. 

Captain  Sterling  Gee,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the 
brigade,  was  killed,  and  Adjutant  Peebles,  of  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Regiment,  was  promoted  on  the  field  to  succeed  him. 

General  Ransom  had  two  horses  killed  under  him.  The 
last  horse,  a  magnificent  thoroughbred  stallion,  when  shot, 
reared  high  up  in  the  air  and  fell,  pinioning- his  rider  beneath 
him.  With  his  wounded  left  arm  in  a  sling.  General  Ran- 
som was  powerless  and  in  danger  of  being  crushed  under  the 
struggles  of  his  dying  horse,  when  Captain  Johnston,  of  the 
Thirty-fifth,  and  Captain  Sherrill,  of  the  Forty-ninth  Regi- 
ments, rushed  forward  and  extricated  him  from  his  perilous 
situation  and  from  capture. 

APPOMATTOX. 

At  last  the  end  came,  and  on  9  April,  1865,  General  Lee 
surrenders  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia ;  that  "incompar- 
able infantry,  that  array  of  tattered  uniforms,  but  bright 
muskets ;"  which  will  ever  live  in  history  and  in  the  hearts  of 
the  Southern  people.  The  list  of  paroled  prisoners  of  Lee's 
army  at  Appomattox  aggregated  28,231,  of  which  Ransom's 
Brigade  numbered  41  officers  and  394  enlisted  men ;  of  these 
the  Thirty-fifth  regiment,  commanded  by  Major  Robert  E. 
Petty,  numbered  about  80. 

CONCLUSION. 

Did  not  space  forbid,  it  would  be  a  pleasing  duty  to  men- 
tion by  name  and  circumstance  the  many  instances  of  indi- 


Thirty-Fifth  Regiment.  627 

vidual  heroism  and  meritorious  conduct  of  the  oiEcers  and 
men  of  this  famous  regiment  in  its  three  and  a  haK  years  of 
service  in  the  Confederate  army. 

Though  its  discipline  was  excellent,  its  drill  admirable  and 
its  efficiency  always  remarkable,  of  its  several  commanders 
not  one  was  a  martinet  or  a  trained  soldier.  He,  who  was  its 
commander  from  April,  1862,  to  April,  1865,  first  as  its 
Colonel,  and  then  as  General,  was  never  known  to  court-mar- 
tial or  put  an  officer  under  arrest;  never  had  a  private  pun- 
ished or  put  on  extra  duty ;  never  asked  for  a  court-martial  in 
any  case ;  never  preferred  a  charge  against  an  officer  or  pri- 
vate. You  may  ask  how  was  discipline  secured  and  obedi- 
ence enforced.  The  answer  is  moral  force.  The  rank  and 
file  were  of  the  best  material  from  which  to  obtain  a  volunteer 
army.  They  were  patriotic,  moral,  tractable,  willing  always 
to  undertake  any  service,  to  undergo  any  hardship;  and 
though  the  regiment  never  had  a  Chaplain,  the  command  was 
conspicuous  for  the  religious  tone  that  prevailed. 

The  subsequent  conduct  of  those  composing  the  regiment 
after  they  ceased  to  be  soldiers  and  again  resumed  civil  occu- 
pations, has  been  in  harmony  with  their  honorable  record  as 
soldiers.  In  addition  to  the  references  to  certain  officers  and 
men  that  have  been  made  in  the  progress  of  this  sketch,  we 
may  state  that  at  this  present  writing  (9  April,  1901)  Colo- 
nel James  T.  Johnston  is  a  successful  and  beloved  physician 
at  Hickory,  K".  C.  Lieutenant-Colonel  S.  B.  Taylor  is  a 
prosperous  merchant  and  influential  citizen  of  Onslow. 
Major  Robert  E.  Petty,  a  merchant,  at  one  time  in  Raleigh 
and  later  at  Sanford,  has  recently  died.  Captain  Henry  W. 
Humphrey  and  Lieutenant  Brinson  Venters,  of  Company  A, 
prosperous  and  respected  citizens  of  Onslow  county.  Captain 
G.  W.  Freeman,  of  Company  B,  a  physician  of  large  practice 
at  Marion.  Captain  E.  McN".  Blue,  of  Company  C,  for 
many  years  sheriff  of  Moore  County,  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all.  Captain  J.  W.  Philpot,  of  Company  E,  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Person  county ;  Captain  S.  G.  Howie,  of  Com- 
pany F,  a  successful  merchant  at  Monroe.  Captain  H.  M. 
Dixon,  of  Company  H,  who  had  the  honor  twice  to  command 
his  company,  is  a  man  of  great  popularity  in  his  county  of 


628  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Mecklenburg,  recognized  as  one  of  its  best  farmers  and  i 
man  of  great  influence  in  his  churcb. 

Captain  D.  G.  Maxwell,  of  the  same  company,  has  foi' 
thirty-five  years  or  more  been  a  magistrate  in  Charlotte.  In 
that  flourishing  city  his  decisions  are  regarded  among  his- 
large  clientele  as  the  law  and  gospel,  and  if  a  minister  does' 
not  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  the  people  do  not  tbi-nV 
themselves  properly  joined  together  unless  "  'Squire  Dave 
Maxwell"  ties  the  knot. 

Orderly  Sergeant  James  M.  Davis,  of  the  same  company^ 
is  a  leading  man  in  his  county,  one  of  its  most  prosperous 
farmers  and  successful  business  men. 

Captain  Philip  J.  Johnston,  of  Company  K,  a  merchant  at 
Lenoir,  Caldwell  county,  a  citizen  of  largest  influence  and 
most  highly  esteemed. 

First  Lieutenant  Pinkney  Warlick,  of  the  same  company, 
often  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  a  successful  man  of 
affairs  near  Connelly  Springs. 

Among  the  ofiicers  and  men  in  this  regiment  are  many 
heroes  whose  name  and  their  deeds  are  recorded  in  the  Book  of 
Life.  Here — as  gems  of  purest  ray  are  concealed  in  the 
ocean's  cave — they  may  not  be  known,  but  a  celestial  glory 
is  theirs  and  at  the  last  great  day  they  will  receive  their  re-- 
ward. 

W.  H.  S.  Btjegwyn. 
Weldon,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THIRTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 
cJmm'is8a^.°''P"""'  *■"*  ^'''"'*''*    ^-    «•  !>•  Willfamsoi.,Z  Jeut.,  Co.  E. 


THIRTY-SIXTH-  REQinEfiT. 

(second   AETILLEBY.) 


By  colonel  WILLIAM  LAMB. 


The  Northern  invader  had  early  visited  the  sea  coast  of 
North  Carolina.  Hatteras  had  fallen  29  August,  1861. 
Northern  emissaries  had  kindled  the  flames  of  disloyalty  in 
the  East,  and  18  November,  1861,  a  convention  of  delegates 
claiming  to  represent  forty-five  counties  met  at  Hatteras,  re- 
pudiated secession,  announced  their  loyalty  to  the  Federal 
Union  and  named  one  Marble  Nash  Taylor,  Provisional  Gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina.  The  conduct  of  these  Tories,  or 
Buffaloes  as  they  were  called,  was  a  source  of  annoyance  to 
the  patriots,  but  only  served  to  strengthen  their  loyalty  to 
their  country. 

Continued  disasters  to  the  Confederate  cause  came  before 
the  winter  had  ended.  Eoanoke  Island  was  captured  8  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  and  a  few  days  after  the  Confederate  fleet  in 
the  sounds  was  dispersed  or  destroyed.  14  March,  1862, 
New  Bern  was  captured,  22  March  Morehead  City  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Federals,  and  on  26  April  Fort  Macon  fell.  All 
these  Federal  victories  had  been  won  after  a  gallant  resis1> 
ance  by  the  Confederates  and  the  loss  of  many  brave  officers 
and  men,  carrying  sorrow  and  mourning  into  many  a  South- 
em  home. 

10  May,  1862,  Norfolk,  the  inland  gateway  to  the  waters 
of  North  Carolina,  with  its  fortifications  and  navy  yard,  was 
evacuated  by  the  Confederates.  Mason  and  Slidell  had  been 
released  by  the  United  States,  thus  preventing  the  anxiously 
expected  recognition  by  Great  Britain. 

It  was  in  this  dark  hour,  in  the  midst  of  doubt  and  gloom 
in  the  Old  North  State,  that  on  14  May,  1862,  the  Thirty- 
sixth  (Second  Artillery)  Regiment  North  Carolina  Troops, 
was  organized  at  Fort  Caswell  under  supervision  of  Briga- 
dier-General Samuel  G.  French,  commanding  the  district  of 
Cape  Fear. 


630  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

The  regiment  consisted  of  the  following  ten  companies: 

Company  A — -King's  Artillery — Captain  James  M.  Ste- 
venson, from  Sampson  County. 

Company  B — Bladen  Sktrs — Captain  Daniel  Munn,  from 
Bladen  County. 

Company  C — Blocker's  Artillery — Captain  O.  H.  Blocker, 
from  Cumberland  County. 

Company  D — Anderson's  Artillery — Captain  Edward  B. 
Dudley,  from  New  Hanover  County. 

Company  E — Columbus  Artillery — Captain  O.  H.  Powell, 
from  Columbus  County. 

Comi'any  F — Pamlico  Artillery — Captain  Sam.  B.  Hun- 
ter, from  Craven  and  Halifax  Counties. 

Company  G — Lamh  Artillery — Captain  Potter,  from 
Brunswick  County. 

Company  H — Clarendon  Artillery — Captain  Daniel  Pat- 
terson, from  Bladen  County. 

Company  I — Bladen  Artillery — Captain  John  A.  Rich- 
ardson, from  Bladen  Coimty. 

Company  K — Brunsiuich  Artillery — Captain  John  D. 
Taylor,  from  Brunswick  County. 

Major  William  Lamb,  of  C.  S.  A.,  was  elected  Colonel; 
Captain  John  A.  Richardson,  of  Company  I,  was  elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  John  T.  Melvin  was  elected  Cap- 
tain Company  I.  Captain  John  Douglas  Taylor,  of  Com- 
pany K,  was  elected  second  Major,  and  William  T.  Brooks 
was  elected  Captain.  January  23,  1864,  Major  Taylor  was 
promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  place-  of  Richardson, 
dropped,  and  Captain  James  M.  Stevenson,  of  Company  A, 
was  elected  Major,  and  Robert  J.  Murphy  was  elected  Cap- 
tain. 

Captain  G-eo'.  D.  Parker,  of  Missouri,  was  appointed  Ad- 
jutant; Captain  Robert  W.  Lamb,  of  Virginia,  Assistant 
Quartermaster ;  Captain  Charles  H.  Blocker,  of  Bladen,  As- 
sistant Commissary;  Dr.  Spiers  Singleton,  of  North  Carolina, 
Surgeon,  and  Dr.  Powhatan  Bledsoe,  of  Virginia,  Assistant 
Surgeon ;  Rev.  Luther  McKinnon,  of  North  Carolina,  Chap- 
lain. 

These  companies  were  serving  at  different  posts  in  the  de- 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  631 

fense  of  the  Cape  Fear.  Colonel  Lamb  remained  at  Fort  St. 
Philip,  Old  Brunswick,  until  4  July,  1862,  when  he  relieved 
Major  John  J.  Hedrick,  in  command  of  Fort  Fisher  and  de- 
fenses of  Confederate  Point,  including  Zeke's  Island.  The 
command  was  afterwards  extended  to  Masonboro  inlet  on  the 
north.  Fort  Fisher  was  a  small  work  which,  together  with 
adjoining  batteries,  mounted  seventeen  guns,  only  three  of 
heavy  calibre.  Zeke's  Island  had  two  32-pounder8.  As  a 
defense  against  a  Federal  fleet  they  amounted  to  nothing. 

Blockade  running  into  Wilmington  had  just  commenced. 
It  was  first  carried  on  by  any  light  draft,  sea-going  steamer 
that  could  be  procured,  and  even  by  small  sailing  craft,  but 
this  was  of  short  duration.  The  blockade  became  so  effective 
that  to  run  it  successfully  required  courage,  nautical  skill  and 
a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  coast.  The  fastest  steam- 
ers were  built  in  Gi'eat  Britain  for  the  purpose,  side  wheelers, 
or  double  screws,  long,  low  and  narrow,  visually  nine  times  as 
long  as  wide,  and  from  400  to  YOO  tons  burden.  They  were 
painted  a  light  gray,  mailing  them  as  nearly,  invisible  as  pos- 
sible, light  lower  masts  witho'Ut  yards,  with  a  small  look-out 
on  the  foremast.  Smokestacks  could  be  lowered  close  to  the 
deck  in  case  of  need  and,  when  possible,  smokeless  coal  was 
used.  'No  light  was  visible.  No  precaution  was  omitted  to 
prevent  discovery.  The  most  skillful  sailors  were  secured  as 
commanders.  Confederate  and  British  naval  ofiicers  were 
engaged  when  practicable,  the  latter  being  on  leave  under 
assumed  names.  During  the  war  about  100  different  vessels 
were  engaged  in  running  the  blockade  into  Wilmington.  Of 
these,  sixty-five  steamers  were  captured  or  destroyed.  One 
thousand  pounds  sterling  was  paid  the  captain  and  £750  to 
the  pilot  for  a  successful  round  trip.  Very  few  were  killed 
or  wounded,  although  there  were  many  narrow  escapes. 
Blockade  running  was  of  vital  importance  to  the  Southern 
cause.  During  the  last  year  of  the  war  Lee's  army  depended 
upon  it  for  subsistence.  Wilmington  was  the  last  gateway 
closed,  and  New  Inlet,  defended  by  Fort  Fisher,  was  the  fa- 
vorite entrance  for  blockade  runners.  Besides  the  armament 
of  the  fort,  light  Whitworth  guns  and  field  pieces  were  trans- 
ported along  the  beach  as  far  as  Masonboro  to  protect  friendly 


632  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'(35. 

vessels.  The  Thirty-sixth  Kegiment  and  their  associates  in 
the  garrison  saved  many  steamers  and  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  valuable  property,  arms,  clothing,  provisions,  etc., 
which  composed  the  cargoes  of  these  steamers  and  of  those 
run  ashore  to  prevent  capture.  Among  the  many  vessels 
saved  by  timely  assistance  are  now  recalled  the  Oomubia, 
Don,  Venus,  Banshee,  Ad-Vance,  Sumter,  Mghthawk, 
Kate,  Annie  ajid  Little  Hattie.  The  garrison  participated  in 
the  capture  and  destruction  of  the  United  States  steamer  Co- 
lumbia, which  got  ashore  off  Masonboro  Inlet,  14  January, 
1863. 

In  the  engagements  incident  to  the  defense  of  blockade 
running,  a  number  of  Federal  officers  and  men  were  killed 
and  captured  and  some  valuable  boats  were  secured  by  the 
garrison  of  Fort  Fisher. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1863,  the  British  steamship  Kate 
was  run  ashore  on  Smith's  Island,  some  six  miles  south  of 
Fort  Fisher,  and  taken  possession  of  by  the  United  States 
steamer  Penobscot,  when  a  company  of  the  Thirty-sixth,  with 
a  Whitworth  cannon  detachment  proceeded  to  the  island, 
drove  the  enemy  off,  and  re-captured  the  vessel,  just  in  time 
to  prevent  her  being  blown  up  by  powder  placed  in  the  cabin 
with  an  ignited  slow  match.  Eleven  blockaders,  the  fleet  of 
both  inlets,  were  driven  off  by  this  gun,  which  on  the  open 
beach  was  so  well  served,  that  nearly  every  shot  took  effect 
and  the  blockaders  could  not  afford  to  be  seriously  damaged 
in  the  contention  over  a  craft  they  expected  at  any  moment 
would  be  blown  up.  Her  cargo  was  saved  and  all  her  ma- 
chinery removed  and  sent  to  Richmond,  where  it  was  used  in 
the  ram  Texas.  The  empty  hull  was  gotten  off  at  night  and 
an  attempt  made  to  sail  into  New  Inlet,  but  becoming 
becalmed,  three  miles  from  the  mound  battery,  she  was  cut 
out  by  two  Federal  blockaders  on  1  August,  but  not  until  the 
enemy's  vessels  were  injured  with  loss  of  life  and  the  wound- 
ing of  some  of  their  men. 

In  defending  the  wreck  of  the  Hebe  from  the  attack  of  the 
United  States  frigate  Minnesota  and  gunboat  James  Adger, 
Private  Daniel  Holland,  of  Company  B,  was  killed  and  sev- 
eral wounded  23  August,   1863,  five  miles  north  of  Fort 


Thikty-Sixth  Regiment.  633 

Fisher.  The  detachment  had  a  12-pound  Whitworth  and  a 
small  field  piece  behind  an  improvised  sand  battery  to  con- 
tend with  over  fifty  heavy  guns  afloat.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  send  boats  in  to  get  hawsers  fastened  to  the  Hebe  to 
pull  her  off,  but  the  Confederates  drove  them  off  with  mus- 
ketry. Three  hundred  and  eight  rounds  of  shot,  shell,  grape 
and  canister  were  discharged  by  the  enemy,  who  tore  up  the 
beach  and  finally  drove  the  heroic  men  from  their  guns,  which 
were  captured,  but  not  until  they  had  damaged  the  James 
Adger  with  shot  and  shell  and  forced  the  enemy  to  destroy 
the  Hebe.  A  more  gallant  fight  against  overwhelming  odds 
was  not  witnessed  during  the  war. 

The  garrison  of  the  fort  were  ceaseless  in  their  vigilance 
to  protect  and  rescue  friendly  vessels  and  property.  During 
the  dark  nights  and  in  the  early  mornings  succeeding,  suc- 
cessful engagements  were  constantly  occurring,  accustoming 
the  men  to  fearlessly  brave  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  Federal 
vessels.  Admiral  Porter,  in  his  naval  history  of  the  Civil 
war,  pays  a  deseirving  tribute  to  the  garrison  when  he  says : 

"The  display  of  a  twinkling  light  on  board  one  of  the  gun- 
boats, near  the  bar,  was  a  signal  for  a  general  discharge  of  the 
guns  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  although  these  shots  were  more 
noisy  than  damaging,  yet  a  stray  shell  striking  one  of  the 
Federal  boats  would  have  knocked  it  to  pieces." 

The  United  States  tug  "Aster"  chased  the  blockade  runner 
"Annie"  ashore  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher  on  the  night  of 
7  October,  1864  and  was  blown  up. 

The  perfect  code  of  signals  arranged  by  the  fort  with  block- 
ade runners  gave  tO'  Fort  Fisher  the  enviable  reputation  en- 
joyed by  no  other  sea  coast  fortification,  that  while  an  enemy 
could  not  approach  without  an  assault,  no  friendly  vessel  was 
ever  fired  upon,  and  none  ever  displayed  a  signal  without  an 
immediate  reply  and  the  setting  of  the  range  lights  for  their 
entrance. 

During  1864,  the  ten  companies  of  the  Thirty-sixth  JSTorth 
Carolina  had  been  collected  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  works-had 
assumed  formidable  proportions. 

On  Zeke's  Island  the  two  gun  battery  at  the  entrance  to  the 
river  had  been  washed  away  by  the  action  of  the  tides,  but  a 


634  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

mound  battery  had  been  erected  sixty  feet  high  on  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  sea  face  of  the  works  mounting  two  heavy 
guns. 

24  October,  1864,  information  was  received  that  Wilming- 
ton was  to  be  attacked  by  a  large  fleet  and  a  supporting  army ; 
at  the  same  time  the  garrison  was  distressed  to  hear  that  Gen- 
eral Braxton  Bragg  had  assumed  command  of  the  district  of 
the  Cape  Fear,  superseding  the  brilliant,  capable  and  fear- 
less Major  General  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  who,  however,  was  to 
remain  second  in  command. 

22  November  1864,  Company  A,  Captain  E.  J.  Mur- 
phy ;  Company  C,  Captain  K.  J.  Bradley ;  Company  D,  Cap- 
tain Edward  B.  Dudley;  Company  G,  Captain  William 
Swain;  and  Company  I,  Captain  John  T.  Melvin,  under 
command  of  Major  James  M.  Stevenson,  left  for  Georgia,  to 
join  the  Confederate  forces  opposing  Sherman's  advance  to 
Savannah. 

A  contemporary  publication  December  1864,  says: 

"At  the  late  battle  of  Harrison's  Old  Field,  which  was  an 
advance  position,  fourteen  miles  from  Savannah,  Major  Ste- 
venson was  in  command  with  a  part  of  his  own  battalion, 
(Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina)  and  parts  of  the  Fiftieth  and 
Fortieth  and  Tenth  battalions.  General  Hardee  did  not  in- 
tend them  to  fight  the  enemy,  but  merely  to  hold  them  in 
check  for  a  few  hours,  but  the  order  to  retreat  failing  to  reach 
the  Major,  with  his  small  force  he  fought  the  enemy  until 
flanked  by  two  brigades,  by  whom  he  and  his  whole  command 
came  near  being  captured,  for  a  Yankee  brigade  Avas  in  the 
road  by  which  he  would  have  to  retreat. 

"Major  Stevenson,  however,  seems  to  have  known  the 
country  better  than  General  Hardee's  informant,  and  made 
his  escape  with  all  his  men,  except  thirteen  killed.  He  also 
broiight  off  all  his  wounded,  his  artillery  and  wagons,  and 
that  same  night  marched  into  Savannah  and  reported  in  per- 
son to  General  Hardee,  by  whom  he  was  warmly  received 
and  highly  complimented." 

20  December,  1864,  the  Federal  Armada  commenced  gath- 
ering off  New  Inlet.  At  this  time  Fort  Fisher  extended 
across  the  peninsula  682  yards,  a  continuous  work,  mounting 


Thikty-Sixth  Regiment.  635 

twenty  heavy  guns  and  having  two  mortars  and  four  pieces 
of  light  artillery,  and  a  sea  face  1,898  yards  in  length,  con- 
sisting of  batteries  connected  by  a  heavy  curtain  and  ending 
in  the  mound  battery  sixty  feet  high,  mounting  in  all  twenty- 
four  heavy  guns,  including  one  170-pound  Blateley  rifle  gun 
and  one  130-pound  Armstrong  rifle  gun.  At  the  extreme 
end  of  the  point  at  the  entrance  to  the  Cape  Eear  river  was 
Battery  Buchanan,  a  naval  command  with  four  heavy  guns. 

When  the  fleet  appeared  the  garrison  consisted  of  Gompa- 
ny  B,  Captain  Daniel  Munn;  Company  E,  Captain  0.  H. 
Powell ;  Company  F,  Captain  Sam  B.  Hunter ;  Company  H, 
Captain  Dan.  Patterson,  and  Company  K,  Captain  William 
T.  Brooks,  numbering  an  effective  total  of  less  than  450  of- 
ficers and  men.  The  total  number  in  the  fort  did  not  ex- 
ceed 500  in  all  the  departments.  Before  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy  Greneral  Whiting  and  staff  arrived  with  Major  James 
Eeilly,  of  the  Tenth  JSTorth  Carolina  (First  Artillery)  and 
two  of  his  companies. 

The  effective  total  25  December,  1864,  was  1,431  consist- 
ing of  921  regulars,  about  450  Junior  Peserves  and  60  sailors 
and  marines.  On  the  night  of  Friday,  23  December,  an  at- 
tempt was  made  by  the  enemy  to  destroy  the  works  by  ex- 
ploding the  steamship  Louisiana,  with  250  tons  of  powder, 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  northeast  salient  of  Fort  Fisher. 
The  explosion  did  no  injury  to  the  garrison  or  works,  al- 
though the  concussion  was  felt  distinctly  at  Wilmington,  a 
distance  of  twenty  miles.  The  vessel  was  evidently  afloat  or 
the  damage  to  the  fort  might  have  been  serious. 

At  12 :40  o'clock  a.  m.  24  December,  the  fleet  consisting  of 
the  ironsides,  four  monitors  and  forty-five  wooden  steam 
frigates,  sloops  and  gun  boats,  commenced  a  terrific  bom- 
bardment, surpassing  anything  ever  before  known  in  naval 
warfare.  For  five  hours  a  tremendous  hail  of  shot  and  shell 
was  poured  upon  the  works,  but  with  little  effect.  At  5  :30 
o'clock  p.  m.  the  fleet  withdrew.  Strange  as  it  may  appear, 
no  effort  to  cross  the  bar  and  run  by  the  guns  was  made,  al- 
though one  vessel  inside  the  river  would  have  taken  the  works 
in  reverse  and  compelled  a  surrender.  There  were  in  the 
fleet  a  number  of  vessels  which  had  been  blockade  runners. 


636  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

that  had  often  entered  this  inlet.  Some  10,000  shot  and  shell 
were  fired  by  the  fleet.  The  fort  being  obliged  to  husband 
its  ammunition  fired  only  672  projectiles.  The  last  gun  was 
fired  by  Fort  Fisher  on  the  retiring  vessels.  In  the  first 
day's  fight,  one-half  of  the  quarters  were  hurned,  three  gun 
carriages  disabled,  a  light  artillery  caisson  exploded,  large 
quantities  of  the  earth  work  torn  and  plowed  up,  with  some 
revetments  splintered,  but  not  a  single  bomb-proof,  or  maga- 
zine injured.  Only  twenty-three  men  were  wounded,  one 
mortally,  three  seriously,  and  nineteen  slightly.  Never  since 
the  invention  of  gun  powder  was  there  so  much  harmlessly  ex- 
pended as  in  the  first  day's  attack  on  Fort  Fisher.  Among 
the  acts  of  individual  heroism,  one  must  be  mentioned :  When 
the  garrison  flag  staff,  standing  in  the  parade,  was  shivered 
by  shot  and  shell  and  the  flag  had  fallen,  orders  were  given 
to  Captain  Daniel  Munn,  Company  B,  to  raise  a  flag  on  the 
stafl'  on  the  Mound  battery.  The  halyards  had  become  un- 
reeved  and  it  was  necessary  to  climb  the  staff  to  fasten  the 
flag.  Private  Christopher  C.  Bland,  of  Company  K,  Thirty- 
sixth  North  Carolina,  volunteered,  climbed  the  staff  under 
a  heavy  fire  of  the  fieet  and  fastened  the  fiag.  At  once  a  ter- 
rific fire  was  poured  on  the  Mound,  and  the  lower  eaad  of  the 
flag  being  cut  loose,  that  heroic  soldier  repeated  the  daring 
act,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  garrison,  and  fastened  the  flag 
securely  to-  the  staff,  where  it  floated  triumphantly,  although 
torn  and  rent  by  fragments  of  shell,  until  the  victory  was 
M^on. 

On  Christmas  day,  at  10  :30  a.  m.,  the  fleet  having  come  in, 
reinforced  by  another  monitor  and  some  additional  wooden 
steamers,  commenced  an  incessant  bombardment,  if  possible, 
more  noisy  and  furious  than  that  of  the  preceding  day.  At 
5  :30  p.  m.,  a  most  terrific  enfilading  fire  against  the  land  face 
and  palisade  commenced,  unparalleled  in  severity.  Admiral 
Porter  reported  it  at  130  shot  and  shell  per  minute,  more 
than  two  every  second.  The  men  were  required  to  protect 
themselves  behind  the  traverses ;  the  extra  men  were  sent  to 
the  bomb-proofs  with  orders  to  rally  to  the  ramparts  as  soon  as 
the  firing  ceased.  As  soon  as  this  fire  commenced,  a  line  of 
skirmishers   advanced  towards   the  works.     When  the  fire 


1  MONADNOCK 

2  SAUCUS 

3  CANONICUS 

4  MAHOPAC 


MINNESOTA 


•  gov.  aUCKINCHAM 

f  BRITTANIA 

I  TRISTAM  SHANDV 


,  Colorado 

"yVAMOERBlLT 
^    WABASH 
,     -^MACKINAW  „.„^,^„„„, 

*<i.i?^P0WH4TAN  f  LILIAN 

^JJ^TUSCAROWA 

..J^^TlUNlATA 

SHEMANOQAM 
^■-^VICKSBURC  „„. 

■^^*!^  TICONDEROCA     Z^tvisiOl, 


t  EMMA 


'ITDivis 


aTJAGO  DE  CUBA 

FT  JACKSON       -      ■        

OSCEOLA  ^A.aVANCe 

V      \    N^'    SASSACUS  /CHEROKEE 

\  ■  «,a»  CHIPPEWA 

\o>    R.R.COYLEH  /WltOERNCaS 

-f>   MARATANIA      -'    MOWQUAM 
'RHODE    ISO.  'ARIES 

.  ,,    ..lONTlCELLO 
>V  ALABAMA 
>   MONTGOMERY 
KEYSTONE    STATE 
9. CITY 
OSCO 


ftaETTVSPURO      ^^ 
fEOLUS  („/■ 

^MOCCASIN        ft-  /J'* 


BOM.BARDMENT  OF  FORT   FISHER. 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  637 

ceased,  the  guns  were  manned  and  opened  with  grape  and 
canister,  and  the  palisade  was  manned  by  800  veterans  and 
junior  reserves,  l^o  assault  was  made.  Some  of  the  enemy 
were  killed  and  wounded  and  two  prisoners  were  captured. 
Our  casualties  for  the  day  were :  Killed,  3 ;  mortally 
wound,  2 ;  severely,  7 ;  slightly,  26.  In  the  afternoon  both 
of  the  seven  inch  Brooke  rifles,  manned  by  sailors,  exploded, 
wounding  a  number  of  men ;  five  other  guns  were  disabled  by 
the  enemy  and  the  remaining  quarters  destroyed.  No  at- 
tempt was  made  to  pass  the  fort,  and  none,  except  the  ar- 
mored vg^sels,  came  within  a  mile  of  the  heaviest  guns.  The 
firing  was  slower  than  on  the  previous  days,  only  600  shot 
and  shell  being  expended,  exclusive  of  grape  and  canister 
charges. 

The  fort  again  fired  the  last  gun  as  the  fleet  withdrew  at 
dark.  There  were  only  3,600  shot  and  shell,  exclusive  of 
grape  and  shrapnel  in  the  works,  and  as  no  attempt  was  made 
to  run  by  the  fort  the  firing  was  limited  to  prevent  the  ex- 
penditure of  all  the  ammunition.  Except  when  special  or- 
ders were  given  the  guns  were  only  fired  every  half  hour.  In 
the  two  days  the  frigates  Minnesota  and  Colorado  fired  3,551 
shot  and  shell,  almost  as  many  as  were  in  all  the  batteries  of 
Fort  Fisher.  It  was  this  deliberate  firing  that  gave  the  fleet 
the  erroneous  impression  that  the  guns  of  the  fort  were 
silenced. 

General  Butler  was  severely  criticised  and  retired  from  ac- 
tive service  because  he  failed  to  capture  the  works.  For  this, 
he  had  himself  to  blame  to  some  extent.  On  the  evening  of 
25  December,  without  waiting  for  ofiicial  reports,  he  listened 
to  camp  gossip  and  wrote  Admiral  Porter  as  follows : 

"Gen.  Weitzel  advanced  his  skirmish  line  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  fort  while  the  garrison  was  kept  in  their  bomb 
proofs  by  the  fire  of  the  navy,  and  so  closely,  that  three  or 
four  of  the  picket  line  ventured  upon  the  parapet  and  through 
the  sally  port  of  the  work,  capturing  a  horse  which  they 
brought  off,  killing  the  orderly,  who  was  a  bearea*  of  a  dispatch 
from  the  chief  of  artillery  of  General  Whiting,  to  bring  a 
light  battery  within  the  fort,  and  also  brought  away  from  the 
parapet  the  flag  of  the  fort"   This  absurd  statement  was  sent 


638  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'6o. 

North  and  has  gotten  a  lodgment  in  current  history  and  is 
repeated  in  General  Grant's  memoirs,  although  General  But- 
ler coiTected  the  error  in  his  official  report.  No  Federal  sol- 
dier entered  Fort  Fisher  during  this  attack  except  as  a  pris- 
oner. The  courier  was  killed  and  the  horse  captured  within 
the  enemy's  lines,  and  the  flag  captured  was  a  company  ftag 
which  was  carried  away  and  thrown  off  the  parapet  by  an  en- 
filading shot  from  the  navy. 

•  General  Butler  could  not  have  captured  Fort  Fisher  Christ- 
mas day.  The  armament  and  palisades  were  substantially 
uninjured,  and  the  sub-terra  batteries  were  in  order.  Gen- 
eral Whiting  was  correct  when  he  wrote  that  but  for  the  su- 
pineness  of  General  Bragg  the  3,500  men  landed  would  have 
been  captured  on  Christmas  night,  and  it  is  incomprehensible 
why  he  should  have  allowed  the  700  demoralized  soldiers  who 
had  to  remain  on  the  beach  on  26  December  to  escape  unmo- 
lested with  the  200  junior  reserves  who  had  been  cowardly 
surrendered  to  them  without  resistance. 

At  night  on  12  January,  1865,  the  lights  of  the  returning 
fleet  were  seen  to  the  north  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  fact  was 
telegraphed  to  headquarters,  Wilmington.  The  five  compa- 
nies of  the  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina  had  returned  from 
Georgia,  and  this  regiment  constituted  the  garrison,  about 
800  strong.  Daylight  disclosed  an  even  more  formidable 
fleet  than  in  the  previous  attack,  with  transports  carrying 
8,500  soldiers;  and  soon  there  rained  upon  fort  and  beach  a 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  which  caused  both  sea  and  land  to 
tremble.  General  Bragg  had  withdrawn  his  forces  to  a 
camp -sixteen  miles  distant,  and  the  enemy  again  made  a  frolic 
of  their  landing  on  the  shores  of  North  Carolina. 

All  day  and  night  on  the  13th  and  lith  the  fleet  kept  up  a 
ceaseless  and  terrific  bombardment.  Reinforcements  were 
sent  from  the  adjacent  forts.  It  was  impossible  to  repair 
damages  at  night.  No  meals  could  be  prepared  for  the  ex- 
hausted garrison,  the  dead  could  not  be  buried  vsdthout  fresh 
casualties.  Fully  200  had  been  killed  during  these  two  days, 
and  only  three  or  four  of  the  land  guns  remained  serviceable. 
The  Federal  army  had  slowly  been  approaching  up  the  river- 
side protected  from  observation  by  thd  conformation  of  the 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  639 

ground.  Quite  early  ou  the  lith  they  had  possession  of 
Craig's  landing,  about  a  mile  from  the  Fort.  In  the  after- 
noon a  steam  transport,  the  Isaac  Wells,  loaded  with  stores 
for  the  Fort,  approached  this  landing  which  was  plainly  in 
the  enemy's  possession.  She  was  fired  at  to  warn  her  off, 
but  she  came  up  to  the  landing  and  was  captured.  The  Con- 
federate steamer  "Chickamauga"  seeing  her  stupid  surren- 
der, fired  into  her  and  sunk  her.  This  incident  showed  that 
General  Bragg  was  shamefully  ignorant  of  the  condition  of 
affairs. 

From  the  conformation  of  the  Cape  Fear  river.  General 
Bragg  could  have  passed  safely  from  his  headquarters  at  Su- 
gar Loaf  to  Smithville  and  with  a  field  glass  have  seen  every- 
thing transpiring  on  the  beach  and  in  the  fort,  and  in  person, 
or  through  an  aide,  with  the  steamers  at  his  command,  could 
have  watched  every,  movement  of  the  enemy,  and  yet,  thirty- 
six  hours  after  the  battle  had  begun,  and  long  after  Craig's 
Landing  had  been  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  he  sends 
into  the  enemy's  lines  a  steamer  filled  •with  needed  stores 
that  could  have  gone  at  night  to  Battery  Buchanan  unseen, 
and  in  the  day  with  comparative  safety.  General  Bragg 
was  requested  to  attack  the  enemy  under  cover  of  the  night 
when  the  fleet  could  not  protect  them.  He  was  promised  the 
co-operation  of  the  garrison,  and  as  our  combined  force  nearly 
equaled  them  in  numbers,  and  the  garrison  was  familiar  with 
the  beach  at  night,  we  could  have  captured  a  portion  if  not  the 
whole  force.  Strange  to  say,  no  response  of  any  kind  came, 
and  the  garrison  waited  in  vain  for  General  Bragg  to  avail 
himself  of  this  opportunity  to  demoralize,  if  not  capture  the 
besieging  forces. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  the  fleet  which  had  not  ceased 
firing  during  the  night,  redoubled  its  fire  on  the  land  face. 
The  sea  was  smooth  and  the  navy  having  become  accurate 
from  practice,  by  noon  had  destroyed  every  gun  on  that  face 
except  one  Columbiad,  which  was  somewhat  protected  by 
the  angle  formed  by  the  northeast  salient.  The  palisade  had 
been  practically  destroyed  as  a  defensive  line  and  was  so  torn 
up  that  it  actually  afforded  cover  for  the  assailants.  The 
harvest  of  the  wounded  and  dead  was  hourly  increasing  and 


640  North  Carolina  Troops,  1801-65. 

at  that  time  there  were  not  1,200  effective  men  to  defend  the 
long  line  of  works.  The  enemy  were  now  preparing  to  as- 
sault ;  their  skirmish  line  were  digging  rifle  pits  close  to  our 
torpedo  lines  on  the  left,  and  their  columns  on  the  river  shore 
were  massing  for  the  attack  while  their  sharpshooters  were 
firing  at  every  head  that  showed  itself  upon  our  front.  At  the 
same  time  on  the  ocean  side  a  column  of  sailors  and  marines, 
2,000  strong,  were  approaching,  throwing  up  slight  trenches 
to  protect  their  advance.  On  these  we  brought  to  bear  our 
single  heavy  gun  on  the  land  face  and  the  two  guns  on  the 
mound. 

Shortly  after  noon  General  Bragg  sent  Hagood's  South 
Carolina  brigade,  consisting  of  four  regiments  and  one  bat- 
talion, about  1,000  strong,  under  Colonel  Graham,  from 
Sugar  Loaf  by  the  river  to  reinforce  the  fort,  landing  them 
near  Battery  Buchanan.  The  fleet  seeing  the  steamer  land- 
ing troops,  directed  a  portion  of  their  fire  towards  her,  and 
although  she  was  not  struck  and  no  casualties  occurred,  after 
landing  a  portion  of  the  men  (two  of  the  regiments),  inglori- 
ously  steamed  off  with  the  remainder.  iN'ever  was  there  a 
more  stupid  blunder  committed  by  a  commanding  general. 
If  this  fresh  brigade  had  been  sent  to  this  point  the  night  be- 
fore, they  could  have  reached  the  fort  unobserved,  could  have 
been  protected  until  needed,  and  could  have  easily  repulsed 
the  assault  by  the  army  on  our  left ;  but  landed  in  view  of  the 
fleet  they  had  to  double-quick  over  an  open  beach  to  the 
mound  under  a  heavy  fire.  When  they  reached  the  fort,  350 
in  number,  they  were  out  of  breath,  disorganized,  and  more 
or  less  demoralized.  They  reached  our  front  about  thirty 
minutes  before  the  attacking  columns  came  like  avalanches 
on  our  right  and  left. 

There  were  engaged  in  the  defence  of  the  fort  from  13  to 
15  January,  the  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina  (2d  Art.),  ten 
companies;  Fortieth  North  Carolina  (3d  Art.),  foiir  com- 
panies, D,  E,  G  and  K;  Tenth  North  Carolina  (Ist  Art.), 
two  companies,  F  and  K;  First  North  Carolina  Battalion, 
Company  D ;  Third  North  Carolina  Battalion,  Company  C ; 
Fifth  North  Carolina  Battalion,  Company  D ;  Confederate 
States  naval  detachment,  sailors  and  marines;  Twenty-first 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  641 

Sovith  Carolina  Eegiment  and  Twenty-fifth  South  Carolina 
Regiment. 

At  3  :30  o'clock  p.  m.  the  lookouts  reported  that  the  enemy 
were  about  to  charge,  and  at  my  request  General  Whiting  tel- 
egraphed General  Bragg  at  Sugar  Loaf  as  follows : 

"The  enemy  are  about  to  assault;  they  outnumber  us  heav- 
ily. We  are  just  manning  our  parapets.  Fleet  have  ex- 
tended down  the  sea  front  outside  and  are  firing  very  heavy. 
Enemy  on  the  beach  in  front  of  us  in  very  heavy  force,  not 
more  than  '700  yards  from  us.  Nearly  all  land  guns  disabled. 
Attack !    Attack !   It  is  all  I  can  say  and  all  you  can  do." 

The  naval  bombardment  ceased,  and  instantly  the  steam 
whistles  of  the  vast  fleet  sounded  a  charge.  "Clamorous  har- 
bingers of  blood  and  death." 

I  ordered  my  aide,  Captain  Charles  H.  Blocker,  to 
double-quick  the  Twenty-first  and  Twenty-fifth  South  Caro- 
lina to  reinforce  Major  Reilly,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
left,  while  I  rallied  to  the  right  of  the  land  face  some  500 
of  the  garrison,  placing  the  larger  portion  of  them  on  top  of 
the  parapet  of  and  adjoining  the  northeast  salient.  There 
were  at  least  250  men  defending  the  left,  and  with  the  350 
South  Carolinians  ordered  there  and  the  Napoleon  and  tor- 
pedoes, I  had  no'  fears  about  the  successful  defense  of  that 
portion  of  the  work. 

The  assaulting  line  on  the  right,  consisting  of  2,000  sailors 
and  marines,  was  directed  at  the  northeast  salient  at  the  in- 
tersection of  the  land  and  sea  faces,  and  the  greater  portion 
had  flanked  the  torpedoes  by  keeping  close  to  the  sea.  Or- 
dering the  two  Napoleons  at  the  sally  port  to  join  the  Colum- 
biad  in  pouring  grape  and  canister  into  their  ranks,  I  held 
in  reserve  the  infantry  fire.  Whiting  stood  upon  the  parapet 
inspiring  those  around  him.  The  sailors  and  marines 
reached  the  berme  and  some  sprang  up  the  slope,  but  a  mur- 
derous fire  greeted  them  and  swept  them  down.  Volley  after 
volley  was  poured  into  their  faltering  ranis  by  cool,  deter- 
mined men,  and  in  half  an  hour  several  hundred  dead  and 
wounded  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  bastion.  The  heroic  bravery 
of  their  officers,  twenty-one  of  whom  were  killed  or  wounded, 
41 


642  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

could  not  restrain  the  men  from  panic  and  retreat  and  witli 
small  loss  to  ourselves  we  witnessed  what  had  never  been  seen 
before,  a  disorderly  rout  of  American  sailors  and  marines. 

But  it  was  a  Pyrrhus  victory.  That  magnificent  charge 
of  the  American  navy  upon  the  centre  of  our  works,  enabled 
the  army  to  effect  a  lodgment  on  our  left  with  comparatively 
small  loss. 

As  our  shouts  of  triumph  went  up  at  the  retreat  of  the 
naval  forces,  I  turned  to  look  at  our  left  and  saw  to  my 
amazement  several  Federal  battle  flags  upon  our  ramparts. 
General  Whiting  saw  them  at  the  same  moment,  calling  on 
those  around  him  to  pull  down  those  flags  and  drive  the  en- 
emy from  the  works,  rushed  towards  them  followed  by  the 
men  on  the  parapets.  It  was  in  this  charge  that  the  fear- 
less Lieutenant  Williford  was  slain. 

In  order  to  make  an  immediate  reconnoissaace  of  the  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy,  I  went  through  the  sally  port  and  from 
outside  the  work  witnessed  a  flerce  hand  to  hand  conflict  for 
the  possession  of  the  fourth  gun  chamber  from  the  left  bas- 
tion. The  men,  led  by  the  fearless  Whiting,  had  driven  the 
standard  bearer  from  the.  top  of  the  traverse  and  the  enemy 
from  the  parapet  in  front.  They  had  recovered  one  gun 
chamber  with  great  slaughter,  and  on  the  parapet  and  on  the 
long  traverse  of  the  next  gun  chamber  the  contestants  were 
savagely  firing  into  each  others  faces,  and  in  some  cases  club- 
bed their  guns,  being  too  close  to  load  and  fire.  Whiting  was 
quickly  wounded  by  two  shots  and  had  to  be  carried  to  the 
hospital.  I  saw  that  my  men  were  exposed,  not  only  to  the 
fire  from  the  front,  but  to  a  galling  infantry  fire  from  the  left 
salient,  which  had  been  captured.  I  saw  the  enemy  pouring 
in  by  the  river  road  apparently  without  resistance. 

Ordering  Captain  Adams,  who  was  at  the  entrance  to  the 
sally  port,  to  turn  his  Napoleons  on  the  column  moving  into 
the  fort,  the  gallant  Major  Mayo  having  already  turned  his 
Columbiad  upon  them,  I  re-entered  the  work,  and  rallying 
the  men,  placed  them  behind  every  cover  that  could  be  found, 
and  poured  at  close  range  a  deadlier  fire  into  the  flank  of  the 
enemy  occupying  the  gun  chambers  and  traverses  than  they 
were  able  to  deliver  upon  my  men  from  the  left  salient. 


Thikty-Sixth  Regiment.  643 

While  thus  engaged,  I  was  informed  by  my  aide,  Captain 
Blocker,  that  the  South  Carolinians  had  failed  to  obey  my 
order,  although  their  oiEcers  pleaded  with  them,  and  only  a 
few  had  followed  their  flag  and  gone  to  the  front ;  that  the  as- 
saulting column  had  made  two  charges  upon  the  extreme  left 
and  had  been  repulsed ;  that  the  torpedo  wires  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  fire  of  the  fleet  and  the  electrician  had  tried  in 
vain  to  execute  my  orders  to  explode  the  mines  when  the  en- 
emy had  reached  the  foot  of  the  work ;  that,  driven  from  the 
extreme  left,  the  enemy  had  found  a  weak  defense  between  the 
left  bastion  and  sally  port  in  their  third  charge,  and  had 
gained  the  parapet,  and,  capturing  two  gun  chambers,  had 
attacked  the  force  on  the  left  on  their  flank,  simultaneously 
with  a  direct  charge  of  another  brigade,  and  that  our  men, 
after  great  slaughter,  had  been  compelled  to  surrender  just  as 
we  had  repulsed  the  naval  column ;  that  to  add  to  the  discom- 
fiture of  the  Confederates,  as  soon  as  the  Federal  battle  flags 
appeared  on  the  ramparts.  Battery  Buchanan  had  opened 
with  its  two  heavy  guns  on  the  left  of  the  work,  killing  and 
wounding  friend  and  foe  alike.  This  was  rather  dishearten- 
ing, but  I  felt  if  we  could  hold  tlie  enemy  in  check  until  dark, 
I  could  drive  them  out,  and  I  sent  a  telegram  by  him  to  Gen- 
eral Bragg  imploring  him  to  attack,  and  that  I  could  still  save 
the  fort. 

General  Bragg  in  his  official  report  does  gross  injustice  to 
the  garrison  when  he  says :  "The  army  column  preceded  by 
a  single  regiment  approached  along  the  river  and  entered  the 
work  on  that  flajik  almost  unopposed." 

General  Terry  says  in  his  report  that  100  sharpshooters 
with  Spencer  repeating  carbines,  were  sent  forward  to  within 
seventy-five  yards  of  tlie  work  and  dug  pits  for  their  shelter, 
and  "as  soon  as  this  movement  commenced  the  parapet  of  the 
fort  was  manned  and  the  enemy's  fire  both  of  musketry  and 
artillery  opened."  The  assaulting  column  consisted  not  of  a 
regiment,  but  of  Curtis'  brigade,  supported  closely  by  two 
other  brigades,  a  total  of  not  less  than  5,000  troops. 

The  enemy  were  unable  to  enter  by  the  river  road,  and 
some  of  the  most  desperate  fighting  done  in  the  work  was  in 
the  space  between  the  left  bastion  and  the  river  shore. 


644  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

Notwithstanding  the  capture  of  a  portion  of  the  work  and 
several  hundred  of  the  garrison,  the  Confederates  were  still 
undaunted  and  seemed  determined  to  recover  the  captured 
salient  and  gun  chambers. 

We  had  taken  one  of  these  in  the  charge  led  by  Whiting, 
and  since  we  had  opened  on  their  flank  we  had  shot  down 
their  standard  bearers  and  the  Federal  battle  flags  had  dis- 
appeared from  our  ramparts ;  we  had  become  assailants  and 
the  enemy  were  on  the  defensive,  and  I  felt  confident  we 
would  soon  drive  them  out  of  the  fort.  Just  as  the  tide  of 
battle  seemed  to  have  turned  in  our  favor,  the  remorseless- 
fleet  came  to  the  rescue  of  the  faltering  Federals.  Suddenly 
the  bombardment  which  had  been  confined  to  the  sea  face 
during  the  assaults,  turned  again  on  our  land  front  and  with 
deadly  precision.  The  iron  clads  and  frigates  drove  in  oui' 
two  Napoleons,  killing  and  wounding  nearly  all  the  men  at 
these  guns,  which  had  been  doing  effective  service  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  sally  port.  They  swept  the  recaptured  gun 
chamber  of  its  defenders,  and  their  11  and  15-inch  shells- 
rolled  down  into  the  interior  of  the  work,  carrying  death  and 
destruction  in  their  pathways.  They  drove  from  the  para- 
pets in  front  of  the  enemy  all  of  my  men  except  those  so  near 
that  to  have  fired  on  them  would  have  been  slaughter  to  their 
own  troops. 

Nor  was  this  all.  We  had  now  to  contend  with  a  column 
advancing  around  the  rear  of  the  left  bastion  by  the  river 
into  the  interior  plane  of  the  fort.  It  moved  slowly  and  cau- 
tiously, apparently  in  column  of  companies  and  in  close 
order.  I  met  it  with  an  eii'ective  infantry  fire,  my  men  using' 
the  remains  of  an  old  work  as  a  breast  work  and  taking  ad- 
vantage of  every  object  that  would  offer  cover,  for  we  were- 
now  greatly  outnumbered.  The  fire  was  so  unexpected  and 
so  destructive,  combined  with  the  shells  from  Battery  Buch- 
anan, on  the  massed  columns  of  the  Federals,  that  they  halted 
when  a  quick  advance  would  have  overwhelmed  us.  Giving. 
orders  to  dispute  stubbornly  any  advance,  I  went  rapidly 
down  the  sea  face  and  turned  the  two  mound  guns  and  two 
Columbiads  on  this  column  in  the  fort.  Unfortunately  these' 
were  the  only  ones  available.     I  brought  back  with  me  to  the" 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  645 

front  every  man,  except  a  single  detachment  for  each  gun. 
On  my  return  I  found  the  fighting  still  continuing  over  the 
same  traverse  for  the  possession  of  the  gun  chamber,  despite 
the  fire  of  the  fleet.  As  the  men  would  fall  others  would  take 
their  places.  It  was  a  soldiers'  fight  at  that  point,  for  there 
could  be  no  organization ;  the  officers  on  both  sides  were  load- 
ing and  firing  with  their  men.  If  there  was  ever  a  longer 
or  more  desperate'  hand  to  hand  fight  during  the  war,  I  have 
never  heard  of  it.  The  Federal  column  inside  had  not  ad- 
vanced a  foot,  and  seemed  demoralized  by  the  fire  of  the  ar- 
tillery and  the  determined  resistance  of  the  garrison.  More 
than  a  hundred  of  my  men  had  come  with  me,  and  I  threw 
them  in  front  with  those  already  engaged.  Going  to  the 
South  Carolinians  who  were  in  a  position  to  flank  the  enemy, 
I  appealed  to  them  to  rally  and  help  save  the  fort.  I  went  to 
the  sally  port  and  had  Adams'  two  JSTapoleons  brought  out  and 
manned,  and  opened  on  the  enemy.  I  went  along  the  gal- 
leries and  begged  the  sick  and  slightly  wounded  to  come  out 
and  make  one  supreme  effort  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  As  I 
passed  through  portions  of  the  work,  the  scene  was  indescriba- 
bly horrible.  Great  cannon  broken  in  two,  their  carriages 
wrecked,  and  among  their  ruins  the  mutilated  bodies  of  my 
dead  and  dying  comrades.  Still  no  tidings  from  Bragg !  The 
enemy's  advance  had  ceased  entirely ;  protected  by  the  fleet, 
they  still  held  the  parapet  and  gun  chambers  on  the  left,  but 
their  massed  columns  refused  to  move,  while  those  in  their 
rear,  near  the  river,  commenced  entrenching  against  any  as- 
sault from  us.  I  believed  a  determined  assault  with  the  bay- 
onet would  drive  them  out.  I  had  sent  word  to  our  gunners 
not  to  fire  on  our  men  if  we  became  closely  engaged  with  the 
enemy.  The  head  of  their  column  was  not  over  100  feet 
from  the  portion  of  our  breastwork  where  I  stood,  and  I  could 
see  their  faces  distinctly  while  my  men  were  falling  on  either 
side  of  me. 

I  passed  quickly  down  the  rear  of  the  line  and  asked  of- 
ficers and  men  if  they  would  follow  me;  they  all  responded 
fearlessly  tliat  they  would.  I  returned  to  my  position  and 
giving  the  order,  "charge  bayonets !"  sprang  upon  the  breast- 
works, waved  my  sword,  and,  as  I  gave  the  command  "for- 


646  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ward,  double-quick,  inarch,"  fell  on  my  knees,  a  rifle  ball 
having  entered  my  hip.  The  brave  Lieutenant  Daniel  K. 
Perry  fell  mortally  wounded  at  my  side.  We  were  met  by  a 
heavy  volley,  aimed  too  high  to  be  very  effective;  but  our 
column  wavered  and  fell  back  behind  the  breastwork.  A 
soldier  raised  me  up  and  I  turned  the  command  over  to  Cap^ 
tain  Munn,  who  was  near  me,  and  told  him  to  keep  the  en^ 
emy  in  check  and  that  as  soon  as  my  wound  was  bandaged, 
I  would  return.  Before  reaching  the  hospital  I  was  so  weak 
from  the  loss  of  blood  that  I  realized  that  I  could  never  lead 
my  men  again.  In  the  hospital  I  met  G-eneral  Whiting  suf' 
fering  uncomplainingly  from  his  wounds.  He  told  me  that 
Bragg  had  ignored  his  presence  in  the  fort  and  had  not 
noticed  his  messages. 

Perceiving  the  fire  of  the  garrison  had  slackened,  I  sent 
my  Adjutant,  John  IST.  Kelly,  for  Major  James  Reilly,  next 
in  command,  (Major  Stevenson,  who  died  shortly  after  in 
prison,  being  too  ill  for  duty).  Reilly  came  and  promised  me 
that  he  would  continue  the  fight  as  long  as  it  was  possible,  and 
nobly  did  he  keep  his  promise.  I  again  sent  a  message  to 
Bragg  begging  him  to  come  to  the  rescue.  Shortly  after  my 
fall  the  Pederals  made  an  advance,  and  capturing  several 
more  of  the  gun  chambers,  reached  the  sally  port.  The 
column  in  the  work  advanced  and  was  rapidly  gaining  ground 
when  Major  Reilly,  rallying  the  men,  including  the  South 
Carolinians,  drove  them  back  with  heavy  loss.  About  8 
o'clock  my  aide  came  to  me  and  said  the  supply  of  ammuni- 
tion was  exhausted  and  that  Chaplain  McKinnon  and  others 
had  gathered  all  from  the  dead  and  wounded  and  distributed 
it ;  that  the  enemy  had  possession  of  nearly  all  the  land  face, 
and  it  was  impossible  to  hold  O'Ut  much  longer  and  suggested 
that  it  would  be  Avise  to  surrender,  as  a  further  struggle  would 
be  a  useless  sacrifice  of  life.  I  replied  that  while  I  lived,  1 
would  not  surrender  as  Bragg  would  surely  come  to  our  rescue 
in  time  to  save  us.  General  Whiting  declared  that  if  I  died 
he  would  assume  command  and  would  not  surrender.  I  have 
been  blamed  for  unnecessarily  prolonging  the  fight,  but  when 
it  is  remembered  tliat  I  had  promised  the  noble  women  of 
Wilmington  who  had  visited  the  fort  after  our  Christmas  vie* 


THIRTY-SIXTH  EEGIMENT, 
1.    Robert  J.  Murphy,  Captain,  Co.  A.  3     E  L  Pai<!nn  ist  T  io.l^    n„    a 

8.    O.  H.  Powell,  6aptainfco,E._  _  t    ^  t  Huo?eA'fst  Lfeui!. "co  F 


R     1,7  ri  T^     •  ,  „v,  . Hunter,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F. 

6.    W.  C.  Daniel,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  F. 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  647 

tory,  that  their  homes  should  be  protected  by  my  garrison, 
and  that  General  Lee  had  sent  word  that  if  the  fort  fell  he 
could  not  maintain  his  army,  (and  that  meant  the  loss  of  our 
Cause),  is  it  to  be  wondered  that  I  felt  it  my  sacred  duty, 
even  after  I  was  shot  down,  to  appeal  to  officers  and  men  to 
fight  in  defense  of  the  last  gateway  to  the  South,  as  long  as 
there  was  a  ray  of  hope  ? 

I  had  a  right  to  believe  that  the  troops  which  General  Lee 
sent  to  our  assistance  would  rescue  us,  and  if  Bragg  had  or- 
dered Hoke  to  assault  with  his  division  late  that  afternoon, 
we  would  have  recovered  the  works.  I  have  positive  infor- 
mation that  so  determined  was  our  resistance  that  General 
Terry  sent  word  to  General  Ames,  commanding  the  three 
brigades  assaulting  us,  to  make  one  more  effort,  and  if  un- 
successful, to  retire.  General  Abbott,  who  commanded  a 
brigade,  and  who  lived  in  ISTorth  Carolina  after  the  war,  told 
Captain  Braddy  that  at  one  time  during  our  fight,  only  one 
colored  brigade  held  Bragg's  army  in  check,  and  they  were 
so  demoralized  that  five  hundred  veteran  troops  could  have 
captured  them.  But  an.  all  wise  Providence  decreed  that  our 
gallant  garrison  should  be  overwhelmed. 

In  less  than  an  hour  after  I  refused  to  surrender,  a  fourth 
brigade,  (three  were  already  in  the  fort),  entered  the  sally 
port  and  swept  the  defenders  from  the  remainder  of  the  land 
face.  Major  Eeilly  had  General  Whiting  and  myself  hur- 
riedly removed  on  stretchers  to  Battery  Buchanan  where  he 
proposed  to  cover  his  retreat. 

When  we  left  the  hospital  the  men  were  fighting  over  the 
adjoining  traverse  and  the  spent  balls  fell  like  hail  stones 
around  us.  The  remnant  of  the  garrison  then  fell  back  in  an 
orderly  retreat  along  the  sea  face,  the  rear  guard  keeping  the 
enemy  engaged  as  they  advanced  slowly  and  caiitiously  in  the 
darkness  as  far  as  the  mound  battery,  where  they  halted. 
Some  of  the  men,  cut  off  from  the  main  body,  had  to  retreat  as 
best  they  could  over  the  river  marsh,  while  some  few  unarmed 
artillerists  barely  eluded  the  enemy  by  following  the  sea- 
shore. 

When  we  reached  Battery  Buchanan  there  was  a  mile  of 
level  beach  between  us  and  our  pursuers,  swept  by  two  11- 


648  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

inch  gnns  and  a  24-pound6r,  and  in  close  proximity  to  the 
battery  a  commodious  wharf  where  transports  could  have 
come  in  safety  at  night  to  carry  us  off. 

We  expected  with  this  battery  to  cover  the  retreat  of  our 
troops,  but  we  found  the  guns  spiked  and  every  means  of 
transportation  taken  by  Captain  R.  F.  Chapman  of  our  navy, 
who,  following  the  example  of  General  Bragg,  had  aban- 
doned us  to  our  fate.  The  enemy  threw  out  a  heavy  skirmish 
line  and  sent  their  fourth  brigade  to  battery  Buchanan,  where 
it  arrived  about  10  o'clock  p.  m.  and  received  the  surrender  of 
the  garrison  from  Major  James  H.  Hill  and  Lieutenant 
George  D.  Parker.  Some  fifteen  minutes  before  the  surren- 
der, while  lying  on  a  stretcher  near  General  Whiting  outside 
of  the  battery  witnessing  the  grand  pyrotechnic  display  of  the 
fleet  over  the  capture  of  Eort  Eisher,  I  was  accosted  by  Gen- 
eral A.  H.  Colquitt,  who  had  been  ordered  to  the  fort  to  take 
command,  I  had  a  few  minutes  hurried  conversation  with 
him,  informed  him  of  the  assault,  of  the  early  loss  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  works  and  garrison,  and  that  when  I  fell  it  had 
for  a  time  demoralized  the  men,  but  that  the  enemy  was 
equally  demoralized  by  our  unexpected  resistance,  and  I  as- 
sured him  if  Bragg  would  even  then  attack,  a  fresh  brigade 
landed  at  Battery  Buchanan  could  retake  the  work.  It  was 
suggested  that  the  general  should  take  me  with  him  as  I  was 
probably  fatally  wounded,  but  I  refused  to  leave,  wishing  to 
share  the  fate  of  my  garrison,  and,  desiring  that  my  precious 
wife,  anxiously  awaiting  tidings  across  the  river,  should  not 
be  alarmed,  spoke  lightly  of  my  wound.  I  asked  him  to 
carry  General  Whiting  to  a  place  of  safety  as  he  came  a  vol- 
unteer to  the  fort.  Just  then  the  near  approach  of  the  en- 
emy was  reported  and  Colquitt  made  a  precipitate  retreat, 
leaving  O'ur  belg-ved  Whiting  a  captive,  to  die  in  a  Northern 
prison. 

One  more  distressing  scene  remains  to  be  chronicled.  The 
next  morning  after  sunrise  a  frightful  explosion  occurred. 
My  large  reserve  magazine  which  my  ordnance  ofSoer,  Cap- 
tain J.  C.  Little,  informed  me  contained  some  13,000  pounds 
of  powder,  blew  up,  killing  and  wounding  more  than  a  hun- 
dred of  the  enemy  and  some  of  my  own  wounded  officers  and 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  649 

men.  It  was  an  artificial  mound,  covered  with  luxuriant 
turf,  a  most  inviting  bivouac  for  wearied  soldiers.  Upon  it 
were  resting  Colonel  Alden's  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth 
New  York  regiment,  and  in  its  galleries  were  some  of  my  suf- 
fering soldiers.  Two  sailors  from  the  fleet,  stupefied  with 
liquor,  looking  for  plunder,  were  seen  to  enter  the  stmcture 
with  lights  and  a  few  moments  after  an  explosion  occurred. 
The  telegraph  wires,  between  a  bomb  proof  near  this  maga- 
zine across  the  river  to  Battery  Lamb,  gave  rise  to  the  impres- 
sion that  the  Confederates  had  caused  the  explosion,  but  an 
official  investigation  traced  it  tO' •these  drunken  soldiers. 

So  stoutly  did  our  works  resist  the  50,000  shot  and  shell 
thrown  against  them  in  the  two  bombardments  that  not  a  mag- 
azine or  a  bomb  proof  was  injured,  and  after  the  land  arma- 
ment with  palisades  and  torpedoes  had  been  destroyed,  no 
assault  could  have  succeeded  in  the  presence  of  Bragg's  force, 
had  it  been  under  a  competent  officer.  Had  there  been  no 
fleet  to  assist  the  army  at  Fort  Fisher  the  Federal  infantry 
could  not  have  assaulted  it  until  its  land  defences  had  been 
destroyed  by  gradual  approaches. 

For  the  flrst  time  in  the  history  of  sieges,  the  land  defences 
of  the  work  were  destroyed,  not  by  an  act  of  the  besieging 
party,  which  looked  on  in  safety,  but  by  the  concentrated  fire, 
direct  and  enfilading,  of  an  immense  fleet,  poured  upon  them 
for  three  days  and  two  nights  without  intermission  until  the 
guns  were  dismounted,  torpedo  wires  cut,  palisades  breached, 
so  that  they  afforded  cover  for  the  assailants  and  the  slopes 
of  the  work  rendered  practicable  for  assault. 

I  had  half  a  mile  of  land  face  and  one  mile  of  sea  face 
to  defend  with  1,900  men,  for  that  is  all  I  had  from  first  to 
last  in  the  last  battle.  I  have  in  my  possession  papers  to 
prove  this  statement ;  I  knew  every  company  present  and  its 
strength.  This  number  included  the  killed,  wounded  and 
sick.  If  the  Federal  reports  claim  that  our  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners  showed  more,  it  is  because  they  counted  as  a 
part  of  the  garrison  those  captured  outside  of  the  works  who 
were  never  in  Fort  Fisher  or  estimated  them  from  inaccurate 
reports.  I  have  challenged  the  correctness  of  the  absurd 
claim  of  their  having  taken  over  2,000  prisoners,  and  the 


650  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

War  Kecord  office  has  aeknowleged  it  was  guess  work.  The 
error  doubtless  occurred  from  the  fact  that  Bragg  reported 
the  garrison  as  consisting  of  110  commissioned  officers  and 
2,400  men,  or  2,510,  he  having  charged  us  with  1,000  men 
sent  15  January  under  G-raham,  only  350  of  which  landed; 
650  taken  from  2,510  leaves  1,860.  Add  detachment  of 
sailors  and  marines,  and  it  gives  about  1,900. 

To  capture  Fort  Fisher,  the  enemy  lost  by  their  own  state- 
ment, 1,445  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  ISTineteen  hun- 
dred Confederates  with  forty-four  heavy  guns,  contending 
against  10,000  men  on  shore  and  600  heavy  guns  afloat,  kill- 
ing and  wounding  almost  as  many  of  the  enemy  as  there 
were  soldiers  in  the  fort,  and  not  surrendering  until  the  last 
shot  was  expended.  Should  not  North  Carolina  gratefully  re- 
member them? 

With  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  and  the  capture  of  its  garri- 
son, the  services  of  the  gallant  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina 
Regiment  were  not  ended.  It  was  reserved  for  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  John  D.  Taylor,  and  a  detachment  of  this  regiment, 
who  were  absent  on  leave  when  the  fort  was  taken,  to  cover 
themselves  with  glory  as  a  part  of  the  famous  "Red  Infantry" 
at  the  battle  of  Bentonville. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell,  on 
reaching  Fort  Anderson,  Colonel  Simonton  was  ordered  to 
join  his  brigade  and  all  the  troops  were  placed  under  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Taylor,  who  was  attached  to  Greneral  Hagood's 
brigade.  They  remained  at  Fort  Anderson  about  thirty 
days,  the  fort  being  shelled  the  latter  part  of  the  time  by  the 
Federal  fleet. 

After  several  times  checking  the  advance  of  Coxe's  troops, 
the  Confederates  fell  back  to  Wilmington,  reaching  there  21 
February,  1865,  and  next  day,  22  February,  they  evacuated 
Wilmington  as  a  part  of  General  Hoke's  division. 

They  then  marched  to  Kinston  to  check  Schofield's  advance 
from  New  Bern.  After  participating  with  General  Hill  in 
an  engagement  at  Cobb's  Mill,  they  marched  through  Golds- 
boro,  to  Bentonville,  in  Johnston  county,  where  they  joilied 
the  army  under  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  Here,  the  last 
great  battle  of  the  war  was  fought,  beginning  Sunday,  March 


Thirty-Sixth  Regiment.  651 

1865.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Taylor  fearlessly  led  a  charge  and 
captured  the  breastworks,  although  defended  by  a  largely  su- 
perior force.  He  led  267  rank  and  file,  including  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  came 
out  with  only  115.  Every  officer  was  killed,  wounded  or  cap- 
tured save  two.  Colonel  Taylor  lost  his  left  arm;  Captain 
Brooks,  of  Company  K,  his  right  arm;  Colonel  Hunter,  of 
Company  F,  wounded,  but  not  seriously.  I  have  not  learned 
if  any  other  officers  of  our  regiment  were  present.  In  that 
magnificent  charge  Captains  Taylor,  Rankin  and  McDougal, 
of  MacRae's  Battalion,  were  mortally  wounded. 

Officers  who  had  served  in  the  army  of  iN'orthem  Virginia 
said  it  was  the  hottest  infantry  fight  they  had  ever  been  in  ex- 
cept Cold  Harbor.  Thus  in  the  closing  act  of  the  fearful 
drama  of  our  Civil  War,  the  glorious  Thirty-sixth  North 
Carolina  added  with  their  copatriots  to  the  undying  fame  of 
the  Confederate  soldier. 

When  in  the  coming  years  the  historian  shall  write  of  the 
peerless  valor  and  self-sacrificing  patriotism  of  the  soldiers 
of  this  grand  old  Commonwealth,  none  will  stand  higher  and 
brighter  on  the  pages  of  history,  than  the  Thirty-sixth  North 
Carolina  Regiment. 

William  Lamb,  Colonel. 
Norfolk,  Va., 

9  April,  1901. 

JSToTE.- — Among  the  defences  of  Wilmington  was  Fort 
Fisher,  protecting  the  northern  channel  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river,  at  New  Inlet.  The  fort  was  the  strongest  work  of  the 
Confederacy.  It  was  built  by  Colonel  Lamb  after  plans  of 
his  own,  approved  by  Generals  French,  Beauregard  and  Whit- 
ing. Its  model  is  now  kept  at  West  Point,  as  one  of  the  tri- 
umphs of  military  engineering;  the  only  other  model  of  the 
kind  at  the  Academy  is  the  Malakoff  redoubt  from  Sebastopol. 
It  was  inside  of  Fort  Fisher  the  brave  General  Whiting 
fell. — Editoe. 


C^-C.  ^O^-Sl/  cL-'fT?---"  .' 


JBH  t^'X  <^>^^i^S 


THIRTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT, 

o  w  •^^  S"M•''S^  "^^P'^'"'.*^"- ?;  5-  R- M.  Staley,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F 

^-  ^v,T;  ^  H''^°i^°,"v?''-P'?">,^°;,^-  ^-  ■«'■  Lewis  Battle,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  D. 

3.  Chas.  T.  HaiRh,  1st  Lieut    Co.  B.  7.  Iowa  M.  Royster.  2d  Lieut.  Co  G 

4.  Octavius  A.  Wiggms,  1st  Lieut..  Co.  E.  8.  John  T.  Forrester,  2d  Lieut    Co  F 

9.    Edward  A.  T.  Nicholson,  2d  Lieut.,  Co.  E.  •.  v.u.  i:. 


THIRTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 


By  OCTAVIUS  A.    WIGGINS,  1st  Lieutenant,    Company  E. 


This  regiment,  which  was  destined  to  figure  so  conspicu- 
ously in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  was  organized  by 
Colonel  Charles  C.  Lee  at  High  Point,  N.  0.,  the  Field  Of- 
ficers all  receiving  their  commissions  on  20  Noveanber,  1861. 
Its  organization  was  as  follows: 

Chaeles  C.  Lee^  Colonel. 

Wm.  M.  Baebee^  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

John  Gt.  Beysoh-^  Major. 

Wm.  T.  Nicholson,  Adjutant. 

RoBEET  M.  Staton,  Ensign. 

E.OBEET  M.  Gates,  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

John  O.  Alexandee,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

H.  D.  L.  Stowe,  Assistant  Commissary. 

A.  L.  Stough,  Chaplain. 

James  Higeeson,  Surgeon. 

Company  A — Captain,  John  Hartsog. 

Company  B — Captain,  Jonathan  Horton. 

Company  C — Captain,  Jam.es  M.  Potts. 

Company  D — Captain,  John  B.  Ashcraft. 

Company  I>— Captain,  Wm.  Y.  Farthing. 

Company  F — Captain,  Charles  IST.  Hickerson. 

Company  G — Captain,  John  G.  Bryant 

Company  H — Captain,  Wm.  P.  Rankin. 

Company  I — Captain,  John  K.  Harrison. 

Company  K — Captain,  John  Roes. 

On  the  completion  of  its  organization  it  was  moved  to  'New 
Bern,  E".  C,  where  it  received  its  baptism  of  fire  on  14 
March,  1862,  in  battle  at  that  place.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Barber  commanded  it.  Colonel  Lee  being  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  left  wing  of  General  Branch's  army.     Although 


654  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

fighting  under  great  disadvantage,  the  regiment  behaved  vrith 
great  credit  to  itself  and  showed  plainly  of  what  material  it 
was  composed,  reinforcing  most  beautifully  Colonel  Camp- 
bell, of  the  Seventh,  whose  lines  were  first  broken.  It  is  well 
to  state  in  the  beginning  that  the  greater  part  of  the  regiment 
was  composed  of  haxdy  mountaineers,  as  fine  looking  body  of 
men  as  ever  marched  to  the  tap  of  a  drum.  Outnumbered 
at  every  point,  the  small  army  of  General  Branch  was  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  to  Kinston  and  after  a  short  rest  the  Thir- 
ty-seventh was  taken  to  Falling  Creek. 

On  31  March,  1862,  General  L.  O'B.  Branch's  Brigade 
was  organized,  consisting  of  the  following  regiments :  The 
Seventh,  Colonel  Eeuben  P.  Campbell;  Eighteenth,  Colonel 
James  D.  Kadcliffe ;  Twenty-eighth,  Colonel  James  H.  Lane ; 
Thirty-third,  Colonel  Clark  M.  Avery;  and  the  Thirty-sev- 
enth, Colonel  Charles  C.  Lee.  This  noted  brigade,  composed 
entirely  of  JSTorth  Carolina  troops,  was  then  sent  to  Virginia, 
where  it  remained  until  the  final  sad  ending  at  Appomattox, 
unbroken  in  its  organization.  It  proceeded  directly  to  Gor- 
donsville,  where  it  remained  several  days,  was  then  ordered  to 
join  General  Jackson  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  After 
marching  two  days  orders  were  received  tO'  counter-march  to 
Gordonsville,  and  from  there  to  the  vicinity  of  Hanover 
Court  Housa  On  Tuesday,  2Y  May,  General  Branch  fought 
the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House  with  his  brigade  against 
the  entire  corps  of  Fitz  John  Porter.  The  brunt  of  this  bat- 
tle falling  upon  the  Thirty-seventh  and  Eighteenth  Eegi- 
ments.  The  Thirty-seventh  fought  only  as  brave  men  could 
fight,  against  overwhelming  odds,  driving  the  enemy  from 
its  front  and  forcing  him  to  take  shelter  in  the  dense  woods 
under  the  protection  of  his  batteries.  The  regiment  held  its 
ground  from  1  p.  m.  until  night,  when  General  Branch  fell 
back  to  Ashland.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  incidents  hap- 
pened in  Company  G,  from  Alexander  County,  that  occurred 
in  any  company  in  the  Confederate  Army  during  the  entire 
war.  There  were  four  brothers  in  the  company  named  Eobi- 
nett;  three  of  them,  William  P.  Robinett,  Joel  B.  Eobinett, 
and  John  C.  Eobinett,  were  killed  upon  the  field.  Earely 
in  history  can  we  find  where  a  single  family  made  such  a  sac- 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  655 

rifice  upon  the  altar  of  its  country.  At  Mechanicsville, 
Gaines'  Mill,  Frazier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill  the  regiment 
responded  protmptly  to  every  call  for  dangerous  service  and 
its  loss  of  138  men  in  these  various  engagements  tells  of  its 
fidelity  to  duty.  At  the  battle  of  Frazier's  Farm,  on  30 
June,  the  regiment  lost  its  beloved  Colonel,  Charles  C.  Lee, 
while  gallantly  leading  it  on  to  victory.  It  is  sufiicient  to  say 
General  D.  H.  Hill,  under  whom  Colonel  Lee  served  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel in  the  old  Bethel  Regiment,  regarded  him  as 
one  of  the  finest  officers  of  the  South.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Barber  was  then  promoted  tO'  the  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment. 
After  forcing  McClellan  to  Harrison's  Landing,  the  regi- 
ment returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond  for  a  few 
days  and  then  to  Gordonsville.  On  9  August  it  moved  rap- 
idly to  Cedar  Run  and  arrived  with  the  brigade  just  in  time 
to  check  the  advance  of  Pope's  army.  Early  and  Taliaferro 
were  yielding  ground  when  we  rushed  upon  the  field  and 
quickly  formed  into  line,  and  by  well-directed  volleys,  sent 
the  over-confident  enemy  back  across  the  field  in  confusion  to 
the  shelter  of  the  works.  Just  then  the  Federal  cavalry  made 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  gallant  charges  that  was  made 
by  cavalry,  upon  infantry,  during  the  entire  war.  The 
Thirty-seventh,  with  the  whole  brigade,  reserved  its 
fire  until  the  column  came  in  point-blank  range,  when  it 
poured  a  withering  volley  into  it,  sending  it  back  in  "confu- 
sion worse  confounded."  This  cavalry  charge  was  never  for- 
gotten by  the  regiment ;  it  always  expressed  the  desire  to  re- 
ceive a  similar  one.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  action 
was  2  killed  and  13  wounded. 

SECOND   MANASSAS. 

Longstreet's  Corps  having  joined  Jackson,  General  Lee 
sent  the  latter  upon  his  wonderful  flank  movement  to  Pope's 
rear.  The  Thirty-seventh  was  one  of  the  regiments  that  kept 
pace  with  the  "Foot  Cavalry,"  covering  more  than  fifty  miles 
in  two  days,  its  fare  being  principally  green  com  gathered 
by  the  wayside.  At  Manassas  Junction  it  was  one  of  the 
regiments  that  charged  Taylor's  New  Jersey  Brigade  across 
Bull  Run  on  27  August,  completely  annihilating  it.   Moving 


656  North  Carolina  Troops,  l«6l-'65. 

back  to  the  Junction  it  feasted  sumptuously  for  several  houra 
upon  the  captured  stores,  then  took  its  position  with  Jackson's 
forces  behind  the  unfinished  railroad  cut  to  await  the  coming 
of  Pope's  army.  On  the  28th  it  made  its  appearance  and 
formed  in  three  lines  of  battle — came  on  like  the  waves  of  the 
ocean;  several  well  directed  volleys  hurled  them  back,  but 
quickly  reforming,  they  came  again  and  again  until  night  put 
an  end  to  the  terrible  slaughter.  This  was  kept  up  upon  the 
29th  and  30th;  the  Thirty-seventh  manfully  held  its  posi- 
tion,  although  at  times  it  would  scarcely  have  a  round  of  am- 
munition left  to  the  man. 

Generals  A.  P.  Hill  and  Branch  could  often  be  seen  dis- 
mounted urging  their  men  to  hold  their  ground  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  The  loss  of  the  Thirty-seventh  in  the  three 
days'  fighting  was  13  killed  and  6Y  wounded. 

Pope  falling  back  towards  Washington,  Jackson  again  cut 
him  off  at  Ox  Hill  on  1  September,  and  a  fierce  battle  en- 
sued. A  chilling  rain-storm  drenched  the  men  to  the  skin, 
causing  the  muskets  to  choke  and  fire  badly.  The  regiment 
here  again  bore  its  part  nobly,  losing  5  killed  and  18  wounded. 
The  firing  ceased  at  dark  as  if  by  mutual  consent. 

The  Thirty-seventh  endured  the  hardships  of  the  first 
Maryland  campaign  and  from  Frederick  City  it  recrossed  the 
Potomac  at  Williamsport  and  was  part  of  the  force  that  in- 
vested Harper's  Ferry  from  the  Virginia  side.  It  was  one  of 
the  regiments  that  scaled  the  heights  overlooking  the  Shenan- 
doah, river  and  took  position  on  Bolivar  Heights,  where  on 
the  following  morning,  15  September,  it  witnessed  the  sur- 
render of  the  garrison  in  Harper's  Ferry.  It  remained  with 
A.  P.  Hill's  Division  to  receive  the  surrender  and  made  that 
memorable  forced  march  to  the  battlefield  of  Sharpsburg  on 
17  September,  just  in  time  to  hurl  back  the  victorious  forces 
of  Bumside  across  the  Antietam.  In  this  battle  the  Thirty- 
seventh  fought  behind  a  stone  fence,  and  its  loss  was  only  4 
men  woimded,  but  it  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  its 
brigade  commander.  General  L.  O'B.  Branch,  who  was  then 
so  rapidly  rising  in  militao-y  prominence  and  was  so  dearly 
beloved  by  his  troops. 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  657 

At  Shepherdstown  it  was  one  of  the  regiments  that  crossed 
the  large  com  field  in  the  face  of  a  withering  artillery  fire 
and  helped  drive  the  enemy  back  across  the  Potomac  with 
slight  loss,  only  4  wounded ;  this  action  took  place  on  20  Sep- 
tember. It  was  one  of  the  regiments  detailed  to  tear  up  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Eailroad  from  Hedgesville  to  ISTorth  Moun- 
tain Depot,  and  did  the  work  well.  For  several  weeks  the 
regiment  did  picket  duty  while  encamped  near  Snicker's  Gap. 

About  1  ISTovember,  General  McClellan's  army  crossed  the 
Potomac  and  proceeded  via  Warrenton  in  the  direction  of 
Fredericksburg.  Longstreet's  Corps  soon  left  the  valley  and 
took  position  near  Culpepper  Court  House.  Jackson's  forces 
remained  in  the  Valley  watching  the  Federal  army  under 
General  Burnside,  who  had  succeeded  General  McClellan, 
until  it  was  clearly  evident  it  was  moving  on  Fredericksburg ; 
Jackson  then,  by  a  series  of  rapid  marches,  concentrated  his 
troops  in  the  vicinity  of  Guinea  Station. 

FEEDEEICKSBUEG. 

On  12  December,  Lane's  Brigade  took  its  position  in  line 
of  battle  behind  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad 
cut,  a  short  distance  South  of  Deep  Run.  The  following 
day,  13  December,  1862,  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was 
fought.  The  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  was  upon  the  right  of 
Lane's  Brigade,  with  its  right  resting  upon  a  marshy  swamp 
where  no  troops  were  placed.  On  the  opposite  side  of  this 
swamp  Archer's  Brigade  held  the  railroad.  The  field  was 
enveloped  in  fog  which  concealed  the  enemy's  movements,  but 
the  air  was  very  conducive  to  sound  and  we  could  plainly 
hear  the  commands  of  the  ofiicers  as  they  were  forming  their 
lines  for  the  assault.  At  9  o'clock  a  line  of  battle  advanced 
from  under  cover  of  the  river  bank,  but  was  driven  back  by 
our  artillery  and  Lane's  skirmish  line.  About  noon  the  fog 
lifted  and  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy  were  throwu  into  the 
unfortunate  gap  between  Lane  and  Archer ;  while  the  Thirty- 
seventh  had  cleared  its  front  almost  with  the  first  volley,  we 
could  plainly  see  the  enemy  rushing  across  the  railroad  on  our 
right.  Colonel  Barber  then  deflected  his  three  right  com- 
42 


658  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

panies  and  formed  them,  to  the  rear  at  right  angle  to^  the 
track.  The  regiment  made  a  bloody  and  gallant  struggle  to 
hold  its  position,  but  Archer's  left  and  Lane's  right  were 
forced  to  give  back  upon  our  reserves,  who  drove  the  enemy 
back  across  the  railroad  with  great  slaughter  and  re-estab- 
lished our  lines.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  is  not  known  to 
the  writer,  except  that  it  was  very  great. 

After  the  battle  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Moss  JSTeck,  about  eight  miles  farther  down  the  river,  where 
it  remained  and  did  picket  duty,  with  the  other  four  regi- 
ments of  the  brigade,  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

CHANCELLOESVILLB. 

On  29  April,  1863,  the  familiar  boom  of  cannon  comes 
wafted  on  the  spring  breezes  from  the  direction  of  Fredericks- 
burg. Its  increasing  sound  soon  convinces  us  that  the  cam- 
paign of  1863  had  opened  and  we  must  bid  adieu  to  pleasant 
and  comfortable  quarters  and  face  grim  war  in  all  its  horrors. 
We  could  not  foresee  that  our  noble  old  regiment  was  to  be 
called  upon  to  bear  its  bloody  part  in  two  of  the  bloodiest  and 
hardest  contested  battles  ever  fought  upon  the  American  Con- 
tinent, before  the  year  would  end.  Large  columns  of  sol- 
diery could  be  seen  moving  from  their  camps,  all  converging 
upon  the  direct  road  to  Fredericksburg.  A  few  hours  march 
and  we  take  our  position  in  the  second  line  of  battle  upon 
these  historic  hills.  We  could  only  see  about  30,000  of  the 
enemy  in  the  plain  below  and  knew  our  struggle  would  be  in 
another  direction.  On  1  May,  at  daylight,  we  marched  for 
Chancellorsville,  but  took  no  part  in  driving  Hooker  back  to 
his  fortifications  at  that  place.  Skirmishers  were  thrown 
out  on  arriving  there,  and  we  occupied  the  front  line  during 
the  night.  On  2  May  the  regiment  started  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, with  Jackson's  Corps,  on  that  wonderful  and  world  re- 
nowned flank  movement  of  General  Stonewall  Jackson  around 
Hooker's  army  in  broad  daylight,  the  grandest  movement  ever 
made  by  any  general  upon  the  chess  board  of  warfare.  On 
reaching  the  turnpike  in  rear  of  Hooker's  army,  Rodes'  and 
Colston's  Divisions  were  formed  into  line  of  battle  and  put  in 
motion,  the  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  led    Hill's    division 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  659 

which  was  in  column  on  the  pike,  consequently  we  were  al- 
most in  the  second  line.  General  Jackson  rode  at  the  head 
of  the  regiment  and  all  eyes  were  upon  him.  Our  lines  soon 
struck  Hooker's  rear  and  a  running  fight  was  kept  up  until 
night,  or  about  sun  set,  when  A.  P.  Hill  was  ordered  to  the 
front.  As  the  Thirty-seventh  led  Lane's  Brigade,  which 
was  the  leading  one  of  the  division,  as  a  matter  of  course,  we 
got  the  brunt  of  artillery  fire,  the  most  unmerciful  ever  known 
upon  one  single  point  of  any  battlefield,  for  the  enemy  had 
collected  43  pieces  of  cannon  to  stop  Jackson's  onslaught  and 
were  firing  on  Hill's  men  as  they  approached  Fair  View. 
Fortunately  for  us,  it  lasted  but  a  short  time,  when  we  were 
moved  down  the  road  about  one  hundred  yards  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  enemy's  inner  or  last  breastworks,  those  immedi- 
ately around  Chancellorsville  House,  without  firing  a  gun. 
This  shows  clearly  the  panic-stricken  state  Hooker's  right 
wing  was  in.  The  brigade  was  formed  with  the  Thirty- 
seventh  on  the  right  of  the  road,  the  Seventh  on  its  right,  the 
Eighteenth  on  the  opposite  side,  or  left  of  the  road,  the  Twen- 
ey-eighth  on  the  left  of  the  Eighteenth ;  the  Thirty-third  de- 
ployed as  skirmishers  covering  the  entire  front  of  the  brigade. 
Rapid  firing  was  continuous  on  the  skirmish  line  until  long 
after  General  Jackson  was  wounded,  but  no  serious  effort 
made  to  retake  the  works ;  so  the  poor,  weary  men,  crouched 
down  behind  the  works  to  rest  and  "bitterly  think  on  the  mor- 
row." 

General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  who  took  command  of  the  corps 
after  Jackson  and  A.  P.  Hill  were  wounded,  moved  his  line 
forward  early  the  next  morning,  3  May.  During  the  night  the 
Eighteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  were  moved  to  our  right — 
placing  the  whole  of  Lane's  brigade  upon  the  right  of  the 
turnpike ;  we  moved  forward  as  if  upon  parade  and  the  bloody 
work  commenced ;  we  drove  the  enemy  from  the  woods  and 
took  possession  of  the  little  works  they  had  thrown  up  during 
the  night  and  held  them  until  relieved  by  other  troops.  Col- 
onel Barber  in  his  official  report  says :  "During  the  entire  en- 
gagement my  officers  and  men  behaved  gallantly.  Lieuten- 
ant Charlton  C.  Ragin,  Company  K,  was  killed  gallantly 
commanding  his  company.     The  annexed  tabulated  state- 


660  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ment  will  show  that  my  total  loss  is  as  follows :  One  officer 
killed,  19  officers  wounded;  35  men  killed,  175  wounded;  8 
missing.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  it  was  the  bloodiest 
battle  Siat  I  have  ever  witnessed."  The  regiment  always,  to 
the  very  end  of  the  war,  regarded  this  battle  as  the  bloodiest 
and  hardest  contested  of  all  its  experience.  Its  position  was 
more  exposed  to  the  enemy's  artillery  than  any  other  regi- 
ment in  the  entire  corps,  and  its  loss  far  greater  than  that  of 
any  other. 

After  the  enemy  was  defeated  at  every  point  and  driven 
across  the  river  the  regiment  returned  to  its  old  camp  at  Moss 
Neck,  where  it  enjoyed  one  more  month  of  rest  and  enjoy- 
ment. After  the  death  of  our  beloved  General,  Stonewall 
Jackson,  there  was  a  reorganization  of  the  army,  dividing  it 
into  three  corps,  our  brigade  being  placed  in  Pender's  Divis^ 
ion  of  the  Third  Corps,  commanded  by  General  A.  P.  Hill. 
On  tlie  morning  of  6  June  the  Thirty-seventh  Kegiment,  for 
the  third  time,  occupied  the  old  line  of  battle  at  Fredericks- 
burg, where  the  Third  Corps  remained  watching  a  portion  of 
the  Federal  army  that  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  until 
the  15th.  The  enemy  having  recrossed  the  river  our  corps 
commenced  its  march  northerly  in  pursuit  of  the  First  and 
Second  Corps. 

THE  GETTYSBTJEG  GAMPAIGST. 

By  rapid  forced  marches  the  regiment  crossed  the  Potomac 
on  the  25th  and  reached  Fayetteville  on  the  27th,  where  it 
rested  until  the  30th,  when  it  resumed  its  march  and  arrived 
upon  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  on  the  morning  of  1  July, 
and  formed  line  of  battle  in  rear  of  Heth's  Division,  which 
was  then  heavily  engaged.  Our  brigade  was  on  the  right  of  our 
division  and  the  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  on  the  right  of  the 
brigade,  consequently  we  were  the  extreme  right  of  the  ad- 
vancing column.  Company  G,  under  Captain  Hudson,  was 
deployed  as  skirmishers  on  our  rightflank  to  guard  against  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  The  whole  line  moved  gallantly  forward  and 
secured  possession  of  Seminary  Ridge,  the  brigade  extending 
from  the  McMillan  House  to  near  the  Fairfield  road  on  the 
left.     It  was  not  otherwise  engaged  during  the  day.     We 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  661 

held  this  position  all  day  on  the  2d  under  a  severe  artillery 
fire,  but  were  not  actively  engaged.  Our  Major-General,  W. 
D.  Pender,  received  his  mortal  wound  upon  this  day.  On 
the  morning  of  the  3d,  Lane's  and  Scales'  North  Carolina 
brigades  were  sent,  under  command  of  Major-General  Trim- 
ble, to  the  right  to  reinforce  Longstreet ;  after  getting  in  our 
position  our  new  commander  rode  down  the  line  and  halted 
.at  different  regiments  and  made  us  little  speeches — saying  he 
was  a  stranger  to  us  and  had  been  sent  to  command  us  in  the 
absence  of  our  wounded  general,  and  would  lead  us  upon 
Cemetery  Hill  at  3  o'clock.  About  1  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  re- 
port of  a  cannon  far  to  the  right  was  heard  and  was  quickly 
answered  by  one  of  Earl's  far  away  to  the  left;  these  were 
signal  guns  which  announced  the  opening  of  one  of  the  sever- 
est artillery  duels  the  world  has  ever  known.  The  earth 
fairly  shook  for  two  hours,  then  the  .firing  ceased  almost  as 
suddenly  as  it  had  commenced  and  the  infantry  moved  for- 
ward. It  was  a  grand  sight,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see  to  the 
right  and  to  the  left  two  lines  of  Confederate  soldiers  with 
waving  banners  pressing  on  into  the  very  jaws  of  death. 
Trimble's  command  was  the  second  line  in  support  of  Petti- 
grew.  Lane  upon  the  left  and  Scales  upon  the  right. 
In  a  few  minutes  after  the  start  we  were  obliqued  rap- 
idly to  the  left  to  take  the  place  of  Brockenborough's 
Brigade,  which  had  broken;  over  the  Emmettsburg  road 
we  went  and  rushed  for  the  stone  wall,  the  line  all  the 
while  seemed  to  be  melting  away.  When  the  order 
came  to  retire,  those  who  were  spared  did  so  in  perfect 
order — never  anything  like  a  panic,  as  some  people  think — 
and  halted  at  the  position  from  which  we  had  started.  Our 
loss  was  severe,  especially  in  ofiicers.  We  regret  not  having 
the  official  list  of  casualties  at  hand,  but  well  remember  the 
loss  in  killed  of  the  following  officers:  Major  Owen  N. 
Brown,  Lieutenants  I.  M.  Royster,  Lewis  Battle,  Dorothy, 
John  P.  Elms,  W.  IST.  Nichols  and  Wm.  Mickle. 

We  held  our  position  all  day  on  the  4th,  no  movement  being 
made  on  either  side,  and  commenced  the  retreat  soon  after 
dark  and  marched  all  night  through  a  drenching  rain.  Lane's 
Brigade  led  the  Third  Corps  on  the  march  during  the  5th, 


662  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

the  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  again  leading  the  brigade,  Gen* 
erals  Lee  and  A.  P.  Hill  riding  just  in  front  of  us  the  entire 
day.  On  the  6th  we  reached  Hagerstown,  bivouacked  three 
days,  then  formed  line  of  battle  and  entrenched,  but  Meade 
did  not  dare  attack,  to  the  great  disappointment  of  the  Con- 
federates, for  they  wanted  revenge  and  felt  sure  we  would 
get  it.  On  the  night  of  13  July  the  army  crossed  the  Poto- 
mac ;  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  while  Heth's  and  Pender's 
Divisions  were  waiting  at  Falling  Waters  to  cross  the  river, 
the  men  being  nearly  all  asleep,  a  squad  of  cavalry  dashed  up 
and  mortally  wounded  General  Pettigrew.  The  Thirty- 
seventh,  with  the  brigade,  was  formed  in  line  and  did  some 
very  nice  skirmishing,  holding  back  a  force  that  threatened 
our  rear  until  the  wagon  train  and  all  the  troops  had  passed 
over  the  river,  when  it  crossed  on  the  pontoon  bridge.  The 
Thirty-seventh  was  one  of  the  last,  if  not  the  very  last,  to 
cross.  While  at  Hagerstown  on  10  July,  Lieutenant  Thomas 
L.  ISTorwood,  of  Company  A,  who  had  been  shot  through  the 
breast  and  captured  at  Gettysburg,  came  marching  into  camp 
disguised  in  the  most  ridiculously  looking  and  fitting  coun- 
tryman's suit  of  clothes  imaginable,  having  secured  it  at  Get^ 
tysburg  in  one  of  the  houses  around  the  hospital,  and  al- 
though suffering  greatly  from  his  wound,  he  managed  by 
his  wit  and  cunning  to-  march  through  the  Federal  lines  and 
into  ours ;  he  was  then  sent  to  the  headquarters  of  General 
Lee  and  took  a  cup  of  coffee  with  that  distinguished  person- 
age. He  was  considered  one  of  the  finest  officers  of  the 
Thirty-seventh.  The  regiment  fell  back  with  the  army  and 
reoccupied  the  lines  of  the  Rapidan,  going  into  camp  near 
Orange  Court  House  and  doing  picket  duty  at  Morton's  Pord. 

Colonel  Barber  in  a  report  made  about  this  time  to  the  Ad- 
jutant-General of  ISTorth  Carolina,  says : 

"The  regiment  has  lost  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  killed, 
seventy  who  have  died  of  wounds,  three  hundred  and  two 
who  have  died  of  disease,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  have  been  wounded  and  recovered.  Total  loss  killed 
and  wounded,  five  hundred  and  fifty-two;  to  which  add 
three  hundred  and  two  who  have  died  of  disease,  and  we 
have  a  total  Of  casualties  amounting  to  eight  hundred  and 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  663 

fifty-four  men.  Fourteen  commissioned  officers  of  this  reg- 
iment have  been  killed  or  mortally  wounded,  and  ten  others 
permanently  disabled  by  wounds.  This  does  not  embrace 
the  names  of  those  officers  who  have  been  wounded  but  were 
not  disabled  by  their  wounds.  There  are  but  six  officers  in 
this  regiment  who  have  not  been  wounded,  and  a  large  num- 
ber (both  officers  and  men)  have  been  wounded  several  times. 

IS'otwithstanding  the  heavy  loss  of  my  regiment  in  battle  I 
now  have  present  four  hundred  and  forty-two  officers  and 
men,  and  am  able  to  give  the  enemy  a  good  fight  whenever  it 
is  necessary." 

In  that  splendid  campaign  of  strategy,  when  Lee  pushed 
Meade  back  from  the  Rappahannock  to  Centreville,  this  regi- 
ment moved  with  the  brigade  and  formed  line  of  battle  at 
Bristoe  Station  on  the  14th,  but  was  not  in  the  bloody  battle 
that  took  place.  On  the  return  of  the  army  to  the  Rappa- 
hannock, it  was  detailed  to  destroy  the  Orange  and  Alexan- 
dria Railroad.  Perhaps  it  may  be  of  interest  to  know  how 
this  was  done.  The  rails  were  ripped  up  and  pens  made  of 
the  cross-ties,  the  rails  then  laid  on  the  pens  which  were  set 
on  fire,  the  irons  soon  become  red  hot  in  centre,  when  half  a 
dozen  soldiers  would  seize  each  end  and  run  to  a  telegraph 
post,  or  tree,  and  play  circus  by  running  rapidly  around  it — 
bending  the  rail  three  or  four  times  around  the  post.  We 
then  went  into  camp  on  the  Rappahannock,  near  Brandy  Sta- 
tion, where  we  remained  several  weeks,  then  took  up  the 
march  to  the  old  lines  on  the  Rapidan.  While  on  the  march 
the  Thirty-seventh  was  hurried  rapidly  back  to  assist  our  cav- 
alry which  was  being  driven  back  by  the  Federal  cavalry; 
the  regiment  was  formed  on  the  left  of  the  Warrenton  road 
and  a  battery  placed  on  the  right,  as  our  cavalry  came  rush- 
ing back  closely  followed  by  the  Yankee  cavalry.  The  battery 
opened  and  the  Thirty-seventh,  from  its  concealed  position, 
poured  a  murderous  volley  into  them.  It  was  a  sudden  and 
bloody  check.  The  Thirty-seventh  pursued  them  several  hun- 
dred yards  down  the  road  until  not  one  could  be  seen,  it  then 
rejoined  the  brigade  and  with  it  returned  to  our  old  camps 
at  Liberty  Mills,  on  the  upper  Rapidan,  and  went  into  winter 
quarters,  but  General  Meade  not  content  to  allow  the  cam- 


664  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

paign  of  1863  to  end  without  another  struggle,  crossed  at  the 
United  States  and  Germania  Fords  and  we  marched  to  Mine 
Eun  and  fortified  strongly  across  Meade's  front.  This  was  on 
26  JSTovember,  and  the  army  remained  here  several  days.  The 
suffering  of  the  poorly  clad  men  from  cold  was  intense — ^be- 
yond anything  ever  experienced  by  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  A  regular  blizzard  prevailed  the  whole  time  it  re- 
mained there.  The  enemy  failed  to  attack,  but  recrossed 
the  river  and  the  regiment,  with  the  brigade,  returned  to  its 
camp. 

The  only  event  of  interest  that  occurred  during  the  winter 
was  an  exciting  snow  ball  battle;  a  short  description  may  be 
of  interest.  The  Thirty-third,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  R. 
V.  Cowan,  marched  from  its  camp  to  that  of  the  Seventh  and 
captured  it  without  a  battle.  The  two  then  proceeded  to  the 
camp  of  the  Eighteenth  and  demanded  its  surrender,  which 
was  immediately  given.  Colonel  Cowan  then  sent  a  challenge 
to  the  Thirty-seventh  and  Twenty-eighth  for  battle.  These 
two  regiments  accepted  the  challenge  and'  formed  line  of 
battle  under  command  of  Captain  W.  T.  Nicholson,  on  the 
edge  of  a  hill  in  front  of  our  camps,  threw  out  skirmishers 
and  waited ;  the  enemy  soon  appeared  across  an  open  field 
witli  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  in  front,  and  the  battle 
opened  by  their  driving  our  skirmish  line  in,  the  three  as- 
saulting regiments  came  to  the  attack  beautifully,  but  one 
volley  from  the  Twenty-eighth  and  Thirty-seventh  drove 
them  back  down  the  hill ;  again  they  returned  and  again  were 
driven  back.  Eallying  in  the  valley,  they  re-formed  and 
made  a  vigorous  assault,  breaking  our  center  driving  us  into 
our  camps,  where  we  retreated  to  our  shanties  and  surren- 
dered to  a  pot  of  rice,  bacon  and  com  bread.  Our  winter 
quarters  life  at  dear  old  Liberty  Mills  was  by  far  the  most 
pleasant  we  ever  had,  the  young  officers  enjoying  the  society 
of  the  beautiful  young  ladies  of  whom  there  were  many  in 
Orange  County.  All  pleasures  have  an  ending  and  ours  ended 
on  4  May,  1864,  when  we  turned  our  faces  towards  the  east 
to  meet  General  Grant  with  his  mighty  host.  We  bivouacked 
that  night  near  Vidiersville  and  resumed  the  march  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th.     About  12  o'clock  the  heavy  boom  of 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  665 

cannon  in  front  told  us  that  the  enemy  had  been  met.  Contin- 
uing our  march  we  soon  came  upon  the  enemy's  dead  in  great 
numbers  on  either  side  of  the  road.  As  we  entered  the  Wil- 
derness heavy  firing  was  heard  in  front  of  us,  on  the  right  of 
the  plank  road.  Our  division,  then  commanded  by  Wilcox, 
formed  in  line  of  battle,  swept  through  the  Wilderness, 
obliquely  to  the  left,  for  about  two  hundred  yards,  captur- 
ing about  two  hundred  prisoners ;  we  were  then  withdrawn, 
with  the  division,  to  the  Plank  road  to  assist  Heth's  division 
which  was  then  hard  pressed  by  overwhelming  numbers.  The 
Thirty-seventh  was  the  rear  regiment  of  the  division,  and  as 
it  was  leaving  the  Plank  road  it  was  reported  that  the  enemy 
was  approaching  from  the  left  of  the  road;  it  was  detained 
there  and  did  not  take  part  in  the  engagement  that  evening, 
but  lay  still,  watched  and  listened  to  the  heaviest  musketry 
it  had  ever  heard ;  as  Wilcox  went  in  the  whole  Wilderness 
roared  like  fire  in  a  canebrake.  At  nightfall  the  Thirty- 
seventh  joined  the  brigade  a  short  distance  tO'  the  right  of 
the  road.  JSTone  of  the  brigades  seemed  to  be  in  line — some  reg- 
iments isolated  entirely  from  their  brigades- — in  fact,  no  line 
at  all,  but  just  as  they  had  fought.  In  this  disorganized  fix 
we  received  the  heavy  attack  of  Hancock  on  the  morning  of  6 
May — the  men  were  willing  to  fight,  but  had  no  chance,  'twas 
"confusion  worse  confounded."  The  Thirty-seventh  was 
borne  gradually  back  by  other  disorganized  troops  luithout 
firing  a  gun.  One  hundred  yards  or  so  in  rear  we  struck  a 
road  down  which  Longstreet's  men  were  coming  at  doiible- 
quiek,  as  we  passed  through  their  ranks  they  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  of  giving  us  a  little  chaffing.  Some  wanted 
to  know  if  we  belonged  to  General  Lee's  army.  We  didn't 
look  like  the  men  they  had  left  here — "we  were  worse  than 
Bragg's  men."  These  old  veterans  of  Longstreet  wheeled  into 
line  and  the  tide  of  battle  turned,  the  Yankees  were  driven 
far  back  into  the  Wilderness.  The  Thirty-seventh,  which 
was  never  disorganized  or  confused,  formed  with  the  brigiide 
on  the  left  of  the  Plank  road  and  fortified,  remaining  there 
until  the  night  of  the  8th,  when  we  took  up  the  march  for 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  arriving  there  about  12  o'clock 
on  9  May. 


666  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

spottsylvania  couet  house. 

The  brigade  formed  with  the  Thirty-seventh  on  the  right, 
then  the  Seventh,  Thirty-third,  Eighteenth  and  Twenty- 
eighth,  and  commenced  immediately  to  fortify.  On  the 
evening  of  the  10th  we  were  withdrawn  (the  whole  brigade) 
and  double-quicked  to  the  left  to  re-establish  our  lines  that 
had  been  broken,  but  this  was  done  before  we  arrived,  so  we 
returned  to  our  fortified  position  in  front  of  the  Court  House. 

The  11th  passed  without  any  fighting  anywhere  on  the  line, 
but  at  daylight  on  the  12th  the  enemy  attacked  heavily  at  the 
salient,  which  Johnson's  Division  held,  breaking  and  captur- 
ing almost  his  entire  division.  They  then  swept  up  the  lines 
towards  our  brigade,  capturing  part  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
and  Eighteenth.  The  four  regiments  on  the  left  of  the  Thir- 
ty-seventh then  swung  back  and  formed  at  right  angle  to 
that  regiment,  the  enemy  advanced  in  heavy  force  up  the 
line,  receiving  a  severe  oblique  fire  from  the  Thirty-seventh 
and  the  direct  fire  from  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  which  drove 
them  from  the  field.  The  entire  brigade  then  alvanced  several 
hundred  yards  over  the  works,  but.  were  soon  ordered  back, 
and  finding  other  troops  occiipying  the  works,  we  were  or- 
dered back  to  the  Court  House.  General  Lee,  with  several 
general  ofiicers,  sat  on  their  horses  just  in  front  of  us.  Cap- 
tain W.  T.  JSTicholson,  of  Company  E,  Thirty-seventh  Regi- 
ment, who  then  commanded  the  sharpshooters  of  the  brigade, 
was  sent  for  and  reported  to  General  Lee  in  person.  General 
Lee  directed  him  to  take  his  corps  of  sharpshooters  across 
the  works  and  ascertain,  if  possible,  how  far  the  enemy's  left 
extended.  Nicholson  exhibited  extraordinary  bravery  and 
intelligence — advanced  beyond  his  men,  procured  the  neces- 
sary information,  hurried  back  and  reported  to  General  Lee ; 
the  regiment,  with  the  brigade,  was  ordered  over  the  works 
and  several  hundred  yards  from  them  formed  at  right  angles 
to  our  works.  As  we  advanced  to  cross  the  works  a  battery 
was  playing  upon  us.  One  shell  exploded  in  Company  D, 
Thirty-seventh  regiment,  killing  the  Captain  and  eight  men. 
General  Lee  was  riding  very  close  to  us  at  the  time.  General 
Mahone's  brigade  of  Virginians  formed  just  in  rear  of  us; 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  667 

we  advanced  as  soon  as  formed;  as  the  Thirty-seventh 
emerged  from  the  oak  woods  through  which  we  had  advanced, 
a  battery  planted  in  an  open  field  not  more  than  one  hundred 
yards  o£E,  opened  upon  us  with  grape  and  canister.  This  sud- 
den and  bloody  surprise  was  calculated  to  break  the  sturdiest 
veterans,  but  it  had  no  effect  upon  the  Thirty-seventh,  except 
the  loss  of  many  of  its  brave  men. 

The  writer  now  begs  to  chronicle  an  act  of  bravery  which 
surpassed  anything  he  witnessed  during  the  entire  war.  As 
this  fire  was  received  by  the  Thirty-seventh,  Lieutenant 
Charles  T.  Haigh,  of  Oorapany  B,  rushed  twenty  odd  yards 
in  front,  with  hat  in  one  hand  and  sword  in  the  other,  shout- 
ing to  his  men  to  come  on.  Other  officers,  inspired  by  his 
noble  example,  rushed  forward  with  him  and  led  the  regi- 
ment to  the  battery,  not  a  gun  being  fired  until  we  reached  it, 
when  halting,  it  poured  in  one  volley,  killing  every  man  at 
the  battery.  It  was  the  only  instance  which  came  under  the 
observation  of  the  writer  where  a  charge  was  led  by  officers. 
We  read  often  of  such  things,  but  they  seldom  happen ;  they 
generally  remain  in  rear  of  their  men  to  keep  from  being 
shot  by  them.  Wheeling  to  the  left  from  the  battery  and 
fighting  with  desperation,  poor  Charley  Haigh  fell  dead  by 
the  side  of  the  writer,  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  Let  us 
drop  a  tear  to  the  memory  of  that  noble  boy  who  now  sleeps 
upon  that  bloody  battlefield. 

Wheeling  still  farther  to  our  left  we  strike  Burnside's 
troops,  who  had  charged  our  works  and  been  defeated.  Then 
and  there  in  those  oak  woods  a  scene  with  clubbed  musket  and 
bayonet  took  place  which  was  too  horrible  to  describe.  Every 
one  was  trying  to  fight  his  way  back  to  our  works.  Our  brig- 
ade captured  three  stands  of  colors,  two  of  them  by  the  Thirty- 
seventh.  General  Lane  says  in  his  official  report:  "First 
Lieutenant  James  M.  Grimsley,  Company  K,  Thirty-seventh 
Regiment,  with  a  small  squad  of  men,  had  the  honor  of  cap- 
turing the  colors  of  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  and  about 
thirty  prisoners.  Lieutenant  Grimsley  is  a  very  brave  man. 
Lieutenant  O.  A.  Wiggins,  Company  E,  Thirty-seventh  Reg- 
iment, was  captured  by  the  enemy,  but  by  his  boldness,  suc- 
ceeded in  making  his  escape  and  brought  off  with  him  the 


668  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

flag  of  the  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania  Regiment  and  several 
prisoners.  Private  J.  H.  Wheeler,  a  brave  soldier  of  Com- 
pany E,  Eighteenth  Regiment,  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of 
capturing  the  battery  flag.  The  charge  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
North  Carolina  Regiment  upon  a  battery  of  six  guns,  was 
one  of  the  grandest  sights  I  ever  saw." 

The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  engagement  was  4  oflacers 
killed,  3  wounded ;  18  men  killed,  30  men  wounded ;  2  officers 
missing,  38  men  missing.  Officers  killed:  Captain  H.  C. 
Grady,  Company  D ;  Lieutenant  E.  A.  Carter,  Company  A ; 
Lieutenant  C.  T.  Haigh,  Company  B ;  Lieutenant  B.  A. 
Johnston,  Company  C.  Officers  wounded:  Ensign  R.  M. 
Stanley,  Captain  D.  L.  Hudson,  Company  G ;  E.  H.  Russell, 
Company  I.  Officers  missing:  Colonel  Wm.  M.  Barber, 
Lieutenant  J.  D.  Brown,  Company  C.  From  the  12th  to  the 
20th  the  regiment  lost  6  men  wounded,  one  man  killed ;  Cap- 
tain W.  T.  Nicholson  was  badly  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by 
a  piece  of  shell  on  the  14th.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  21st 
we  moved  to  the  right,  beyond  our  works,  and  formed  line  of 
battle,  charged  the  enemy's  breastworks  and  captured 
them.  The  regiment  had  one  officer  wounded  and  two  men, 
officer  wounded  Lieutenant  O.  A.  Wiggins,  Company  E. 
The  following  order  was  read  to  the  brigade  on  the  13th: 

Headquaetees  Aemy  Noetheen  Vieginia^ 

On  Battlefield. 
Major-General  C.  M.  Wilcox,  Commanding  Division: 

Geneeal  :  General  Lee  directs  me  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  flags  captured  by  Lane's  Brigade  in  its  gallant 
charge  of  yesterday,  and  to  say  that  they  will  be  forwarded  to 
the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  with  the  accompanying  note 
and  the  names  of  the  brave  captors. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

0.  S.  Venable^ 
A.  D.  0. 

From  Spottsylvania  the  regiment  marched  with  the  brig- 
ade to  Jericho  Ford,  where  it  fought  the  battle  of  that  name, 
losing  one  man  killed,  two  officers  and  nineteen  men  wounded, 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  669 

two  men  missing.  Officers  wounded :  Lieutenant  J.  B.  Som- 
erville,  Ooinpany  B;  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Grimsley,  Com- 
pany K. 

From  27  May  to  1  June  the  regiment  was  continually 
marching  and  skirmishing,  losing  seven  or  eight  men.  Officer 
wounded:  Lieutenant  A.  F.  Yandle,  of  Company  I,  on  3 
June.  As  all  official  records  of  losses  sustained  after  3  June 
were  destroyed,  no  further  attempt  will  be  made  to  give 
minute  descriptions  of  the  movements  of  the  regiment,  but 
simply  state  it  sustained  its  good  name  to  the  end.  At  Friz- 
zell's  Mill,  Deep  Bottom  and  on  the  Weldon  road,  it  fought 
bravely  and  was  in  the  grand  charge  made  by  the  three  vet- 
eran North  Carolina  brigades  25  August  on  Hancock's  en- 
trenched position  at  Reams'  Station.  The  Thirty-seventh 
always  contended  that  it  was  one  of  the  first  regiments  that 
carried  the  entrenchments.  The  next  real  engagement  was 
at  Jones'  Farm,  where  we  lost  our  beloved  Colonel,  Wm.  M. 
Barber,  who  fell  while  talking  to  the  writer  of  this  sketch, 
just  before  our  lines  advanced.  We  advanced  and  drove  the 
enemy  over  a  mile  back  when  night  put  an  end  to  the  battle. 
It  was  a  bloody  affair,  but  little  mention  has  ever  been  made 
of  it  as  few  troops  were  engaged ;  it  took  place  on  30  Septem- 
ber, 1864.  The  next  day,  1  October,  the  brigade  advanced 
with  Major  Wooten's  Corps  of  sharpshooters  in  front.  Major 
Wooten  managed  in  some  way  to  slip  past  and  capture  about 
300  prisoners,  we  took  possession  of  the  enemy's  breastworks 
and  held  them  all  day,  but  were  subjected  to  an  annoying 
skirmish  fire;  the  Thirty-seventh  had  several  men  killed  by 
them.  During  the  action  on  30  September  the  regiment 
behaved  most  beautifully,  not  once  halting  until  ordered  to 
do  so  at  night.  About  the  middle  of  JSTovember  the  regiment, 
with  the  brigade,  built  little  shanties  in  rear  of  the  works  near 
the  Jones  House  to  make  themselves  as  comfortable  as  possi- 
ble through  the  winter,  a  strong  picket  line  being  kept  in  front 
day  and  night.  On  8  December  the  regiment  marched  with 
the  brigade,  to  Jarrett's  Station  to  meet  a  demonstration  of 
the  enemy  in  that  direction,  but  returned  without  a  battle. 
This  march  was  one  of  the  most  trying  the  regiment  ever  ex- 
perienced.    It  snowed  and  rained  and  sleeted  the  whole  time, 


670  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

the  ground  being  so  slick  after  the  sleet  that  it  was  impossible, 
almost,  to  stand.  Men  conld  often  be  seen  marching  on  the 
sleety  ground  with  no  shoes  on.  On  the  night  of  24  March, 
1865,  Lane's  Brigade  moved  through  Petersburg  and  took  po- 
sition to  support  Gordon  in  his  attack  on  Hare's  Hill.  We 
were  not  engaged,  but  the  position  held  by  the  Tbirty-seventh 
subjected  it  to  a  merciless  artillery  fire  for  several  hours.  We 
returned  to  our  position  and  the  next  day  our  skirmish  line 
having  been  taken  General  Lane  was  ordered  to  re-establish  it. 
We  did  so  about  daylight  the  next  morning,  having  one  ofl&cer, 
Lieutenant  Bro^vn,  and  several  men  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
wounded.  On  1  April  the  troops  on  our  right  were  with- 
drawn and  sent  to  Five  Forks.  To  fill  the  gap  made  vacant 
by  their  withdrawal  the  brigade  was  deployed  in  skirmish 
line  ten  paces  apart  behind  the  works;  just  as  day  was  break- 
ing on  2  April  our  poor,  little  weak  line,  was  assaulted  by 
three  lines  of  battle.  After  a  stubborn  resistance,  we  were 
overpowered  and  our  lines  taken,  the  regiment  losing  five 
officers,  Captains  W.  T.  Nicholson,  Hudson  and  Petty,  Lieu- 
tenants Tankersley  and  Ross.  The  line  was  forced  back  to 
Fort  Gregg;  a  part  of  the  Thirty-seventh,  with  other  troops, 
undertook  to  defend  the  fort.  It  made  a  splendid  defence, 
but  after  hours  of  hard  fighting  it  yielded  to  overwhelming 
numbers  and  all  were  captured.  That  night  the  regiment 
fell  back  with  General  Lee's  army  and  surrendered  with  it 
at  Appomattox  under  the  command  of  Major  Jackson  L.  Bost. 

Thus  closed  the  career  of  one  of  the  most  gallant  regiments 
that  left  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  or  any  other  State,  for 
the  scene  of  war.  Organized  by  one  of  the  finest  officers  of 
the  State  and  brought  up  to  that  high  standard  of  discipline 
necessary  in  all  organized  bodies,  she  maintained  it  to  the 
last.  Always  ready,  never  murmuring,  she  covered  herself 
with  glory  upon  upwards  of  one  hundred  bloody  battlefields. 

When  the  lines  were  broken  on  the  morning  of  2  April, 
the  brave  senior  Captain  of  the  regiment,  W.  T.  Nicholson, 
was  killed.  He  had  been  with  the  regiment  from  the  begin- 
ning and  had  participated  in  thirty  odd  battles.  The  writer, 
who  as  First  Lieutenant,  would  have  succeeded  to  the  Cap- 
taincy, was  captured.   He  received  a  scalp  wound,  the  m-uzzle 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  671 

of  the  gun  being  in  such  close  proximity  to  his  head  as  to  blow 
powder  into  his  face,  nearly  destroying  his  eyes  and  knocking 
him  senseless  upon  the  ground.  Of  course  he  was  captured 
and  reaching  the  enemy's  lines,  he  found  many  of  his  friends 
there  who  had  been  captured  at  the  same  time.  The  wound 
proved  to  be  of  small  consequence  and  his  friends  set  them- 
selves to  work  picking  the  powder  from  his  face,  which  they 
succeeded  in  doing  very  nicely.  The  prisoners  were  then 
sent  to  City  Point  and  from  there  to  Washington.  The  next 
day  a  train  load  of  officers  was  started  for  Johnson's  island, 
when  near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  the  dead  hours  of  the  night, 
the  writer  jumped  from  the  window  of  the  car  while  it 
was  running  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  an  hour.  Why  he  did 
not  break  his  neck,  the  Lord  only  knows,  but  he  was  not  even 
hurt,  except  a  few  scratches  on  the  forehead  where  it  plowed 
in  the  sand.  Fortunately  for  him,  he  had  on  a  suit  of  clothes 
made  of  an  old  gray  shawl,  such  as  the  students  at  Chapel 
Hill  wore  before  the  war,  cutting  off  the  brass  buttons  from 
the  coat  and  vest  and  substituting  wooden  pegs,  he  was  in 
perfect  disguise  and  passed  as  a  laborer,  working  a  day  or  so 
at  once  place,  then  moving  farther  south,  until  he  reached 
Baltimore,  thence  by  steamer  to/Richmond,  but  too  late  to  do 
any  more  fighting  for  G-eneral  Lee  had  surrendered.  He  pro- 
cured a  parole  and  started  for  his  home  in  Halifax  County,  N. 
O. ;  when  near  Garysburg,  in  Northampton  County,  he  met  a 
regiment  of  negro  soldiers  who  had  gone  from  ]S"orf oik  to  Wel- 
don  to  put  telegraph  wires  in  fix,  or  rather  tO'  escort  the  tele- 
graph i  men;  about  a  dozen  stragglers  stopped  him  and  robbed 
him  of  the  money  he  had  made  in  Pennsylvania  and  Mary- 
land; then  one  concluded  to  kill  him,  leveled  his  gun  and 
pulled  trigger,  but  one  of  his  companions  knocked  his  gun  up 
just  at  that  instant,  the  ball  passing  over  the  writer's  head, 
again  blowing  his  face  full  of  powder.  They  then  left  him 
to  his  fate.  This  was  the  last  gun  the  writer  ever  heard 
fired  by  a  Yankee  soldier. 

I  have  attempted  not  to  mention  the  name  of  any  living 
person  in  the  body  of  this  sketch.  While  so  many  vied  with 
one  another  and  struggled  so  hard  upon  many  a  bloody  field, 
it  seems  unjust  to  single  out  one  from  among  so  many  brave 


672  North  Cakolina  Teoops,  1861-'65. 

men  to  give  special  praise,  and  yet  I  feel  I  would  be  derelict 
of  my  duty  if  I  neglected  to  mention  the  meritorious  conduct 
of  one  who,  upon  every  battlefield  without  a  solitary  excep- 
tion, was  the  most  cool,  collected  person  it  was  my  privilege 
to  know  during  the  war.  This  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wm. 
G.  Morris,  of  Dallas,  IST.  C.  I  do  not  know  even  now  whether 
he  is  living  or  not. 

"Honor  to  whom  honor  is  due"  is  a  true  maxim,  and  it  be- 
hooves us  now  to  let  posterity  know  in  what  light,  we,  his  old 
comrades,  regarded  him.  By  common  consent  we  "dubbed" 
him  the  Marshal  Ney  of  the  gallant  old  Thirty-seventh.  A 
little  story  is  told  of  him  at  Chancellorsville.  On  the  even- 
ing of  22  May,  while  the  regiment  was  undergoing  a  most 
unmerciful  artillery  fire  and  had  thrown  itself  flat  on  the 
edge  of  the  turnpike,  he  remained  standing  on  the  road,  his 
friends  in  the  meantime  urging  him  to  lie  down,  which  he  re- 
fused to  do.  Soon  a  piece  of  shell  struck  him  on  the  foot. 
"See  that,"  he  exclaimed.  "If  I  had  been  lying  down  like  you 
darn  fools,  it  would  have  hit  me  on  the  head." 

This  recalls  another  little  incident  which  happened  at  the 
same  time  and  afforded  me  a  great  deal  of  amusement,  but 
may  not  be  such  to  those  who  may  read  it  unless  they  knew 
the  parties.  I  will  therefore  attempt  a  short  description  of  the 
principal  one.  While  this  terrible  artillery  fire  was  going 
on,  one  of  my  company  commenced  praying.  We  all  perhaps 
did  the  same,  but  not  quite  so  conspicuously  as  he  did.  He 
went  down  low  and  loud,  long  and  strong.  He  prayed  for  all 
he  was  worth.  When  the  firing  ceased  and  we  took  our  posi- 
tion in  the  road  ready  to  move,  a  squatty  little  fellow  named 
George  Patrick,  almost  as  broad  as  he  was  long,  with  a  face 
something  like  a  dinner  plate  and  red  as  a  turkey's  snout,  and 
a  mouth  almost  from  ear  to  ear,  made  a  little  speech.  It  ran 
about  thus :  "Gentlemen,  I  want  to  tell  you  all  something, 
and  I  want  these  ofiicers  to  remember  it.  I'm  never  gwine  to 
stay  in  another  such  place  as  that.  You  may  shoot  me  if  you 
want  to,  but  if  you  take  me  in  another  place  like  that,  I'm 
a-goin'  to  leave,  but  gentlemen,  didn't  Mitchell  pray  ?"  then 
opened  that  big  mouth  and  laughed  as  if  there  was  no  such 
thing  as  cannon  balls.   "Pat"  was  a  great  pet  with  us,  one  of 


Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  673 

the  best  soldiers  in  the  company ;  but  would  under  all  circum- 
stances have  his  fun.  He  passed  through  the  entire  war, 
was  in  every  battle  the  regiment  was  engaged  in,  without  re- 
ceiving a  scratch.  * 

Memory  often  takes  me  back  to  those  trying  days  and  I 
fight  my  battles  over  and  shed  my  tears  in  silence  over  the 
many  dear  fallen  friends,  shattered  hopes  and  cruel  misfor- 
tunes. The  world  does  not  know  of  what  material  the  Army 
of  General  Lee  was  composed,  and  I  regret  to  say  the  genera- 
tion in  the  South  that  has  grown  up  since  the  ending  of  that 
bloody  struggle  regard  it  with  either  indifference  or  as  a 
fortunate  ending.  This  of  course  is  mortifying  indeed  to 
those  who  struggled  so  hard  and  so  long  for  what  they  knew  to 
be  right.  Yes,  we  fought  in  the  conviction  that  we  were  de- 
fending those  inalienable  rights  guaranteed  by  our  forefath- 
ers. I  often  think  those  who  now  sleep  upon  far  away  battle 
fields  are  the  most  blessed,  because  they  never  realized  the 
mortification  of  a  subjugated  people. 

After  leaving  our  position  under  the  terrible  bombard- 
ment at  Hare's  Hill,  we  were  informed  of  the  death  of  our  old 
comrade,  Captain  Edward  T.  jSTicholson.  Captain  JSTichol- 
son  had  left  us  in  the  early  part  of  1863  by  promotion  on 
Genera]  Lane's  staff  as  I.  G.  and  was  aftenvards  transferred 
to  General  Eobert  D.  Johnston's  Brigade  as  A.  A.  G. 

Closely  connected  with  him  for  years  at  college  and  in  the 
army,  I  can  truthfully  say  now,  thirty-six  years  after  his 
death,  that  I  have  never  yet  known  that  man  who  in  my  hum- 
ble opinion,  has  reached  that  high  standard  of  morality  that 
Edward  T.  ISTicholson  possessed.  In  seven  short  days  fol- 
lowed the  death  of  his  noble  brother.  Captain  William  T. 
JSTicholson.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  knew  him  intimately. 
We  had  fought  upon  twenty  odd  battle  fields  together,  and  it 
was  my  privilege  and  duty  in  the  heat  of  battle,  while  re- 
ceiving instructions  from  him,  to  watch  him  closely,  and  in 
all  of  these  conflicts,  no  matter  how  trying  the  circum- 
stances, never  saw  him  lose  his  balance.  He  was  a  man 
"bom  to  command  men,"  and  had  he  lived  he  would  have 
proved  a  great  factor  in  adjusting  political  affairs  during  re- 
construction days. 
43 


674  North  Carolina  Troops.   1861-'65. 

JSTo'W  I  wish  to  say  one  word  of  praise  of  the  noble  men 
who  fell  at  Gettysburg.  Major  Owen  IST.  Brown,  the  bravest 
of  the  brave,  idolized  it  might  be  said  by  his  regiment,  gave 
up  his  life  there  and  planted  close  to  him  in  one 
grave  are  those  three  noble  graduates  of  Chapel  Hill — 'Iowa 
M.  Royster,  Lewis  Battle  and  William  Mickle.  Poor 
Koyster,  how  well  do  I  remember  his  coming  to  me  as  we 
were  about  to  advance  and  showing  me  a  hole  in 
his  pants,  and  telling  me  he  was  shot  through  the  thigh,  but 
he  intended  to  keep  on  with  the  command.  There 
are  few  men  who  would  not  have  gone  to  the  rear,  but  not 
so  with  Royster.  I  can  see  him  now  in  his  new  uniform 
with  flashing  sword,  he  cheered  his  men  on  apparently  totally 
oblivious  of  the  fact  that  a  shrapnel  bullet  had  already  passed 
through  his  right  leg,  on  he  rushed  until  the  last  drop  of  his 
manly  blood  was  spilt  upon  his  country's  altar.  Children 
of  the  South,  can  jon  hear  of  these  noble  feats  of  your  coun- 
trymen without  having  your  hearts  swell  with  pride? 

General  James  H.  Lane,  our  Brigade  commander, 
was  all  that  a  true  soldier  could  be  upon  a  battlefield.  Noth- 
ing could  excite  him  and  when  he  put  his  troops  in  battle 
he  always  went  with  them.  Always  enjoying  good  health 
and  miraculously  escaping  a  mortal  wound,  he  kept  close  with 
his  brigade  and  passed  through  as  many  battles  as  any  person 
in  the  Confederate  army,  dearly  beloved  by  his  entire  brigade. 

It  is  with  much  diffidence  that  I  submit  this  sketch,  for  I 
feel  as  if  I  have  not  done  justice  to  the  grand  old  regiment.  I 
now  place  my  humble  wreath  of  immortelles  at  the  shrine  of 
the  noble  men  who  composed  the  gallant  old  Thirty-seventh. 

OcTAvius  A.  Wiggins. 
Wilmington,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THJRTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

1.    John  Asbford,  Colonel  2.    Robert  F.  Armfleld,  Lieut.-Colonel. 

3.    IVFiles  H.  Cowles,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant. 


THIRTY-EIGHTH  REQIMENT. 


By  lieutenant-colonel  GEORGE  W.  FLOWERS. 


The  Thirty-eighth  Eegiment  of  IS'orth  Carolina  Troops 
was  formed  of  volunteers  who  enlisted  for  twelve  months,  and 
was  organized"  at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Ealeigh,  N.  C,  lY 
January,  1862,  under  the  command  of  Major  J.  J.  Iredell, 
commander  of  the  post.  The  regiment  was  composed  of  the 
following  companies: 

Company  A — Spartan  Band,  Duplin  Counij — A.  G. 
Moseley,  Captain ;  First  Lieutenant,  D.  Gr.  Morrisey ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Alsa  J.  Brown;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  D. 
]£■  Pearsall. 

Company  B — Men  of  Yadkin,  Yadkin  County — C.  L. 
Cooke,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  E.  F.  Armfield;  Second 
Lieutenant,  A.  W.  Blackburn;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
L.  F.  Haynes. 

Company  C — Sampson  Farmers,  Sampson  County — Peter 
B.  T'roublefield,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  E.  F.  Allen; 
Second  Lieutenant,  John  F.  Wilson ;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Hinton  J.  Hudson. 

Company  D — Sampson  Plowhoys,  Sampson  County — Jno. 
Ashford,  Captaia;  First  Lieutenant,  E.  Bell;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, A.  D.  King;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  H.  C.  Dar- 
den. 

Company  E — Richmond  Boys,  Richmond  County — Oliver 
H.  Dockery,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  S.  M.  Ingraham; 
Second  Lieutenant,  D.  G.  McEae ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
M.  W.  Covington. 

Company  F — Catawba  Wildcats,  Gatawha  County — 
Joshua  B.  Little,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  D.  McD. 
Yount;  Second  Lieutenant,  H.  L.  Eoberts;  Junior  Second 
Jjieutenant,  F.  D.  Eoseman. 


676  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Company  G — Rocky  Face  Bangers,  Alexander  County^ 
G.  W.  Sharpe,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  John  E.  Rhein; 
Second  Lieutenant,  George  W.  Flowers ;  Junior  Second  Lieu-^ 
tenant,  James  W.  Stephenson. 

Company  H — Uwharrie  Boys,  Randolph  County — ISToah 
Eush,  Captain;  First  Lieutenant,  L.  D.  Andrews;  Second 
Lieutenant,  J.  IST.  Keames;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  N. 
H.  Hopkins. 

Company  I — Cleveland  Marksmen,  Cleveland  County — ■ 
0.  P.  Gardiner,  Captain ;  First  Lieutenant,  G.  Blanton ;  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant,  D.  Magness;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  O- 
Beam. 

Company  K — Carolina  Boys,  Cumberland  County — M* 
McR.  McLaughlin,  Captain ;  First  Lieutenant,  Angus  Shaw ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  A.  M.  Smith ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant, 
D.  A.  Moore. 

The  regiment  was  organized  (Company  K  being  absent), 
by  electing  William  J.  Hoke,  Lincoln  County  (Captain  of 
Company  K,  Bethel  Regiment),  Colonel;  Captain  Oliver  H. 
Dockery,  Richmond  County,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Captain 
George  W.  Sharpe,  Alexander  County,  Major. 

The  following  officers  were  then  appointed : 

HoEACE  L.  Robaeds^  Lincoln  County,  Quartermaster. 

Benjamin  H.  Sumnee^  Lincoln  County,  Commissary. 

Miles  M.  Cowles,  Yadkin  County,  Adjutant. 

Petee  W.  Young^  Granville  County,  Surgeon. 

J.  Stuaet  Devane^  Duplin  County,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

D.  M.  McIntyee,  Duplin  County,  Sergeant  Major. 

Maeion  Roseman^  Catawba  County,  Quartermaster  Ser- 
geant. 

William  C.  Webb,  Cleveland  County,  Commissary  Ser- 
geant. 

John  0.  Watees,  Cleveland  County,  Color  Sergeant. 

CoLOE  GuAED,  J.  J.  Johnson,  Company  H ;  S.  B.  Herriiig, 
Company  C ;  F.  A.  Clifton,  Company  C ;  J.  H.  Irving,  Com- 
pany G;  D.  A.  Black,  Company  K. 

Rev.  Julian  P.  Faison,  Chaplain,  Company  A. 

Lieutenant  R.  W.  Capell  was  elected  Captain  of  Company 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  677 

3E,  to  succeed  Captain  Dockery;  Lieutenant  John  E.  Khein, 
Company  G,  was  elected  to  succeed  Captain  Sharpe ;  George 
M.  Yoder,  Company  F,  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant  to 
succeed  H.  L.  Eobards;  George  W.  Flowers,  Company  G, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  to  succeed  Lieutenant,  Ehein ; 
Oliver  H.  Patterson,  Second  Lieutenant,  to  succeed  G.  W. 
Flowers;  D.  G.  McEae,  Company  E,  was  elected  Second 
Lieutenant,  to  succeed  Lieutenant  Capell. 

On  10  February,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed to  Washington,  N.  C. ;  but  on  reaching  Goldsboro  the  or- 
der was  changed  and  the  regiment  ordered  to  Halifax,  thence 
to  Hamilton.  On  12  February,  under  orders  from  General 
Gatlin,  the  troops  returned  to  Halifax,  and  then  proceeded 
to  Weldon  to  defend  the  bridge  at  that  point,  reaching  Camp 
Leventhorpe  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  near  Garysburg, 
on  the  14th.  The  regiment  remained  here  until  the  18th, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Camp  Floyd,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  neao*  Weldon.  While  in  Camp  at  this  place  there  was 
much  sickness  and  many  deaths.  On  the  21st  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Camp  Vance,  two  miles  east  of  Goldsboro,  on 
the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Eailroad,  and  on  the  22d  was  air 
tached  to  the  Third  .Brigade,  Army  of  JSTorth  Carolina,  com- 
manded by  General  Joseph  E.  Anderson.  This  brigade  was 
composed  of  the  First  South  Carolina  Eegiment,  Colonel 
Hamilton;  Thirty-fourth  ISTorth  Carolina,  Colonel  Leven- 
thorpe ;  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Hoke ;  Second 
Georgia  Battalion,  Captain  Doyle;  Third  Louisiana  Battal- 
ion, Lietitenant-Colonel  Bridford.  On  8  April,  the  Forty- 
fifth  Georgia,  Colonel  Hardiman,  and  on  10  April,  Forty- 
ninth  Georgia,  Colonel  Lane,  were  attached  to  the  brigade. 

While  here  the  troops  received  news  of  the  passage  of  the 
conscript  law,  which  gave  some  dissatisfaction,  because  they 
thought  it  unfair  to  hold  twelve-month  troops  for  a  longer 
time,  but  after  careful  consideration  they  cheerfully  acqui- 
esced. On  18  April,  1862,  General  Holmes,  in  command  at 
Goldsboro,  ordered  the  regiment  at  Camp  Mason  to  re-organ- 
ize for  the  war.     The  result  was  as  follows : 

Thos.  S.  Kenan,  Colonel,  (did  not  accept)  ;  Wm.  J.  Hoke 
elected  on  24th. 


678  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

R.  F.  Aemfield^  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

L.  D.  AndeewSj  Major. 

Company  A— A.  G.  Mosely,  Captain;  D.  D.  Morrisey, 
First  Lieutenant;  N.  E.  Armstrong;  Second  Lieutenant;  A. 
J.  Brown,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  B — 0.  L.  Cook,  Captain;  A.  W.  Blackburn, 
First  Lieutenant;  L.  F.  Haynes,  Second  Lieutenant;  J.  B. 
Hare,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  C— J.  T.  Wilson,  Captain;  R.  F.  Allen,  First 
Lieutenant;  Hinton  J.  Hudson,  Second  Lieutenant;  J.  W» 
Darden,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  D — John  Ashford,  Captain;  E.  R.  Bell,  First 
Lieutenant;  H.  C.  Darden,  Second  Lieutenant;  J.  W.  Dar- 
den, Jvinior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  E — D.  C.  McRae,  Captain;  S.  M.  Ingram,  First 
Lieutenant ;  Alfred  Dockery,  Second  Lieutenant ;  M.  T.  Cov* 
ington.  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  F — D.  McD.  Yount,  Captain ;  F.  D.  Roseman, 
First  Lieutenant;  J.  A.  Yount,  Second  Lieutenant;  Alonzo 
Deal,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  G — G.  W.  Flowers,  Captain;  0.  H.  Patterson, 
First  Lieutenant;  W.  A.  Stephenson,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Abner  Harrington,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  H — W.  L.  Thornburg,  Captain ;  J.  IST.  Keames, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Marley  Cranf ord.  Second  Lieutenant ;  Al» 
exander  Murdock,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  I — O.  P.  Gardiner,  Captain ;  B.  F.  Hunt,  First 
Lieutenant;  O.  P.  Beam,  Second  Lieutenant;  W.  C.  Webb, 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  K— M.  M.  McLaughlin,  Captain ;  Angus  Shaw, 
First  Lieutenant;  A.  M.  Smith,  Second  Lieutenant;  D.  A. 
Monroe,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Miles  M.  Cowles,  Adjutant. 

W.  R.  Edwards^  Quartermaster  (17  June,  1862). 

B.  H.  Sumnee,  Commissary. 

J.  L.  AndbewSj  Ordnance  Sergeant. 

During  the  war,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned,  the  regi* 
ment  had  the  following  field  officers: 

Colonel,   John  Ashford;   Lieutenant-Colonel,   John  Ash- 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  679 

ford,  George  W.  Flowers;  Major,  Jolm  Ashford,  M.  McR. 
McLaughlin,  George  W.  Flowers,  J.  T.  Wilson;  Adjutant, 
David  M.  Mclntyre;  Ensign,  Wesley  F.  Mathewson;  Ser- 
geant-Major,  Agrippa  S.  Hardister;  Chaplain,  Whitfield  S. 
McDiarmid. 

At  the  time  of  the  election  Colonel  Kenan  was  in  command 
of  the  Forty-third  Regiment  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  24 
April  received  his  commission  as  Colonel  of  that  regiment 
and  therefore  did  not  accept  the  command  of  the  Thirty- 
eighth.  As  soon  as  the  reorganization  was  completed,  24 
April,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  proceed  by  rail  to  Rich- 
mond, and  on  the  27th  it  was  ordered  to  Guinea  Station, 
where  on  the  29th  it  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
General  Maxcy  Gregg  commanding,  and  ordered  to  Milford 
Station.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  guarding  the  bridges 
on  the  Mattaponi,  Wild  Cat,  North  and  South  Anna  runs 
until  9  May,  when  it  was  relieved  by  Colonel  Tansil,  Third 
Virginia  Artillery,  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Gregg 
at  the  Summit.  The  regiment  was  called,  12  May,  to  meet 
the  enemy,  who  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Hamilton's- 
crossing,  below  Fredericksburg,  but  the  enemy  withdrew  and 
no  engagement  ensued.  This  was  the  first  time  the  regiment 
was  in  line  of  battle  preparatory  to  fighting.  The  following 
day  the  troops  for  the  first  time  fired  on  the  enemy,  a  number 
of  whom  were  in  a  boat  below  the  city ;  all  were  killed  except 
two  or  three,  who  swam  ashore. 

About  this  time  the  soldiers  were  deprived  of  their  tents 
and  much  suffering  was  caused  by  the  extreme  cold  rains. 
The  command  remained  near  Fredericksburg  until  25  May, 
when  it  set  out  on  a  march  at  sunset  in  the  direction  of  Han- 
over Junction,  marching  all  night  and  all  next  day  through 
mud  so  that  many  of  the  soldiers  lost  tlieir  shoes  and  almost 
gave  out  from  fatigue.  The  regiment  camped  ten  miles 
north  Cf  Richmond  27  May,  and  afterwards  did  picket  duty 
along  the  Chickahominy.  On  14  June  the  Thirty-eighth  was 
transferred  to  General  Wm.  D.  Pender's  Brigade,  composed 
of  the  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  W.  J.  Hoke; 
Thirty-fourth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  R.  H.  Riddick; 
Twenty-second  North  Carolina,  Colonel  James  Conner;  Six- 


680  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

teenth  North  Carolina,  Colonel  McElroy.  The  Thirteenth 
.North  Carolina,  Colonel  A.  M.  Scales,  was  attached  in  the 
■winter.  Pender's  Brigade  formed  the  Sixth  of  the  "Light 
Division"  commanded  by  General  A.  P.  Hill.  The  division 
crossed  Meadow  bridge  26  June,  and  it  was  seen  from  scat- 
tered portfolios  and  other  luxuries  to  which  the  Southern 
soldier  was  a  stranger,  that  the  Yankee  picket  at  that  place 
had  fled  with  great  precipitation.  As  soon  as  the  Thirty- 
eighth  had  gotten  a  little  beyond  Mechanicsville  it  was  saluted 
with  heavy  shelling.  A  line  of  battle  was  formed  and  the 
march  continued  until  the  order  was  given  to  charge  the  bat- 
tery that  was  throwing  the  deadly  missiles.  The  heat  was 
intense  and  the  double-quick  march  exhausting,  but  the 
charge  was  kept  up  over  the  open  field  until  the  regiment 
reached  the  summit  of  the  last  elevation  when  a  farm  house, 
yard  and  garden  broke  the  line  somewhat.  The  Yankee  bat- 
teries were  upon  the  summit  of  the  opposite  hill  with  their 
supporting  infantry  in  their  intrenchments,  and  the  old  field 
pines  in  front  cut  down  and  piled  across  the  stumps  which 
were  left,  about  three  feet  high,  forming  an  almost  impassable 
barrier.  The  Thirty-eighth,  alone  and  unsu.ppprted,  charged 
down  the  hill,  the  long  line  of  infantry  playing  upon  it  with  a 
cross  fire.  On  the  soldiers  charged,  in  the  face  of  the  fatal  vol- 
leys, until  the  obstacles  •  were  reached,  when  the  whole  line 
stopped  and  began  returningthe  fire  under  every  disadvantage. 
The  men  were  falling  rapidly  and  it  was  soon  seen  that  to  take 
the  works  was  impossible.  Captain  Thornburg  and  Adju- 
tant Cowles  were  in  front,  urging  the  men  forward.  The  re- 
treat was  ordered  but  the  noise  was  so  deafening  nothing 
could  be  heard.  Major  Andrews  reached  Captain  Thorn- 
burg and  Adjutant  Cowles  and  gave  them  the  orders  to  re- 
treat, after  which  the  word  was  passed  along  the  line  and 
the  retreat  up  the  hill  was  begun.  The  enemy  continuing 
their  deadly  firing.  It  was  about  sunset  when  the  r^ment 
reached  safely  the  rear.  General  Pender  in  his  report  says : 
"I  at  once  changed  the  .direction  of  two  of  my  regiments  so 
as  to  bring  them  to  the  right  of  the  artillery,  and  succeeded 
in  getting  in  150  or  200  yards  of  it  before  we  were  opened 
upon,  but  when  they  did  open  upon  us  it  was  destructive,  and 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  681 

the  obstacles  so  great  in  front,  the  creek  and  the  mill  dam, 
that  after  the  Thirty-eighth  JSTorth  Carolina  had  reached  these 
obstacles,  and  in  less  than  100  yards  of  the  enemy's  rifle  pits, 
they  had  to  fall  back.  This  regiment  here  advanced  boldly 
and  maintained  its  ground  well."     *     *     * 

I  should  state,  while  relating  the  incidents  of  this  day's 
battle,  that  Colonel  Hoke,  Thirty-eighth  ISTorth  Carolina,  was 
wounded,  and  had  to  leave  the  field.  The  Adjutant  of  the 
Thirty-eighth  was  also  wounded,  but  nobly  maintained  his 
post  until  after  dark. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Armfield  took  command  as  soon  as  Col- 
onel Hoke  was  wounded,  which  was  soon  after  getting  under 
fire.  Adjutant  Miles  M.  Cowles  received  a  wovind  from 
which  he  soon  died,  the  regiment  losing  one  of  its  bravest 
officers.  Lieutenant  Covington,  Company  E,  and  Lieutenant 
Darden,  Company  D,  were  killed,  and  Lieutenants  Dan  F. 
Eoseman,  Company  F,  and  Angus  Shaw,  Company  H,  were 
severely  wounded. 

In  Company  G,  Captain  Flowers  and  Lieutenant  Harring- 
ton were  severely  wounded,  and  out  of  32  men  in  the  com- 
pany at  the  opening  of  the  engagement,  2Y  were  either  killed 
or  wounded.  About  420  men  belonging  to  the  regiment  were 
engaged  in  the  fight,  the  others  being  on  picket.  The  loss 
was  152  in  killed  'and  wounded. 

Colonel  Hoke  in  his  report  speaks  in  highest  terms  of  the 
conduct  of  Captain  B.  H.  Sumner,  A.  C.  S.,  Sergeant  Major 
J).  M.  Mclntyre,  John  Young,  an  attache  to  the  regiment, 
and  Edward  Goldsmith,  a  Drill  Master.  The  Color  Bearer, 
John  O.  Waters,  was  severely  wounded,  but  remained  bravely 
at  the  head  of  the  regiment  and  bore  his  colors  throiigh  the 
fight,  returning  them  safely.  During  the  night  the  troops 
were  collected  as  well  as  possible,  and  it  was  late  before  the 
Thirty-eighth  was  gotten  together,  when  the  worn-out  soldiers 
slept  on  their  arms.  At  early  dawn  the  march  was  begun, 
the  regiment  passing  over  the  spot  where  so  many  men  were 
lost  the  evening  before.  The  enemy  fled  and  the  Confeder- 
ates marched  through  the  deserted  camp.  General  Hill  in 
his  report  says:  "It  was  a  costly  and  useless  sacrifice,  for 
early  the  next  morning  our  troops  crossed  the  mill  pond  and 


882  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

the  Federal  forces,  seeing  their  position  turned,  betook  them- 
selves to  hasty  flight." 

The  Federals  made  a  stand  at  Gaines'  Mill,  when  the 
Thirty-eighth  was  engaged,  and  the  soldiers,  though  weary 
and  worn,  behaved  nobly.  About  sunset  the  shouting  along 
the  line  announced  the  fact  that  the  enemy  was  running  and 
a  victory  was  gained.  After  camping  on  the  battlefield  over 
night,  the  march  was  continued.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Arm- 
field  being  sick.  Major  L.  D.  Andrews  was  now  in  command. 
The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Cold  Harbor  and  Frazier's 
Farm.  At  the  latter  place  the  Confederate  troops  fought 
with  unusual  bravery,  not  seeming  to  realize  the  presence  of 
danger,  and  victory  was  again  gained  by  the  Confederates. 
The  Southern  soldiers  were  now  all  jubilant.  McClellan'a 
"On  to  Richmond"  was  now  changed  to  "On  to  Harrison's 
Landing,"  where  the  gunboats  lay.  The  pursuit  of  the  en- 
emy was  continued,  and  the  next  engagement  was  at  Malvern 
Hill.  The  battle  at  this  place  was  a  very  hard-fought  one, 
but  the  Thirty-eighth  was  not  in  the  thickest  of  it,  and  did 
not  lose  very  heavily.  The  enemy  continued  to  flee,  and 
was  pursued  to  his  gunboats  at  Harrison's  Landing.  After 
remaining  there  for  a  few  days,  the  division  v(ras  ordered  to 
Richmond,  and  it  remained  below  that  city  until  27  July, 
when  General  A.  P.  Hill's  division  was  attached  to  Jack" 
son's  Corps,  and  marched  to  Gordonsville,  Va.  On  7  Au- 
gust  Jackson  moved  from  Gordonsville  to  confront  General 
Pope  in  the  Valley,  and  on  the  9th  he  fell  upon  General 
Banks'  right  flank  at  Cedar  Mountain.  At  one  time  the 
day  seemed  doubtful.  When  the  foe  had  well  nigh  crushed 
General  Garnet,  Branch  went  gallantly  to  his  rescue,  and 
with  Pender's  and  other  brigades  of  Hill's  Division  drove 
the  enemy  headlong  from  the  field.  Major  Andrews  having 
been  taken  sick  at  Gordonsville,  Captain  Jno.  Ashford  was  in 
command  of  the  Thirty-eighth  and  received  commendation 
from  General  Pender  for  his  coolness  and  skillfulness  in 
handling  his  men.  D.  M.  Melntyre  was  now  Adjutant, 
having  been  promoted  on  9  July,  for  gallantry  and  efficiency. 
On  account  of  ill  health  Major  Andrews  resigned  his  com- 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  683 

mission,  and  on  21  August  Captain  John  Ashford  was  pro- 
moted to  Major. 

Jackson  made  a  wide  circuit  behind  the  mountains  to  cut 
the  Federal  communioations  at  Manassas.  On  the  26th  Pen- 
der's Brigade  gained  a  splendid  victory  over  a  brigade  of  the 
enemy  at  Manassas  Junction.  Jackson's  single  corps,  num- 
bering less  than  16,000  men,  was  resisting  General  Pope's 
entire  army.  On  the  28th  the  command  formed  line  of  bat- 
tle for  the  memorable  second  battle  of  Manassas,  which  was 
a  series  of  battles  for  three  days.  Pender's  Brigade  took 
possession  of  the  bridge' across  Bull  Bun  and  engaged  the  en- 
emy across  the  river.  His  brigade  finally  crossed  over  to  the 
east  side,  but  the  enemy  withdrew.  The  loss  was  very  slight. 
On  Friday,  the  29th,  the  enemy  changed  position  and  was 
attempting  to  interpose  his  army  between  General  Jackson 
and  Alexandria.  Jackson's  troops  were  arranged  along  the 
Manassas  Gap  Kailroad,  Jackson's  Division  under  Brigadier 
General  Stark  being  on  the  right,  Ewell's,  under  Lawton,  in 
the  centre,  and  A.  P.  Hill's  on  the  left.  The  brigades  of. 
Thomas,  Pender,  Archer  and  Gregg,  were  on  the  extreme  left. 
After  Longstreet  arrived  the  enemy  changed  position  and  be- 
gan to  concentrate  all  its  force  opposite  Hill's  division.  The 
attack  was  received  with  great  steadiness,  and  the  battle  raged 
with  great  fury ;  the  enemy  was  frequently  repulsed,  but  on 
account  of  having  so  many  fresh  troops  the  attack  was  re- 
newed. They  succeeded  in  penetrating  an  interval  between 
Gregg's  and  Thomas'  Divisions.  Pender's  Brigade  was 
placed  in  the  rear  of  Thomas'  with  orders  to  support  it.  Gen- 
eral Pender  in  his  report  says :  "Finally  it  seemed  to  me  to 
be  the  time  to  go  to  his  (Thomas')  assistance.  I  ordered  my 
brigade  forward,  moving  just  to  the  right  of  Colonel  Thomas. 
My  men  moved  forward  very  gallantly,  driving  the  enemy 
back  across  the  railroad  cut,  through  the  woods  on  the  oppo- 
site side  and  beyond  their  batteries  in  the  adjoining  field. 
A  battery  of  the  enemy  which  was  on  the  right  of  the  woods 
as  we  advanced  was  flanked  by  my  command  and  the  cannon- 
eers deserted  their  pieces.  My  line  was  halted  on  the  edge 
of  the  field  in  front  of  the  enemy,  where  I  remained  some 
time,  when,  being  promised  support  from  one  of  the  staff  in 


684  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

one  of  Jackson's  brigades,  I  crossed  the  field  to  attack  the 
batteries.  My  men  advanced  well,  receiving  grape  from  the 
batteries;  but  support  being  waited  for  in  vain,  and  seeing 
columns  on  my  left  and  right  manoeuvering  to  flank  me,  I 
withdrew  and  marched  back  to  the  railroad  cut;  a  little  to  the 
right  of  the  position  previously  held  by  General  Gregg.  Gen- 
eral Archer  very  kindly  came  forward  and  relieved  me  until 
I  could  march  to  the  rear  and  rest  my  men.  I  was  ordered 
to  the  right  to  support  some  one  of  General  Jackson's  brig- 
ades. I  marched  across  the  railroad  embankment,  moving 
obliquely  to  the  left  until  I  had  reached  the  large  field  again 
in  which  the  enemy  were  found.  Finding  nothing  to  do  un- 
less it  was.  to  attack  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  sup- 
ported very  strongly  by  artillery,  I  withdrew  after  receiving 
heavy  fire  of  grape  and  shell.  Getting  back  to  the  railroad 
cut  about  the  point  I  had  reached  the  evening  before,  I  re- 
ceived orders  to  march,  in  conjunction  with  other  troops,  par- 
ticularly those  of  General  Archer,  Colonels  Thomas  and  Tal- 
iaferro. We  all  advanced  together,  taking  the  enemy,  as  it 
were,  in  echelon.  We  advanced  steadily,  driving  the  enemy 
from  the  field  through  the  woods.  While  advancing  through 
the  woods  we  were  exposed  to  a  very  heavy  enfilade  fire  from 
the  right.  We  continued  our  advance  until  after  dark,  when 
we  came  in  contact  with  a  body  of  the  enemy.  Each  fired  a 
volley.  They  ran  and  we  rested  for  the  night.  Thus  ended 
the  Manassas  fight  with  me.  The  brigade,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  skulkers,  behaved  with  great  gallantry  on  both 
these  days.  They  could  not  have  behaved  better.  I  cannot 
particularize  at  this  distant  day,  but  I  well  recollect  that  Cap- 
tain John  Ashford,  commanding  the  Thirty-eighth,  behaved 
with  great  coolness  and  bravery.  I  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  him  on  account  of  a  wound  in  the  leg." 

Six  separate  and  distinct  attacks  were  made  against  Hill's 
Division  and  each  time  repulsed.  General  Jackson  said: 
"The  three  brigades  of  Archer,  Pender  and  Thomas  held  to- 
gether and  drove  everything  before  them,  capturing  the  bat- 
teries and  many  prisoners,  resting  that  night  on  Bull  Run, 
and  the  ground  thus  won  was  occupied  that  night.  These 
brigades  had  penetrated  so  far  within  the  enemy's  lines  that 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  685 

Captain  Ashe,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  to  General  Pen- 
der, was  taken  prisoner  that  night  returning  from  my  head- 
quarters to  his  own  brigade." 

The  regiment  received  considerable  loss.  Lieutenant  Wes. 
A.  Stephenson,  Oonipany  G,  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina, 
a  brave  soldier,  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant  Duncan  Black  was 
wounded.  For  distinguished  gallantry  displayed  in  the  cel- 
ebrated charge.  Sergeant  R.  M.  Sharpe,  Company  G,  was  pro- 
moted to  Second  Junior  Lieutenant.  After  the  wounding  of 
Captain  Ashford,  Captain  M.  McR.  McLaughlin  was  in 
command  of  the  regiment.  Early  next  morning,  1  Septem- 
ber, the  army  marched  forward  and  came  in  contact  with  the 
enemy  late  in  the  evening  at  Ox  Hill.  The  regiment  was  en- 
gaged in  this  fight,  which  raged  with  great  fury,  but  the  en- 
emy retired  from  the  field.  On  4  September  the  army  biv- 
ouacked near  the  Big  Spring,  between  Leesburg  and  the  Poto- 
mac, and  on  the  next  day  the  division  crossed  into  Mary- 
land, near  Leesburg,  but  on  the  llth  re-crossed  into  Virginia 
at  Williamsport.  On  the  next  day  General  White,  with 
3,000  men,  retreated  from  the  town  and  fell  back  upon  Har- 
per's Ferry.  The  enemy  occupied  a  ridge  of  hills,  known 
as  Bolivar  Heights,  extending  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Shen- 
andoah. McLaw's  Division  occupied  Maryland  Heights 
across  the  Potomac,  Walker's  Division  Loudon  Heights  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  to  complete  the  invest- 
ment. General  Hill's  division  was  ordered  to  move  along 
the  left  bank  of  the  Shenandoah  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the 
enemy  and  enter  Harper's  Ferry.  The  Thirty-eighth  was 
in  the  left  of  the  division.  Pender,  Archer  and  Brocken- 
borough  were  directed  to  gain  the  crest  of  the  hill.  General 
Pender  being  entrusted  with  the  execution  of  this  command. 
Colonel  Brewster  was  in  charge  of  the  brigade,  which  ad- 
vanced to  within  about  sixty  yards  of  the  breastworks  on  the 
west  point  of  Bolivar  Heights,  but  the  troops  were  withdrawn. 
N'ext  morning  the  brigades  of  Pender  and  Thomas  marched 
to  within  150  yards  of  the  works,  while  the  artillery  played 
upon  the  enemy.  When  the  artillery  ceased,  Pender  began 
to  advance,  but  the  artillery  opened  again,  and  the  enemy 
showed  the  white  flag,  and  surrendered  about  11,000  prison- 


686  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ers,  12,000  stand  of  arms,  70  pieces  of  artillery,  and  many- 
stores.  Captain  Mcholas  E.  Armstrong,  Company  A,  and 
Lieutenant  Smith,  Company  K,  were  severely  wounded. 

Hill's  Division  remained  to  parole  the  prisoners  and  send 
off  the  captured  goods,  and  on  17  September,  moved  to 
Sharpsburg,  leaving  Thomas'  Brigade  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
At  Sharpsburg  occurred  one  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the 
civil  war.  General  Hill  arrived  in  time  tO'  save  the  day,  but 
Pender's  Brigade  on  the  right  of  the  division  was  not  actively 
engaged,  being  under  fire  at  long  range  of  musketry. 

The  division  recrossed  the  Potomac  into  Virginia  on  the 
night  of  18th  with  tl;e  rest  of  the  army,  and  on  the  20th,  at 
Shepherdstown,  were  ordered  to  drive  some  brigades  of  the 
enemy  across  the  river.  The  enemy  massed  in  front 
of  Pender's  Brigade  and  endeavored  to  turn  his  left.  Gen- 
eral Pender  became  hotly  engaged  and  informing  Archer  of 
his  danger  he  (Archer)'  marched  by  the  left  flank,  and  form- 
ing on  Pender's  left,  a  simultaneous,  daring  charge  was  made 
and  the  enemy  driven  pell  mell  into  the  river.  Then  com- 
menced the  most  terrible  slaughter  the  war  witnessed.  The 
broad  surface  of  the  Potomac  was  blue  with  the  floating 
bodies  of  the  slain.  But  few  escaped  to  tell  the  tale.  By 
their  own  account  they  lost  3,000  men  killed  and  drowned 
from  one  brigade  alone. 

General  Pender  in  his  report  says:  "Captain  Ashford, 
commanding  the  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina  at  Manassas 
Junction  and  at  Manassas,  when  he  was  wounded,  has  entitled 
himself  to  notice  as  well  as  promotion  by  his  uniform  bravery 
and  good  conduct.  Lieutenants  A.  J.  Brown  and  J.  M.  Kob- 
inson,  also  of  the  same  regiment,  have  attracted  my  attention 
more  than  once,  as  also  Adjutant  D.  M.  Mclntyre."  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Armfield,  having  returned  to  the  regiment  the 
day  before  the  battle,  was  in  command  and  was  severely 
wounded. 

On  13  December,  the  army  met  Bumside's  army  organized 
in  three  Grand  Divisions  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  At  this 
time  General  Hill  occupied  the  front  line  of  the  right  of  our 
army  formed  of  two  regiments  of  Fields'  Brigade  and  the 
brigades  of  Archer,  Lane  and  Pender,  the  latter  being  on  the 


Thirty-Eighth  Regimknt.  687 

extreme  lecft.  "The  enemy  made  several  attempts  to 
advance,  but  -were  repulsed."  (General  A.  P.  Hill's  report). 
From  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  entire  absence  of 
all  protection  against  artillery,  Pender's  Brigade  re- 
ceived the  greatest  part  of  the  terrible  fire.  General.  Pen- 
der was  himself  wounded.  During  the  temporary  absence 
of  General  Pender,  the  command  of  the  brigade  de- 
volved upon  Colonel  Scales,  of  the  Thirteenth.  General  Pen- 
der, though  wounded,  resumed  the  command  of  his  brigade 
as  soon  as  his  wound  was  dressed. 

After  the  withdrawal  of  the  enemy  the  regiment,  with  Pen- 
der's Brigade,  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Camp  Gregg,  be- 
low Fredericksburg,  and  did  picket  duty  near  Moss  Creek 
church.  On  27  December  Colonel  William  J.  Hoke  rejoined 
the  regiment.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Armfield,  while  at  home 
on  furlough,  on  account  of  a  wound  received  at  Shepards- 
town,  was  elected  solicitor,  and  resigned  his  position  in  the 
army.  Captain  John  Ashf  ord  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  General  Hill's  order : 

Headqtjaetees  Light  Division^ 

Camp  Beanch,  Sept.  24,  1862. 
Soldiers  of  the  Light  Division : 

You  have  done  well  and  I  am  pleased  with  you.  You 
have  fought  in  every  battle  from  Mechanicsville  to  Shepards- 
town  and  no  man  can  say  that  the  Light  Division  was  ever 
broken.  You  held  the  left  at  Manassas  against  overwhelm- 
ing numbers,  and  saved  the  army.  You  saved  the  day  at 
Sharpsburg,  and  at  Shepherdstown  you  were  selected  to  face  a 
storm  of  round  shot,  shell  and  grape,  such  as  I  never  before 
saw.  I  am  proud  to  say  to  you  that  your  services  are  appre- 
ciated by  our  general,  and  that  you  have  a  reputation  in  this 
army  which  it  should  be  the  object  of  every  officer  and  pri- 
vate to  sustain. 

A.  P.  Hill, 

Major  General. 

The  regiment  remained  in  camp  until  28  April,  1863, 
when  the  command  marched  in  the  direction  of  Fredericks- 


688  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

burg,  and  remained  in  camp  below  the  city  until  the  evening 
of  1  May. 

On  the  morning  of  2  May  Jackson  began  his  flank  march  to 
Chancellorsville,  and  after  a  long  and  fatiguing  journey  the 
division  was  placed  at  right  angles  to  the  old  turnpike  road, 
Hill's  Division  being  third  in  line,  Rodes'  and  Colston's  being 
ahead  of  him.  Hooker,  having  thrown  up  heavy  works,  west, 
south  and  east,  with  the  Chancellor  house  behind  the  centre, 
and  with  the  dense  thicket  in  front,  was  in  a  position  almost 
impregnable.  The  assault  on  his  flank  was  ordered  about  6 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  Confederates  rushed  forward, 
cheering  wildly,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  enemy  were  com- 
pletely demoralized  and  fled.  On  account  of  the  thickets 
the  lines  had  been  mingled  in  confusion  and  it  was  necessary 
to  reform  the  lines.  The  third  line  (Hill's  Division)  was  or- 
dered to  the  front.  Pender's  Brigade  entered  the  road  and 
pushed  on  by  the  flank  until  they  reached  the  most  advanced 
position  of  the  troops.  Here  in  the  road  the  whole  brigade 
received  a  most  destructive  shelling  from  the  batteries  near 
Chancellorsville.  Hill's  Division  was  now  in  front,  and  was 
engaged  in  relieving  those  who  had  been  in  the  front  line 
during  the  evening.  On  all  sides  the  scattered  troops  were 
gathered  around  their  colors.  Jackson,  accompanied  by  his 
staff  and  escort,  rode  down  the  road  towards  Chancellorsville. 
In  the  obscurity  of  the  night  they  were  mistaken  for  the  en- 
emy and  fired  upon  and  Jackson  was  mortally  wounded.  As 
soon  as  the  musketry  fired  the  enemy's  batteries  again  swept 
the  turnpike  with  shell  and  canister.  Pender  massed  his 
brigade  tO'  the  left  of  the  wood,  threw  out  skirmishers  and  re- 
mained in  this  position  until  Sunday  morning,  3  May.  When 
daylight  came  next  morning  a  private  soldier  in  Company  I, 
of  the  Thirty-eighth  ISTorth  Carolina  Regiment,  found  Jack- 
son's gloves  in  the  road  where  he  had  dropped  them  when 
shot.  They  were  buckskin  gloves  with  the  name  of  T.  J. 
Jackson  inside  the  cuffs. 

Hill  had  intended  an  attack  on  the  enemy  as  soon  as  he 
had  formed  his  line  in  front,  but  soon  after  Jackson  was 
wounded  he  himself  was  wounded,  and  the  attack  was  not 
made.   General  J.  B.  B.  Stuart  was  now  in  command  of  the 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  689 

corps.  About  dawn  Sunday  morning,  3  May,  General  Stu- 
art renewed  the  attack,  General  Heth  in  command  of  Hill's 
Division  taking  the  advance.  The  enemy  were  again  charged 
in  the  face  of  their  deadly  fire,  and  twice  were  their  works 
taken  and  twice  relinquished.  About  10  o'clock  the  Fed- 
eral army  was  driven  by  a  mighty  charge  from  all  the  forti- 
fied positions,  back  towards  the  Rappahannock,  with  heavy 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  and  prisoners.  On  accotmt  of  the 
nature  of  the  country,  this  region  being  known  as  the  wilder- 
ness, rapid  pursuit  was  almost  impossible.  In  the  charge 
the  troops  were  scattered,  and  after  being  gotten  together,  the 
command  maintained  its  position  Sunday  and  Monday,  and 
on  Tuesday  evening  the  enemy  re-crossed  the  river. 

General  Pender  in  his  report  says :  "I  can  truly  say  that 
my  brigade  fought  3  May  with  unsurpassed  courage  and  de- 
termination. I  never  knew  them  tO'  act  universally  so  well. 
I  noticed  no  skulking,  and  they  never  showed  any  hesitation 
in  follomng  their  colors.  My  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
will  show  how  manfully  they  fought  on  that  glorious  day. 
After  having  witnessed  the  fighting  of  nearly  all  the  troops 
that  fought  on  the  left  of  the  road  I  am  satisfied  with  my 
own,  but  by  no  means  claiming  any  superiority.  All  that  I 
saw  behaved  as  heroes.     *     *     * 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Ashford,  Lieutenants  Alsa  J. 
Brown  and  John  Robinson,  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina,  the 
former  part  of  the  time  and  the  latter  part  of  the  time  in 
charge  of  my  sharpshooters,  distinguished  themselves  very 
much.  Colonel  Ashford  was  remarked  for  his  gallantry  by 
all,  and  Lieoitenant  Brown  continued  with  or  in  charge  of  the 
sharp-shooters  for  several  days.  He  is  a  young  man  who  de- 
serves promotion.  He  kept  his  skirmishers  so  close  tO'  the 
enemy's  breastworks  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  as  to  pick  off 
the  artillery  horses,  men  working  on  their  trenches,  and  any 
one  seen  mounted.  He  drove  in  other  skirmishers  on  all  oc- 
casions. I  should  mention  that  Major  M.  McR.  McLaugh- 
lin, Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina,  was  badly  wounded  while 
behaving  most  gallantly.  Adjutant  D.  M.  Mclntyre  is  also 
spoken  of  for  his  distinguished  conduct." 
44 


690  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

The  loss  of  the  brigade  was  YOO,  the  Thirty-eighth  North 
Carolina  losing  two  officers,  Captain  McEae  and  Lieutenant 
Hare,  killed;  81  officers  and  men  wounded,  16  privates  killed, 
12  missing.  The  Confederate  Congress  passed  an  act  by  which 
badges  might  be  given  to  enlisted  men,  whom  the  companies 
might  select  as  being  entitled  to  them.  After  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville  the  following  were  given  badges : 

Company  A,  Private  Jesse  A.  Nethercutt,  Duplin  County ; 
Company  B,  Private  Thomas  Dinkins,  Yadkin  County; 
Company  C,  Private  Benjamin  Sutton,  Sampson  County; 
Company  D,  First  Sergeant  David  A.  Thompson,  Sampson 
County;  Company  E,  Private  Wm.  J.  Hutchesou  (killed), 
Kichmond  County ;  Company  F,  Private  Wm.  S.  Huffman, 
Catawba  County ;  Company  G,  Private  W.  F.  Matheson,  Al- 
exander County;  Company  H,  Corporal  D.  P.  Woodburn, 
Randolph  County  (killed  at  Gettysburg) ;  Company  I,  Pri- 
vate Thomas  J.  Ramsey,  Cleveland  County;  Company  K, 
Private  W.  H.  McPhail,  Cumberland  County. 

Medals  were  also  recommended  to  be  given  to  Adjutant 
Mclntyre  and  Lieutenant  A.  J.  Brown. 

When  A.  P.  Hill  took  commaud  of  Jackson's  Corps  after 
recovering  from  his  wound,  Pender,  also  wounded  at  Chan- 
cellorsville, was  promoted  to  Major-General,  and  Colonel  A. 
M.  Scales,  the  Senior  Colonel  of  the  brigade,  tO'  Brigadier- 
General.  Scales  being  absent  on  account  of  a  wound  received 
at  Chancellorsville,  Colonel  W.  J.  Hoke  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  and  continued  in  command  until  Scales 
rejoined  the  brigade  near  the  Maryland  line.  The  wound 
received  by  Major  McLaughlin  prevented  him  from  return- 
ing to  his  command,  and  Captain  G.  W.  Flowers  was  elected 
Major. 

Headqtjaetees  Pendee's  Beigade, 

May  13,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  38. 

Upon  resuming  command  of  the  brigade,  it  affords  me 
great  pleasure  to  express  to  you  my  high  appreciation  of  your 
conduct  and  services  in  the  late  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 
Troops  could  not  have  fought  better  or  more  gallantly,  op- 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  691 

posing  aneeessfuUy  such  fearful  odds,  strongly  posted  and 
oflFering  stubborn  resistance,  as  evidenced  by  your  loss,  greater 
than  that  of  any  brigade  in  the  army  in  proportion  to  num- 
bers engaged.  I  may  be  exacting,  but  in  this  instance  you 
piay  rest  assured  that  I  am  perfectly  satisfied.  I  am  proud 
to  say  that  your  services  are  known  and  appreciated  by  those 
higher  in  command  than  myself.     *     *     * 

W.  D.  Pendee^ 

Brigadier  General. 

0^  the  morning  of  6  June,  1863,  the  brigade  went  into 
line  below  Fredericksburg,  in  front  of  the  Bernard  house,  the 
enemy  being  in  the  Port  Royal  road  and  in  the  valley  behind 
the  house.  Colonel  Wm.  J.  Hoke  was  ordered  to  advance 
his  skirmishers  and  fire  if  the  enemy  occupied  the  Port  Royal 
road.  Lieutenant  Alsa  J.  Brown,  afterwards  Captain  of 
Company  C,  took  command,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Robinson, 
afterwards  Captain  of  Company  B,  and  the  other  officers  of 
the  skirmish  corps,  about  200  men.  Instead  of  feeling,  he 
charged  the  enemy  and  attacked  and  drove  from  the  road  the 
Sixth  Vermont,  killing  and  wounding  about  35,  and  holding 
the  road  until  the  enemy  re-crossed  the  Rappahannock. 

xifter  being  encamped  for  about  ten  days.  Hill's  Corps 
moved  towards  Gettysburg,  Pender's  Division  arriving  within 
eight  miles  of  Gettysburg  on  the  morning  of  the  30th.  At  3 
a.  m.,  1  July,  the  command  took  up  line  of  march,  Pender's 
Division  with  Mcintosh's  battalion  of  artillery  following 
Heth  and  Pegram's  battalion  of  artillery.  The  field  arrange- 
ment put  Scales'  Brigade  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  division, 
and  the  Thirty-eighth  North  Carolina  on  the  left  of  the  brig- 
ade, its  left  resting  on  the  Chambersburg  pike.  '  The  advance 
of  the  enemy  was  driven  back  to  the  hills  where  their  forces 
were  to  oppose  the  advance  of  the  Confederates.  At  the  first 
charge  Pender's  Division  was  in  the  rear.  Scales'  and 
Thomas'  Brigades  being  on  the  right.  The  enemy  offering 
determined  resistance,  Pender's  Division,  except  Thomas' 
Brigade,  was  ordered  to  the  front.  The  ammunition  of  the 
advance  line  having  given  out,  they  halted  and  lay  dovsra. 
Scales'  Brigade  soon  passed  over  them  with  the  other  brig- 


692  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ades,  rushed  up  the  ascent,  crossed  the  bridge  and  commenced 
the  descent  just  opposite  the  Theological  Seminary.  The 
regiment  being  on  the  flank,  encountered  a  most  terrific  fire  of 
grape  and  musketry  in  front.  Every  discharge  made  sad 
loss  in  the  line,  but  the  troops  pressed  on  double-quick  until 
the  bottom  was  reached,  a  distance  of  about  75  yards  from 
the  ridge  just  crossed  and  about  the  same  distance  from  the 
college  in  front.  By  this  time  the  line  was  badly  broken. 
Every  ofiicer  in  Scales'  Brigade  except  one.  Lieutenant  Gard- 
man,  upon  whom  the  command  devolved,  was  disabled,  400 
men  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  The  loss  of  the  Thirty- 
eighth  was  100  in  killed  and  wounded,  or  captured.  General 
Scales  and  AdjutanlrGeneral  Eiddick  were  wounded,  and 
Major  Clark  killed.  Colonel  Hoke,  Colonel  Ashford,  Colo- 
nel Lowrance,  Captain  Thornburg,  acting  Major,  were 
among  the  wounded.  Though  wounded,  Colonel  Lowrance 
took  command  of  the  brigade  and  Captain  Thornburg,  of  the 
regiment.  Some  of  the  companies  were  without  a  single  of- 
ficer. The  regiment  now  was  moved  to  the  right  of  the  line, 
and  throwing  out  skirmishers  to  the  right  and  front  it  re- 
mained in  this  position  until  morning,  it  being  then  about  10 
o'clock.  Early  next  morning  the  brigade  was  placed  on  the 
right  of  the  artillery.  A  line  of  skirmishers  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  A.  J.  Brown  was  thrown  out,  and  was  held 
against  several  strong  attacks.  The  Scales  Brigade  joined 
the  division  on  the  left  again  and  was  joined  on  to  Lane's 
Brigade.  On  the  morning  of  3  Jijly  Scales'  Brigade  was  or- 
dered to  the  right  and  placed  in  coromand  of  General  Trim- 
ble, and  while  here  suffered  greatly  from  the  artillery  fire. 
The  regiment  was  then  ordered  forward  over  a  crimson  plain. 
The  Federal  lines,  as  the  regiment  emerged  from  the  woods 
were  about  a  mile  in  front.  The  troops  were  compelled  to 
cross  a  fence,  and  were  by  this  time  losing  heavily  from  grape 
and  canister.  The  line  was  somewhat  deranged.  Captain 
Thornburg  was  disabled.  About  150  yards  from  the  en- 
emy's line  another  fence  retarded  the  advance,  but  the  troops 
rushed  on  and  reached  a  third  fence  on  the  side  of  the  road. 
There  was  by  this  time  only  a  skirmish  line.  The  Thirty- 
eighth  was  then  only  a  few  feet  in  front  of  the  enemy's  in- 


Thirty-Eighth  Eegiment.  693 

f antry.  The  enemy  rushed  out  to  meet  the  advancing  line, 
and  a  flanking  party,  concealed  in  ditches,  captured  about 
thirty  men  besides  killing  a  large  number  inside  the  Federal 
lines.  Some  tried  to  escape,  but  were  shot  down.  Every 
man  in  Company  A  except  Adjutant  H.  C.  Moore  and  Lieu- 
tenant A.  J.  Brown  were  shot  down  and  these  were  captured. 
Adjutant  D.  M.  Mclntyre,  acting  Brigade  Adjutant-General 
of  Scales'  Brigade,  escaped.  After  the  third  day's  fight  the 
regiment  had  only  about  40  men,  commanded  by  a  First  Lieu- 
tenant. 

The  two  brigades,  Lane's  and  Scales',  were  reduced  to 
mere  squads,  and  after  the  retreat  a  line  was  formed  again 
where  the  first  line  was  formed,  and  the  brigade  remained 
here  until  the  4th,  when  the  retreat  to  Hagerstown  began, 
which  place  was  reached  on  Y  July.  On  11  July  line  of  bat- 
tle was  formed  and  the  regiment  remained  here  until  the 
night  of  the  13th,  but  no  fight  ensued  except  skirmishing. 
After  this  the  retreat  to  Falling  Water  began,  Pender's  Divis- 
ion being  rear  guard.  The  Potomac  was  crossed  and  Cul- 
pepper Court  House  reached  1  August.  The  division  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Orange  Court  House  and  the  regi- 
ment did  picket  duty  on  the  Rapidan.  On  7  February,  dur- 
ing General  Scales'  absence,  Colonel  Hoke  commanded  the 
brigade  against  an  advance  of  the  enemy  on  the  brigade  picket 
line  at  Barnett's  Ford  on  the  Rapidan,  and  it  maintained  its 
position  until  the  enemy  retired.  After  the  death  of  Pender, 
at  Gettysburg,  Wilcox  became  division  commander.  On  the 
morning  of  4  May  the  enemy,  under  General  Grant,  crossed 
the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  and  Germania  Fords.  Two  corps  of 
Lee's  army  moved  to  oppose  him,  Ewell's  by  the  tu.rnpike  and 
Hill's  by  the  plank  road.  As  soon  as  the  Confederate  forces 
reached  the  enemy  a  strong  attack  was  made  on  Ewell  who  re- 
pulsed them,  but  soon  they  returned,  massing  a  heavy  force 
against  Hill.  Heth's  and  Wilcox's  Divisions  met  every  as- 
sault and  successfully  resisted  them,  but  the  enemy  continued 
to  make  attacks  until  nightfall.  Next  morning  as  Longstreet 
was  relieving  Hill,  the  enemy  made  an  attack  which  at  first 
created  some  confusion,  but  as  soon  as  the  troops  recovered 
themselves,  the  enemy  was  driven  back  with  spirit  rarely 


694  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

surpassed.  At  night  an  attack  was  made  against  the  enemy, 
and  they  being  panic-stricken  by  the  cheering  of  iJi©  Confed- 
erate army,  a  stampede  was  begun  which  led  to  a  general 
rout.  The  Third  army  corps  under  General  Early  (Hill 
being  unwell),  left  the  position  at  the  Wilderness  8  May, 

1864,  and  engaged  in  the  great  battles  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House  when  the  Thirty-eighth  lost  several  brave  men.  The 
regiment  was  in  the  attack  made  by  General  Hill  on  General 
Warren  at  Noel's  Station  23  May,  and  the  skirmishing  at 
Kiddie's  Shop  13  June,  and  on  down  to  Petersburg  which 
was  reached  18  June. 

The  following  is  a  resolution  of  the  Confederate  Congress, 
17  May,  1864: 

"The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  do  re' 
solve.  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  eminently  due,  and 
are  hereby  tendered  to  the  Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-eighth 
Kegiments  of  North  Carolina  Troops,  for  the  promptness  and 
unanimity  with  which  they  have  re-enlisted  for  the  war." 

Colonel  William  J.  Hoke,  from  wounds  received  in  battle, 
was  disabled  for  field  service  and  was  appointed  to  the  post 
at  Charlotte.  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Ashford  was  promoted 
to  the  command  of  the  regiment;  Major  Geo.  W.  Flowers  to 
be  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  J.  T.  Wilson  to  be  Major. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  hard-fought  battle  at 
Beam's  Station  25  August,  1864,  when  the  divisions  under 
Wilcox,  Mahone  and  Johnson  attacked  the  enemy  and  cap- 
tured about  2,000  prisoners.  Hill  attacked  General  Warren  at 
the  Davis  house,  on  the  Weldon  road,  three  miles  from  the 
city,  21  August,  1864,  defeating  him  and  capturing  2,700 
prisoners.  The  regiment  suffered  severely  in  this  engagement. 
The  com'mand  remained  around  Petersburg  until  2  April, 

1865,  when  the  Confederate  lines  were  pierced  in  three  places. 
A  few  days  before  the  lines  were  broken,  the  Thirty-eighth 
was  sent  out  tO'  reconnoiter,  and  ascertain  the  strength  of  the 
enemy  in  our  front.  We  found  their  picket  line  much 
stronger  than  our  line  of  battle,  and  after  a  severe  engage- 
ment, we  were  compelled  to  retreat.     In    this    engagement 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  695 

Colonel  Ashford  was  wounded,  and  turned  over  the  command 
to  this  writer,  who  retained  it  until  the  surrender,  signing  the 
paroles.  The  Thirty-eighth  was  ordered  out  of  the  works  and 
was  soon  thereafter  on  the  retreat  from  Petersburg.  The  ene- 
my were  pursuing  the  retreating  troops  very  hard,  and  first 
one  regiment  and  then  another  was  thrown  out  as  skirmishers 
to  retard  the  enemy.  A  line  of  battle  was  formed  and  breast- 
works were  thrown  up  at  Southerland's  Farm  and  when 
the  enemy  made  an  attack  they  were  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss  and  several  prisoners  were  captured.  The  enemy 
turned  the  flank  about  4  p.  m.,  and  the  Southern  troops  were 
again  compelled  to  retreat.  Cooke's,  Scales'  and  MaeRae's 
iN'orth  Carolina  Brigades  and  McGowan's  South  Carolina 
Brigade,  the  troops  on  the  right  of  the  break  in  the  line, 
formed  the  corps.  The  North  Carolina  Regiments,  Thir- 
teenth, Twenty-second,  Twenty-seventh,  and  Forty-seventh 
were  thrown  out  to  check  the  enemy  while  the  other  troops  en- 
thrown  out  to  cheek  the  enemy  while  the  other  troops  en- 
deavored to  cross,  hoping  to  rejoin  the  main  army  from  which 
the  brigades  had  been  separated.  It  was  found  impossible 
to  cross  and  the  regiments  thrown  out  were  recalled,  when 
the  troops  pursued  their  way  up  the  river  until  about  2 
o'clock  at  night  when  they  rested.  The  march  was  begun  at 
sunrise  the  next  morning,  3  April,  and  Deep  Creek  was 
reached  about  9  a.  m.  A  halt  was  made  to  let  the  wagon 
train  get  ahead  for  safety,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  throw 
a  temporary  bridge  across  the  creek  in  order  to  cross.  The 
cavalry  had  been  in  the  rear  guard,  and  about  2  o'clock  they 
came  rushing  up  and  reported  that  the  enemy  were  pursuing. 
McGowan's  Brigade  was  enabled  to  cross  the  bridge,  which 
was  not  yet  completed,  but  the  other  troops  followed  the 
wagons  and  crossed  at  a  ford  about  three  miles  above  the 
bridge.  By  this  time  the  enemy  were  in  sight,  but  no  attack 
was  made.  The  intention  was  to  cross  the  Appomattox  at 
Goode's  bridge,  but  the  waters  were  very  high  and  it  was  im- 
possible to  get  to  the  bridge  on  account  of  the  overflow,  there- 
fore the  troops  were  marched  up  the  river,  and  as  night  came 
on  went  into  camp  at  the  cross    roads    above    the    bridge. 


696  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Couriers  were  sent  out  to  find  a  place  to  cross,  in  order  to 
join  General  Lee's  army,  and  about  1  o'clock  the  command 
was  ordered  to  march.  After  crossing  the  river  and  march- 
ing through  open  fields  and  by-roads,  Anderson's  Georgia 
Brigade  was  reached.  This  brigade  was  the  leading  brigade 
in  Lee's  army  and  had  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge  where  the 
whole  army  was  then  crossing.  There  was  great  rejoicing 
on  the  part  of  the  soldiers  at  again  meeting  their  comrades, 
from  whom  they  had  been  separated  for  three  days.  The 
regiment  was  halted  about  sunrise  and  breakfast  was  pre- 
pared, after  which  the  march  was  continued  to  Amelia  Court 
House,  Va.,  where  the  night  was  spent.  The  enemy  next 
morning  attacked  and  began  burning  the  wagon  train,  but 
were  driven  ofi.  The  retreat  was  continued,  the  rear  guard 
having  frequent  fights  with  the  enemy.  On  Friday,  7  April, 
1865,  Farmville,  Va.,  was  reached,  and  Scales'  Brigade  re- 
lieved Cooke's  brigade  as  rear  guard  of  the  infantry.  The 
enemy  having  crossed  the  river,  pressed  the  lines  very  hard 
and  consequently  the  rear  guard  was  engaged  in  several  at- 
tacks, and  suffered  severely.  The  enemy  was  driven  off, 
and  this  was  the  last  fighting  in  which  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged before  the  surrender.  Saturday,  8  April,  the  regi- 
ment camped  about  three  miles  from  Appomattox  Court 
House,  Va.  As  Appomattox  Court  House  was  approached 
the  next  morning  the  Federal  line  was  seen  on  the  hill  at  the 
court  house.  Line  of  battle  was  drawn  up  and  it  was  ex- 
pected that  an  advance  would  be  made.  It  began  to  be  ru- 
mored that  a  surrender  was  made,  but  nothing  definite  could 
be  learned  until  12  o'clock,  when  it  was  known  that  Lee  had 
indeed  surrendered.  It  was  soon  learned  that  the  soldiers 
would  be  paroled  and  given  permission  to  return  home.  Mon- 
day morning  10  April,  1865,  the  farewell  address  of  General 
Lee  was  read  to  the  regiment.  All  the  soldiers  of  the  regi- 
ment had  the  opportunity  of  shaking  hands  with  General  Lee 
and  hearing  him  say,  "God  bless  you  boys ;  I  hope  we  shall 
meet  again !"  After  remaining  in  this  position  until 
Wednesday,  12  April,  the  regiment  was  marched  over  near 
the  court  house,  where  the  arms  were  stacked  in  front  of  the 


Thirty-Eighth  Regiment.  697 

enemy.     On  the  same  evening  tlie  soldiers  were  furnished 
with  the  following : 

Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  ] 

April  10,  1866.         J 

The  bearer,  ,  of  Co 38th 

Regiment  of  N.  C.  Troops,  a  paroleQ  prisoner  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  has  permission  to  go  to  his  home,  and  there  remain  undisturbed. 

Jos.  H.  Hyman, 
Colonel  38th  N.  C.  Troops, 
Commanding  Scales'  Brigade. 

The  Thirty-eighth  Kegiment  of  l^orth  Carolina  Troops 
was  disbanded  and  passed  out  of  existence. 

George  W.  Flowees. 

Taylorsvillk,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


THIRTY-NINTH  REGIMENT. 

1.  David  Coleman.  Colonel.  3.    Paschal  C.  Hughes  Major 

2.  Harvey  H.  Davidson,  Lieut.-Colonel.       4.    J.  D.  Harden,  Adjutant. 


THIRTY-NINTH  REGIMENT. 


By  lieutenant  THEO.   F.    DAVIDSON. 


It  will  perhaps  be  many  years — ^beyond  the  generations 
now  living — before  the  popular  delusion  that  the  war  between 
the  States  had  its  origin  in  the  existence  of  negro  slavery, 
will  be  dispelled.  Notwithstanding  the  long  and  most  ex- 
haustive discussion  by  the  ablest  men  of  the  country,  for  the 
quarter  of  century  preceding  actual  war,  of  the  real  ques- 
tions— the  relative  rights  and  powers  of  the  State  and  Fed- 
eral Oovemments  under  the  National  Constitution — and 
despite  the  fact  that,  since  the  close  of  that  war,  the  true  is- 
sue has  again  and  again  been  stated  and  demonstrated,  yet, 
except  by  the  intelligent,  thoughtful  and  candid  portion — 
always  a  small  minority — of  the  people,  the  great  majority 
of  the  people  of  the  Northern  portion  of  the  Union  believe, 
and  will  carry  that  belief  to  their  graves,  that  the  greatest 
civil  and  military  conflict  of  the  Nineteenth  century  was 
waged  for  the  enslavement,  or  emancipation,  of  the  negro. 
When  sentiment  invades  history  it  produces  as  much  havoc 
as  when  it  influences  the  other  affairs  of  practical  life. 

But  however  much  the  questions  which  led  to  the  war  may 
be  misrepresented  or  misunderstood  by  the  people  of  this 
generation,  they  were  thoroughly  understood  by  the  people  of 
the  South  when  the  appeal  to  arms  came;  they  clearly  rec- 
ognized that,  the  very  fundamental  principles  of  their  gov- 
ernment were  involved,  and  upon  the  decision  the  form  and 
spirit  of  the  Constitution,  as  framed  by  their  fathers,  would 
be  preserved  in  its  integrity,  or  that  the  whole  system  would 
be  revolutionized. 

One  of  the  most  significant  proofs  of  the  fact  that  the 
status  of  the  negro  was  not,  at  the  Soutih,  regarded  as  the 
issue,  was  the  ardor  with  which  the  non-slaveholding  portions 
of  the  population  flew  to  arms  at  the  call  of  their  respective 


700  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

States,  and  the  fidelity  tiiey  exhibited  for  the  cause  through 
four  years  of  struggle,  self-denial,  suffering,  death  and  social 
destruction. 

Especially  was  this  true  of  the  Worth  Carolina  moun- 
taineer. In  the  greater  portion  of  that  section  of  the  State 
extending  from  the  eastern  foot-hills  of  the  Blue  Kidge  to 
the  Western  boundaries  of  Clay  and  Cherokee,  the  slave- 
owners, in  1861,  were  so  rare  that  the  institution  of  slavery 
may  be!  said,  practically,  to  have  had  no  existence,  and  yet 
that  region  sent  more  than  fifteen  thousand  fighting  men — 
volunteers — into  the  field.  The  Sixteenth,  Twenty-fifth, 
Twenty-ninth,  Thirty-ninth,  Fifty-eighth,  Sixtieth,  Sixty- 
second,  Sixty-fourth,  Sixty-fifth  and  Sixty-ninth  Regiments 
were  composed  exclusively  of  mountain  men ;  and  in  addition 
they  were  numerously  represented  in  the  "Bethel" — Ninth, 
Eleventh,  Fourteenth  and  Nineteenth  Regiments,  and  other 
organizations.  This  estimate  does  not  include  a  large  num- 
ber of  men  from  the  same  territory,  who  during  the  progress 
of  the  war  were  embodied  in  independent  commands,  and  did 
gallant  service  in  the  campaigns  in  Virginia,  in  the  South- 
west and  in  the  immediate  locality  of  their  homes.  These 
mountaineers  were  the  descendants  of  the  sturdy,  hard-fight- 
ing Scotch-Irish,  who,  to  a  man,  were  Whigs  in  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  by  their  stubborn  resistance  of  British  aggressions, 
contributed  so  much  to  the  establishment  of  the  Independence 
of  their  country. 

The  men  of  Western  Carolina,  whose  sublime  devotion  and 
courage,  with  that  of  their  comrades  from  other  portions  of 
the  South,  have  made  the  heights  of  Gettysburg  and  Freder- 
icksburg and  Sharpsburg,  the  plains  of  Manassas  and  Chick- 
ahominy,  the  wilderness  of  Chancellorsville  and  Chieka- 
mauga,  the  Valleys  of  Virginia,  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  im- 
mortal, had  in  their  veins  the  blood  of  the  patriots  who  fought 
at  Brandywine,  Germantown,  Monmouth,  Yorktown,  Savan- 
nah, Guilford,  Eutaw  Springs  and  Kings  Mountain — and, 
let  it  never  be  forgotten,  they  fought,  and  fighting  died,  for 
the  same  great  divine  right — the  right  of  a  people  to  ordain 
and  control  their  own  government. 

Of  the  regiments  mentioned,  the  Twenty-ninth,  Thirty- 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  701 

ninth,  Fifty-eighth,  Sixtieth,  Sixty-second,  Sixty-foturth> 
Sixty-fifth  and  Sixty-ninth,  served  in  the  armies  of  the  South- 
west— in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana,  South  Carolina  and  Florida,  and  several  of 
them,  participated  in  the  last  charge  at  Bentonville. 

The  survivors  of  these  regiments  sometimes  fear  that  the 
record  and  memory  of  their  deeds  and  those  of  their  dead 
comrades  may  be  forgotten  and  lost  in  the  lustre  of  the  re- 
nown of  their  brethren  who  served  in  the  Armies  of  Virginia. 
There  is  some  ground  for  this  apprehension. 

The  fact  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  soldiers  of  North  Caro- 
lina were  sent  to  Virginia  immediately  after  their  enlist- 
ment, and  remained  in  that  service  until  the  end  of  the  war ; 
that  the  sphere  of  operations  was  territorially  limited  to  a 
comparatively  small  area,  and  was  so  near  the  Federal  and 
Confederate  capitals ;  that  the  ultimate  decision  was  believed 
to  be  dependent  upon  the  fate  of  Richmond ;  the  geniiis  and 
fame  of  Lee,  Jackson,  Longstreet,  Stewart,  Hampton  and  a 
host  of  other  captains ;  the  marvellous  deeds  of  the  world  re- 
nowned soldiers  who  followed  them, — concentrated  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  of  both  sides  upon  that  scene  and  its  ac- 
tors. 

Again,  the  military  records  of  those  troops  have  been  bet- 
ter preserved — in  fact  at  the  fall  of  Richmond  and  surrender 
at  Appomattox  the  Federals  acquired  possession  of  almost 
complete  records  of  the  Civil  Government  of  the  Confeder- 
acy, and  its  military  operations  in  the  East. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Confederate  forces  in  the  armies 
of  the  West  were  chiefly  composed  of  men  from  that  region ; 
the  sphere  of  their  operations  was  vastly  more  extended,  em- 
bracing the  entire  Confederacy  west  of  the  AUeghanies  and 
South  of  the  Ohio  and  Missouri.  With  a  longer  line  to  de- 
fend, it  was  necessary  to  make  longer  marches ;  to  change  the 
assignment  of  Regiments,  Brigades  and  Divisions,  and  un- 
happily, too  often,  to  change  commanders. 

Because  of  this  the  solidarity  of  organization  was  to  a 
great  extent  lost ;  the  continuity  of  record  of  service  was  im- 
possible, and  at  the  close,  in  the  matter  of  documentary  his- 


702  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tory  scarcely  anything  except  official  reports  of  general  oper- 
ations, was  saved  for  tbe  historian. 

But  NortJi  Carolina  had  no  braver  sons  in  the  struggle  than 
those  in  the  eight  regiments  in  the  armies  of  the  West.  As 
glorious  as  is  her  record  on  the  fields  of  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land and  Pennsylvania,  it  is  equaled  by  that  made  by  her 
soldiers  at  Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  Shiloh, 
Dalton,  Eesaca,  Nevsr  Hope  Church,  Atlanta  and  Benton- 
ville. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  equipment  of  the  Southern  troops 
in  the  West,  except  in  the  matter  of  food,  was  greatly  infe- 
rior to  that  in  the  East.  This  was  not  because  of  favoritism, 
but  an  unavoidable  result  of  conditions  which  were  well  un- 
derstood at  the  time. 

It  is  a  fact,  also,  that  for  the  first  three  years  of  the  war 
the  Federal  armies  in  the  West  were  far  superior  to^  those  in 
the  East  not  only  in  the  ability  of  their  Generals,  but  in  the 
personnel  of  the  soldiers.  The  men  who  composed  them  were 
drawn  from  the  farms  and  smaller  towns  of  what  was  then 
called  the  Northwest,  but  now  known  as  the  Middle-West — 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Indiana,  Illinois.  They  were  of 
pure  American  stock,  many  of  them  with  Southern  blood, 
bold,  hardy  and  as  plucky  as  the  fiery  Southerner.  When 
those  spirits  met  in  battle  the  God  of  War  was  rampant,  and 
they  who  were  victorious  knew  they  deserved  the  victory. 
It  was  only  after  General  Grant  was  transferred  from  the 
West  and  began  to  feed  his  army  with  recruits  and  reinforce- 
ments from  the  veterans  of  the  Ohio,  that  Lee  and  his  invinci- 
ble legions  were  called  upon  to-  put  forth  all  their  skill  and 
courage. 

Lieutenant  Cathey,  who  served  in  the  East  xintil  about  the 
end  of  1862,  when  he  was  transferred  with  his  company  to 
the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  and  served  in  the  West  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  in  his  admirable  history  of  the  Sixteeqith 
Eegiment,  points  out  this  fact. 

The  story  is  told  that,  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga, when  Longstreet's  Corps  arrived  on  the  field,  fiuslied 
with  the  glories  of  its  well-earned  laurels  won  in  the  Vir- 
ginia campaigns,  one  of  its  men  hailed  a  member  of  Hardee's 


Thikty-Ninth  Regiment.  703 

Corps  with  the  welcome  announcement  that  he  "had  come 
down  to  teach  the  Western  man  how  to  fight"- — to  which  the 
latter  replied  that  he  was  exceedingly  glad  to  see  him  and 
have  his  help,  as  there  was  to  be  some  bloody  work  to  do  soon. 
And  it  was  bloody  work  Longstreet's  veterans  had,  with  their 
Western  comrades,  for  the  next  two  days;  time  and  time 
again  they  were  repulsed  on  the  slopes  of  Dyer's  field  and 
Snodgrass  Hill,  and  it  was  not  until  night  had  fallen  on  that 
Sunday  they  were  able  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  field. 
When  the  battle  was  over  it  so  happened  these  men  met  again^ 
when  Longstreet's  man  said :  "Look  here !  Do  you  folks  have 
to  fight  that  sort  of  people  all  the  time  ?  Why,  I  never  saw 
such  a  fool  lot  of  Yankees ;  they  don't  know  when  to  run." 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  has  always  regretted  that  his  ser- 
vice with  his  loved  comrades  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment 
ceased  in  November,  1862,  when  he  was  assigned  to  another 
field  of  action,  and  never  met  his  old  regiment  again.  He, 
nevertheless,  never  lost  his  interest  in  the  command  and 
watched  with  pride  its  splendid  career  as  one  of  the  "fight- 
ing" regiments  of  the  Confederate  Army.  And  he  especially 
laments  that  the  task — "a  pleasing  burden" — of  preparing 
this  imperfect  history  of  the  regiment  was  not  undertaken 
by  some  comrade  who  was  with  the  command  until  the  end ; 
who  followed  the  flag  in  the  assault,  who  stood  "elbow  to 
elbow"  in  the  lines  and  repulsed  the  attack,  who  endured  the 
march  and  participated  in  the  glories  of  his  regiment,  who 
could,  not  with  more  pride,  but  more  fullness  of  detail  chron- 
icle the  deeds  and  recall  the  incidents  in  the  life  of  one  of  the 
staunchest  and  most  intrepid  bodies  of  men  that  ever  faced 
a  foe.  He  desires  that  it  shall  be  kept  in  mind  'that  the 
names  of  the  regimental  and  company  officers  given  herein 
are  to  be  referred  to  the  times  of  the  original  organizations. 
They  have  been  given  from  memory,  from  the  "Roster  of 
Worth  Carolina  Troops" — unfortunately  not  a  very  accurate 
compilation — and  from  such  information  he  could  gather  by 
correspondence  with  survivors  of  the  regiment,  now  scattered 
from  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  He  has  con- 
sulted that  voluminous  and  undigested  publication  by  the 
United  States  Government,  "Rebellion  Records" ;  but,  not- 


704  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

withstanding,  he  can  only  furnish  a  sketch — a  framework, 
upon  which  he  hopes  some  competent  hand  may  yet  construct 
an  historical  edifice  more  worthy  the  achievements  of  our 
comrades,  living  and  dead.  He  is  greatly  indebted,  and  is 
sure  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Thirty-ninth  will  join  with  him  in 
feelings  of  gratitude,  to  Lieutenant  John  M.  Davidson,  of 
Company  C,  and  now  residing  at  Kingston,  Ga.,  for  his  rem- 
iniscences of  the  regiment  which  are  appended,  as  an  addition- 
al sketch  of  the  regiment.  He  was  promoted  from  the  ranks, 
at  the  reorganization  in  1862,  and  continued  in  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign  when,  because  of  i&- 
dining  health,  he  was  invalided  and  put  on  light  duty.  En- 
dowed with  a  bright  mind,  a  cheerful  disposition  and  unfail- 
ing humor,  a  courageous  soul,  a  tender  and  warm  heart,  he 
was  a  general  favorite  with  his  comrades,  and  by  his  exalted 
sense  of  duty  and  devotion  he  attracted  the  attention  and 
commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  superiors. 

The  history  of  the  Sixteenth  Eegiment,  by  Benjamin  H. 
Cathey,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A,  (Vol.  I,  N.  0.  Eegi- 
ments,  pp.  Y51-Y69),  contains  much  interesting  and  valuable 
matter  relating  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Eegiment — Lieutenant 
Cathey's  company  having  been  detached  from  the  Sixteenth 
and  assigned  to  the  Thirty-ninth  about  the  close  of  1862. 

The  flag  spoken  of  there  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  J.  Wes- 
ley Shelton;  and  at  all  reunions  of  the  men  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth  it  is  carefully  unfurled  and  its  tattered  folds  flung 
again  on  high  and  saluted  with  shouts  of  the  grizzled  veter- 
ans, the  old  "Rebel  Yell,"  that,  in  the  stirring  years  gone  by, 
accompanied  it  as  it  swept  through  smoke  and  fire  in  front 
of  the  line;  then  reverently,  tenderly,  tearfully  often,  it  is 
folded  away  and  committed  to  the  care  of  its  btave  bearer. 

The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  was  originally  a  battalion — ■ 
known  as  "Coleman's  Battalion" — organized  at  Camp  Pat- 
ton,  Asheville,  N.  C,  in  the  Summer  and  Fall  of  1861,  com- 
posed of  five  oonapanies,  Lieutenant-Colonel  David  Coleman, 
of  Buncombe  county,  commanding. 

Company  A — Cherokee  County — Captain,  Benton  A. 
Strange,  now  residing  at  Georgetown,  Texas ;  First  Lieuten- 
ant, John  R.  Dyohe;  Second  Lieutenant,  Arthur  M.  Dyche, 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  705 

subsequently  promoted  to  Captain;  Junior  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, Anselra  Rogers,  now  residing  in  Cherokee  county. 

Company  B — Macan  County — Captain,  A.  W.  Bell ;  First 
Lieutenant,  William  T.  Anderson;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Joshua  C.  Bird ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  William  A.  Hol- 
broke. 

Company  C — Captain,  Harvey  M.  Davidson,  subsequently 
promoted  to  LieutenantrColonel ;  First  Lieutenant,  Samuel 
S.  C.  Mount,  subsequently  promoted  to  Captain  and  killed 
at  Spanish  Fort  Mobile,  Ala. ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Paschal  C. 
Hughes ;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Sylvester  B.  M.  Farmer, 
now  residing  at  Quallatown,  Jackson  County,  IST.  C. 

Company  D — Buncombe  County — Captain,  Ambrose 
Gaines;  First  Lieutenant,  Jackson  Shipman;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, William  Allen,  subsequently  promoted  tO'  Captain; 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Wm.  M.  Bearden. 

Company  E — Clay  County — Captain,  James  Began; 
First  Lieutenant,  George  E.  Bristol,  subsequently  promoted 
to  Captain;  Second  Lieutenant,  Albert  W.  Leatherwood; 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  James  W.  Shearer. 

Remaining  in  the  Camp  of  Instruction,  awaiting  equip- 
ments and  being  drilled,  until  November,  1861,  the  battalion 
was  moved  to  "Camp  Hill,"  at  the  southern  foot  of  Gooch 
Mountain,  five  miles  north  of  Asheville,  where  it  continued 
until  about  1  January,  1862,  when,  because  of  the  inclemency 
of  the  winter  and  the  lack  of  tents,  it  was  removed  to  the  old 
Reems  Creek  Campground,  now  known  as  Weaverville, 
some  two  miles  fiirther  north,  where  in  the  substantial 
wooden  "tents"  erected  by  the  devout  Methodists  of  that  re- 
gion, for  their  annual  encampment  for  the  worship  of  the 
"Prince  of  Peace,"  the  soldiers  of  the  "God  of  War"  found 
comfortable  quarters,  until  their  arms  and  other  supplies 
necessary  for  active  service  were  received. 

Here  Companies  F  and  G  were  organized  from  the  over- 
crowded Companies  A  and  C,  and  from  volunteer  recruits 
which  were  daily  arriving  from  the  Western  counties.  Na- 
thaniel M.  E.  Slaughter,  now  residing  at  Robbinsville,  N".  C, 
became  Captain  of  Company  F;  John  W.  Rhea,  killed  at 
45 


706  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Murfreesboro,  First  Lieutenant;  Andrew  J.  Cody,  after- 
wards promoted  to  Captain,  Second  Lieutenant ;  and  Joel  A. 
Sawyer,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

Paschal  C.  Hughes,  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  C,  be- 
came Captain  of  Company  H,  and  was  subsequently  pro- 
moted to  Major;  Felix  P.  Axley,  now  residing  at  Murphy, 
]Sr.  C,  First  Lieutenant;  Hugh  W.  Eogers,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant; and  Enoch  Voyles,  Junior  Second  Lieutenant. 

And  here  also  the  battalion  was  further  increased  by  the 
arrival  of  Company  H,  from  Cherokee  county.  Captain, 
David  L.  Walker ;  First  Lieutenant,  Abraham  Booker,  subse- 
quently promoted  to  Captain;  Second  Lieutenant,  Miles  D. 
Kilpatrick;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  John  A.  Cotter. 

W.  A.  Pierce  was  appointed  Major,  and  in  addition  to  his 
duties  in  that  position,  acted  as  Adjutant  of  the  battalion. 

Early  in  February  the  battalion  was  moved  to  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Stevenson,  who  then 
commanded  the  right  wing  of  Kirby  Smith's  Corps,  Army 
of  Tennessee,  and  was  confronting  the  enemy,  who  with  a 
strong  force  from  Cumberland  Gap  and  other  strong  positions 
along  the  Cumberland  Mountains  was  threatening  the  East 
Tennessee  Valley.  Attached  temporarily  to  General  Led- 
better's  Brigade,  the  battalion  was  thrown  forward  to  the 
front  and  took  position  for  a  few  days  at  Clinton,  Tenn.,  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Clinch  river,  but  was  soon  withdrawn 
to  the  south  banlc,  where  it  remained  imtil  spring.  It  was 
here  the  command  passed  that  ordeal  to  which  all  new  organi- 
zations are  subjected,  and  which  was  often  as  fatal  as  battle. 
The  diseases  incident  to  the  radical  change  in  the  lives  of  the 
men ;  deficient  hospital  arrangements  and  camp  equipments, 
prostrated  so  many  of  the  men  that  it  was  sometimes  difficult 
to  secure  details  for  ordinary  camp  duties.  Measles,  pneu- 
monia, camp  fevers  and  rheumatism  became  rampant,  to 
such  an  extent  that  before  the  health  of  the  command  had 
been  restored  between  seventy-five  and  one  hundred  men  died, 
and  in  addition  a  large  number  were  sent  home  on  furlough, 
or  to  hospitals  at  Knoxville,  tO'  recuperate. 

At  this  point  Company  I,  of  Macon  county,  was  incorpor- 
ated into  the  battalion.     Captain,  James  G.  Crawford ;  First 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  707 

Lieutenant,  John  Eeid;  Second  Lieutenant,  Robert  H. 
Smitli;  Junior  Second  Lieutenant,  Rufus  S.  Siler. 

These  nine  companies,  at  the  reorganization  of  the  Con- 
federate forces  under  the  act  of  Congress,  were  on  19  May, 
1862,  organized  as  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  North  Caro- 
lina Troops,  and  as  such  began  a  career  that  made  its  name 
illustrious  in  the  annals  of  the  Western  Army,  and  kept  high 
the  standard  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  from  the  Ohio  to 
the  Gulf.  Subsequently,  as  already  stated.  Company  A,  of 
the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  Captain  Andrew  W.  Coleman,  was 
transferred  and  became  the  Tenth  company  (K)  of  the  Thir- 
ty-ninth. 

David  Coleman  was  elected  Colonel,  Harvey  H.  Davidson 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  shortly  afterwards  Francis  A.  Rey- 
nolds was  appointed  Major ;  S.  G.  R.  Mount,  A.  Q.  M. ; 
James  D.  Harden,  Adjutant;  Theo.  F.  Davidson,  Sergeant 
Major;  Alfred  A.  Hatcher,  Surgeon;  Lewis  Stephens,  As- 
sistant Surgeon;  Allen  Ammons,  Chaplain. 

In  the  reorganization  there  were  many  changes  in  Com- 
pany organizations,  which  it  is  impossible  now  to  note. 

The  campaign  in  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  in  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1862,  culminating  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  absorbed  the  attention  and  concentrated  the  efforts  of 
both  Federal  and  Confederate  authorities  to  that  region,  and 
operations  in  East  Tennessee  were  directed  to  maintaining 
the  statu  quo.  The  Thirty-ninth  was  moved  back  to  Knox- 
ville,  where,  encamped  at  the  old  Fair  Grounds,  it  soon  recov- 
ered its  health  and  continued  the  work  of  drill  and  prepara- 
tion for  the  work  before  it.  During  July  and  August  it 
was  assigned  the  duty  of  guarding  the  bridges,  stores  and 
lines  of  communication  from  Bristol  to  Chattanooga.  The 
Valley  of  East  Tennessee  is  wonderfully  fertile  and  was  for 
the  first  two  years  of  the  war  one  of  the  chief  sources  of  food 
supplies  for  the  Confederate  armies.  Its  possession  was  also 
regarded  as  of  extreme  importance  by,  both  governments,  in- 
asmuch as  it  commanded  one  of  the  main,  and  the  most  direct, 
lines  of  communication  between  Richmond  and  the  South- 
west, and  furnished  a  most  advantageous  base  of  operations, 
especially  against  the  center  of  the  Confederacy  south  of  the 


708  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

mountains.  Thus,  like  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  it  became 
during  the  entire  war  a  constant  battle  ground,  and  almost 
every  part  of  it  became  the  scene  of  most  desperate  struggles. 
Unlike  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  its  population  was  almost 
evenly  divided  upon  the  great  questions  involved.  It  is 
probable  more  troops  were  furnished  to  the  Federal  army 
than  tO'  the  Confederate  from  this  section.  The  result  was 
that  a  most  bitter  internecine  conflict  was  waged  between 
these  people  for  four  years,  with  many  of  the  usual  incidents 
of  such  unhappy  conditions.  "Bushwhacking"  and  all  kinds 
of  warfare,  civilized  and  uncivilized,  cruel  and  unrelenting, 
were  prevalent;  and  a  campaign  in  that  country  was  accom- 
panied by  constant  and  sanguinary  personal  encoimters  and 
feuds.  Althovigh  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  has  elapsed, 
an  unhappy  state  of  things  may  yet,  occasionally,  be  found 
to  survive  in  some  localities. 

KENTUCKY    CAMPAIGN. 

In  September,  1862,  the  Kentucky  campaign  began,  the 
Thirty-ninth,  with  their  neighbors  in  the  Twenty-ninth, 
being  pushed  forward  and  posted  at  Baptist  Gap,  on  the 
Cumberland,  and  on  the  left  of  Stevenson's  Division,  which 
was  closely  pressing  General  Morgan,  who  with  a  strong  force, 
occupied  Cumberland  Gap~the  key  to  the  whole  country.  Here 
the  regiment  received  its  "baptism  of  fire"  ;  and  it  was  in  con- 
sequence of  its  operations,  in  connection  with  the  other  two 
regiments  with  which  it  was  acting,  that  General  Morgan  was 
compelled  to  evacuate  Cumberland  Gap — theretofore  believed 
to  be  practically  impregnable — and  commenced  his  flight  to- 
wards the  Ohio.  The  pursuit  was  vigorous  and  doubtlesswould 
have  been  successful,  but  the  pursuing  column  was  withdrawn 
and  joined  in  the  general  advance  upon  Frankfort  and  Loiiis^ 
ville.  General  Bragg,  with  the  greater  portion  of  the  army, 
proceeded  from  his  base  at  Chattanooga  via  Crab  Orchard, 
while  Smith's  Corps  (in  which  the  Thirty-ninth  was  serving, 
having  at  Cumberland  Gap  been  assigned  to  Raines'  Brigade) 
advanced  by  way  of  Lancaster,  Barboursville,  Richmond, 
Danville,  Harrodsburg;  Lawrenceburg,  and  entered  Frank- 
fort about  1  October. 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  709 

General  Bragg  had,  unfortunately,  allowed  the  Federals, 
under  General  Buell,  to  escape  him  at  Mumfordville,  Ky.,  and 
though  closely  pursued,  they  succeeded  in  reaching  Louis- 
ville, and  there  finding  heavy  reinforcements  and  abundance 
of  supplies  awaiting  him,  General  Buell  speedily  resumed 
the  oifensive.  Then  began  the  retrograde  movement,  result- 
ing in  the  hard-fought  and  drawn  battle  of  Perryville  and 
almost  daily  engagements  between  portions  of  each  army,  ex- 
tending until  late  in  October  and  across  the  State  of  Ken- 
tticky,  and  closing  with  the  opposing  armies  occupying  almost 
the  identical  positions  as  when  the  campaign  opened.  Perhaps 
no  better  organized  army  ever  existed  than  that  with  which 
Bragg  entered  Kentucky — the  troops  had  become  veterans, 
were  of  the  flower  of  the  population  of  the  Southwest;  had 
great  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  and  confidence  in  their  lead- 
ers and  in  each  other;  and  whenever  they  were  permitted  to 
fight  they  showed  that  they  were  far  more  than  a  match  for 
the  enemy.  The  battle  of  Perryville  was,  and  perhaps  will 
always  remain,  a  mystery  to  most  of  Kirby  Smith's  Corps. 
All  that  day  with  thirty  thousand  eager  fighting  men,  it  lay 
inactive  on  the  right  of  the  Confederate  line,  hearing  the 
sound  of  that  terrific  conflict,  witnessing  some  of  the  engage- 
ment, having  the  weak,  unprotected  left  wing  of  the  Federals 
in  front,  and  yet  it  was  not  permitted  to  fire  a  gun !  Doubt- 
less there  was  at  the  time  some  tirgent  reason ;  but  from  that 
moment  the  men  began  to  doubt  the  ability  of  their  com- 
manding General  to  handle  an  army,  and  such  feeling  is  dif- 
ficult to  remove,  and  always  has  a  demoralizing  effect.  On 
the  next  day  the  corps  was  moved  through  Harrodsburg  and 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  a  mile  or  two  west  of  that  town. 
All  day  there  was  lively  skirmishing  with  artillery  engage- 
ments, but  notwithstanding  Buell  was  offered  battle,  he  had 
been  too  badly  crippled  at  Perryville  tO'  accept  the  challenge. 
The  retreat  from  Kentucky  was  deliberate.  General  Buell, 
who  had  by  this  time  a  very  largely  superior  force,  for  some 
reason  did  not  attempt  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  but 
contented  himself  with  a  series  of  rear-guard  actions',  some 
of  them  quite  spirited.  The  Thirty-ninth  was  in  the  rear 
brigade    (Raines')    of   Smith's   Corps,    and   frequently   was 


710  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

called  upon  to  aid  the  cavalry,  under  General  Wheeler,  to 
check  the  enemy.  A  few  volleys  usually  were  sufficient,  and 
the  leisurely  march  would  be  resumed. 

The  Confederates  brought  out  of  Kentucky  enormous  quan' 
titles  of  supplies,  great  herds  of  cattle,  long  wagon  trains  of 
flour,  meal  and  bacon ;  besides,  the  teams  and  cavalry  horses 
were  renewed. 

In  fact,  the  army  was  in  these  respects  in  better  condition 
when  it  returned  to  Tennessee  than  when  the  campaign  be- 
gan. It  has  been  urged  that  General  Bragg's  anxiety  to 
avoid  the  risks  of  an  engagement  and  the  retreat  from  Frank- 
fort, were  due  to  the  information  he  and  the  authorities  at 
Richmond  had  received,  that  the  Federals  had  organized  and 
just  developed  the  plan  of  assailing  the  Confederate  center 
from  the  lines  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Tennessee  and  the 
Cumberland  rivers.  This  information  was  correct,  and  the 
change  of  base,  by  both  armies,  transferred  the  scenes  of  war* 
to  Vicksburg  and  middle  Tennessee.  Upon  return  to  East 
Tennessee  the  Thirty-ninth  encamped  at  Lenoir's  Station,  on 
the  E.  T.  &  G.  Railroad,  about  forty  miles  west  of  Knoxville, 
where  the  men  for  several  weeks  enjoyed  a  much  needed 
rest. 

M  UEFEEESBOEO. 

There  being  apparently  no  active  service  expected  before 
spring,  many  furloughs  were  granted,  as  it  was  only  a  short 
distance  to  the  homes  of  many  of  the  men.  In  November  tbe 
regiment  was  transferred  to  Reynolds'  Brigade.  But  it  soon 
developed  that  there  was  to  be  a  winter  campaign.  General 
Rosecrans,  who  had  superseded  General  Buell,  was  advanc- 
ing from  Nashville,  and  Bragg  confronted  him  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  where,  on  the  last  days  of  1862  and  the  first  of  1863, 
the  battle  of  MurfreesborO' — known  to  the  Federals  as  the 
battle  of  Stone  river — was  fought.  While  the  Confederates 
repulsed  the  Federals  and  technically  won  the  fight,  as  they 
kept  the  field  for  a  few  days,  the  practical  substantial  victory 
was  with  the  Federals,  as  General  Bragg  in  a  few  days,  fell 
back  slowly  to  TuUahoma,  at  the  western  base  of  the  Cum- 
berland Mountains. 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  711 

The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  arrived  on  the  field  about  the 
time  the  engagement  began.  It  seems  to  have  been  the  only 
regiment  of  Reynolds'  Brigade  present,  and  was  hastened  for- 
ward in  response  to  Bragg's  urgent  demands  for  reinforce- 
ments. Apparently  it  was  thrown  intO'  the  fight  as  an  inde- 
pendent command;  at  any  rate,  it  became  hotly  engaged  at 
once.  Very  soon  Colonel  Coleman  was  disabled  by  a  serious 
wound  in  the  leg,  and  carried  from  the  field,  and  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  Lieoitenant-Colonel  Davidson.  He  too, 
was  almost  immediately  wounded,  the  ball  shattering  his 
right  arm,  the  use  of  which  he  never  recovered.  For  some 
reason,  the  explanation  of  which  cannot  now  be  given,  the 
command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Captain  Bell,  Com- 
pany A.  As  no  official  report  of  the  regiment  in  this  en- 
gagement was  ever  made,  or  if  made  has  been  lost,  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  locate  precisely  its  operations.  General  Patton  An- 
derson (Walthall's  Brigade)  in  his  report  says  that  "about 
noon  on  31  December,  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment, having  become  detached  from  its  command,  and  all  of 
its  field  officers  having  been  killed  or  wounded,  then  under 
command  of  Captain  Bell,"  reported  to  him  and  was  assigned 
a  place  in  his  brigade,  and  participated  "most  creditably  in 
the  subsequent  fighting."  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  a 
fuller  account  of  the  conduct  of  the  regiment  in  this  battle 
cannot  now  be  furnished.  Enough  is  known,  however,  to 
satisfy  us  that  the  r^ment  sustained  its  high  reputation. 
On  that  part  of  the  field  the  Confederates  were  not  only  suc- 
cessful in  repulsing  all  advances  of  the  enemy,  but,  assuming 
the  offensive,  drove  them  for  several  miles.  The  heavy  loss 
in  staff  ajid  field  shows  the  serious  work  done  by  the  Thirty- 
ninth. 

In  January  the  regiment  was  transferred  to  Manigault's 
Brigade,  but  a  few  days  thereafter  was,  at  the  request  of  Colo- 
nel R.  B.  Vance  (who  was  promoted  from  the  Colonelcy 
of  the  Twenty -ninth  after  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro),  it 
became  a  part  of  his  brigade.  General  Vance,  however,  was 
soon  prostrated  by  a  most  serious  illness  which  incapacitated 
him  for  service  until  the  next  summer,  and  he  was  thus  de- 
nied the  pleasure  of  leading  a  brigade  in  which  there  were 


712  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

the  two  veteran  Worth  Carolina  regimeaits,  the  Twenty-ninth 
and  the  Thirty-ninth.  General  Bate,  now  Senator  from 
Tennessee,  assumed  the  command  of  the  brigade. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  the  Thirty-ninth  was  a  part  of  the 
troops  sent  to  General  Jos.  E.  Johnston  in  Mississippi,  who 
was  organizing  a  force  to  oppose  Grant  on  the  Mississippi  and 
relieve  Vicksbtirg.  It  was  in  the  new  field  assigned  to  Me- 
ISTair's  Brigade,  Walker's  Division,  and  participated  in  all 
the  operations  of  that  CEtmpaign. 

CHICKAMATTGA. 

In  September  following  it  was  ordered  to  rejoin  General 
Bragg,  who  was  concentrating  in  the  vicinity  of  Lafayette, 
Ga.,  to  oppose  Rosecrans  who  was  again  advancing  from  his 
base  on  the  Tennessee.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Chicka- 
niauga  on  Friday,  18  September,  and  was  at  once  thrown 
forward  to  the  front  and  immediately  became  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  and  during  that  and  the  next  two  days  it  was  in 
the  front  and  the  hottest  part  of  one  of  the  greatest  and  best 
fought  battles,  not  only  of  the  Civil  War,  but  of  modern 
times. 

Chickamauga  was  like  Gettysburg  in  the  fact  that  the 
struggle  continued  for  three  days;  that  the  Confederates  as- 
sumed the  offensive;  in  the  steadiness  and  fierceness  of  the 
attack  and  the  desperate  character  of  the  defence  and  the  ap- 
palling losses  on  both  sides ;  but  in  the  result  conditions  were 
reversed.  JSTotwithstanding  the  ardor  and  splendid  courage 
of  the  Southern  men,  they  were  unable  to  overcome  the  enemy 
at  Gettysburg  and  were  compelled  tO'  withdraw  from  the  as- 
sault and  yield  the  enemy  the  field.  At  Chickamauga  the 
Southerners  carried  the  positions  of  the  enemy,  drove  him 
from  the  field  and  back  to  his  base,  occupied  every  inch  of 
the  ground  he  had  held,  captured  thousands  of  prisoners  and 
enormous  quantities  of  arms  and  other  military  trophies  and 
supplies.     In  short,  they  won  the  battle  and  the  campaign. 

It  is  a  singular  and  interesting  fact,  illustrating  the  vary- 
ing fortunes  of  this  famoxis  battle,  that  in  its  closing  scenes 
two  North  Carolina  Regiments,  Thirty-ninth  and  Sixtieth, 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  713 

fighting  in  different  parts  of  the  field,  were  facing  each  other, 
and  not  much  more  than  musket  shot  apart. 

farthest  at  chickamauga. 

It  was  at  Chickamauga,  on  Sunday,  the  last  day  of  the  bat- 
tle, and  at  the  supreme  moment,  that  the  Thirty-ninth  per- 
formed an  exploit  which  for  dash  and  soldierly  conduct  has 
no  superior  in  all  the  annals  of  war,  and  which  if  it  had  done 
no'thing  more,  before  or  afterwards,  would  have  entitled  it  to 
the  well-earned  fame  it  bore  in  the  armies  of  the  West. 

General  McNair  had  been  wounded  earlier  in  the  day,  and 
the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  Colonel  Coleman. 
The  brigade  was  in  General  Bushrod  Johnson's  Division, 
Longstreet's  Corps,  and  was  steadily  driving  the  enemy.  A 
great  portion  of  the  field  of  Chickamauga,  like  that  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  was  covered  by  a  dense  forest.  In  the  advance  the 
Brigade  emerged  from  the  woods  into  a  large  open  space,  now 
famous  as  "Dyer's  Field."  At  the  opposite  end  the  Federals 
had  massed  several  batteries  of  artillery,  heavily  supported  by 
infantry.  One  of  these  batteries  was  especially  effective  in  its 
fire  upon  the  Confederates.  Colonel  Coleman  discovered 
as  soon  as  his  troops  advanced  into  the  open  that  he  was  far  in 
advance  of  the  general  line  of  battle,  and  that  he  must  retire 
or  silence  this  battery.  With  that  quick  soldierly  instinct 
for  which  he  was  distinguished,  he  slightly  changed  front  to- 
wards the  right  and  putting  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth,  and  instructing  the  men  to  shoot  down  the  artillery 
horses,  he  gave  the  order  to  charge.  The  men  iiished  up  to 
the  very  muzzles  of  the  battery  and  then  ensiied,  but  for  a 
few  moments  only,  a  desperate  hand-to-hand  encounter.  The 
Federal  infantry  soon  fell  back,  but  the  gunners  fought  to 
the  last  and  most  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  en- 
tire battery,  ten  guns,  with  all  its  eqimipments,  was  cap- 
tured and  sent  tO'  tlie  rear.  This  is  the  point  and  time  then 
known  and  ever  since  called  the  "Famous  Break  of  the  Fed- 
eral Center,"  and  was  decisive  of  the  battle,  though  that  fact 
was  not  known  at  the  time.  In  his  report,  of  the  battle 
(which  is  inserted  in  this  sketch)  Colonel  Coleman  modestly 


714  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

states  the  facts,  leaving  out  many  details  whicli  are  often  re- 
counted by  the  old  veterans  as  they  gather  around  their  re- 
union campfires. 

The  credit  for  this  remarkable  achievement  was  claimed  by 
other  troops,  who  came  up  almost  immediately  after  the  cap- 
ture of  the  battery.  General  Johnson,  in  his  report,  refers 
to  this  claim,  but  says  he  is  unable  tO'  determine  it,  as  Colonel 
Coleman,  at  the  time  of  writing  the  report,  had  been  sent  with 
his  brigade  back  to  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi  and  he 
had  no  opportunity  to  communicate  with  him ;  but  he  makes 
a  suggestion  which  doubtless  furnishes  the  true  solution. 
There  were  several  Federal  batteries  in  Dyer's  Field.  While 
the  one  captured  by  the  Thirty-ninth,  because  of  its  position 
and  that  of  the  Confederates,  was  enabled  to  do  more  damage, 
the  others  were  not  idle  and  it  was  one  of  them  which  was 
captured  by  the  troops  of  other  portions  of  the  Southern  line 
a  short  while  after  the  Thirty -ninth  had  made  the  "famous 
break,"  which  led  to  the  confusion.  There  was  never  any 
doubt  with  the  men  of  the  Thirty-ninth,  or  of  MclSTair's  Bri- 
gade, of  the  facts,  and  many  survivors  yet  can  give  incontesta- 
ble evidence  of  them.  The  matter  was,  however,  histori- 
cally settled  by  the  investigation  and  conclusion  of  a  com- 
mission of  Confederate  and  Federal  officers,  who  were  actu- 
ally engaged  in  the  battle,  and  who,  in  1893,  visited  the 
scene,  examined  the  ground,  maps,  reports,  etc.  The  result 
is  contained  in  a  report  made  to  Governor  Carr,  of  North 
Carolina,  by  Colonel  Clinton  A.  Cilley,  who  was  a  gallant 
Federal  officer,  and  witnessed  many  of  the  operations  at 
Chickamauga,  dated  23  November,  1893.  It  is  hoped  that 
a  place  in  this  work  will  be  found  for  that  entire  report.  So 
much  of  it  as  refers  to  the  incident  just  recounted  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Second:  The  famous  break  through  the  Federal  center 
about  noon  on  Sunday.  Here  it  was,  according  to  the  report 
of  Colonel  David  Coleman,  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina, 
who  towards  the  close  of  the  day  took  command  of  his  brig- 
ade in  consequence  of  General  McNair  having  been  disabled, 
that  the  brigade,  under  Coleman's  command,  started  across 
the  open  field  in  the  face  of  the  heavy  fire  and  captured  nine 


Thikty-Ninth  Regiment.  715 

cannons  whicli  had  been  playing  on  it  from  an  eminence. 
Colonel  Coleman,  with  the  modesty  of  the  soldier,  contents 
himself  with  the  simple  statement,  and  says  no  more. 

"The  commander  of  another  brigade  also  claims  the  honor 
of  the  capture,  fortifying  his  statements  by  certificates  from 
various  subordinates.  The  division  commander  refers  to 
both  reports,  but  does  not  decide  between  them ;  he  intimates 
however,  that  out  of  the  abundance  of  captured  cannon  both 
brigades  might  have  taken  the  number  claimed. 

"This  made  it  necessary  for  us  to  collect  all  available  evi- 
dence and  subject  it  to  the  United  States  Commissioners  the 
night  before  our  actual  inspection  of  the  ground;  reports, 
maps  and  other  printed  matter,  were  thoroughly  examined 
and  discussed,  and  we  were  assured  that  should  the  morning 
survey  confirm  the  conclusion  arrived  at,  we  would  regard 
our  contention  as  successful. 

"The  next  day,  after  establishing  the  point  where  the  guns 
were  massed,  we  walked  up  the  long  slope  of  Dyer's  Field, 
over  which  ten  or  twelve  divisions  had  fought,  and  a  second 
comparison  of  all  the  evidence  available,  made  on  the  very 
spot  of  the  conflict,  so  plainly  showed  the  justness  of  Colonel 
Coleman's  claim  that  we  were  directed  to  drive  down  a  stake, 
marked  with  the  regiment's  name,  the  date  and  fact  of  the 
exploit,  at  the  location  contended  for." 

The  enemy  was  now  driven  from  every  portion  of  the  field 
except  Snodgrass  Hill,  where,  under  the  stubborn  Thomas, 
he  concentrated  and  fortified  and  for  hours  siiccessfully  re- 
sisted the  repeated  assaults  of  the  Southerners.  The  loss  of 
life,  especially  among  the  Confederates,  was  awful.  Ceme- 
tery Ridge  at  G-ettysburg,  the  "Bloody  Angle"  at  Spottsylva- 
nia,  and  "Snodgrass  Hill,"  at  Chickamauga,  will  rank  with 
the  most  sanguinary  struggles  in  civilized  warfare.  When 
night  came  the  Federals  were  yet  behind  a  portion  of  their 
log  breastworks ;  the  Confederates  on  the  slope  only  a  few 
yards  in  front;  human  effort,  apparently,  could  do  no  more, 
and  neither  would  yield.  Under  the  cover  of  welcome  dark- 
ness. General  Thomas  abandoned  his  intrenchments  and  es- 
caped to  Chattanooga,  with  the  only  organized  but  badly  shat- 
tered division  of  the  magnificent  army  Rosecrans  had  led 


716  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

across  the  spurs  of  the  Lookout  Mountain  only  a  few  days 
before.  The  Thirty-ninth  was  in  the  supporting  line  at 
Snodgrass  Hill,  and  as  the  struggle  approached  culmina- 
tion, became  engaged  in  the  general  and  final  assault,  and 
with  its  thin  and  wearied  lines  was  "in  at  the  death." 

Colonel  Coleman's  report,  above  refen-ed  to,  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

(From  Official  Records  Union  and  Confederate  Armies,  Vol. 
51,  pp.  499-502.) 

Headquarters  McIS[air''s  Brigade, 
Camp  Near  Eingold,  Gta.,  Sept.  24,  1863. 

Sir  : — In  obedience  to  Brigadier-General  Johnson's  order 
of  yesterday,  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken  by  this 
brigade  in  the  late  battles: 

Shortly  before  daylight  on  the  18th  instant,  this  brigade 
(Brigadier-G-eneral  E.  MclSTair),  in  company  with  that  of 
Brigadier-General  B.  R.  Johnson,  who  commanded  the  whole 
force,  left  Catoosa  Station,  on  the  Chickamauga  river,  and 
marched  by  way  of  Ringold  by  the  Lafayette  road  to  the 
intersection  of  the  Graysville  and  Reed's  Bridge  road.  Here 
cannonading  and  sharp  skirmishing  being  heard  on  the  left, 
line  of  battle  was  formed,  with  Johnson's  Brigade  on  the 
right,  and  the  force  swept  steadily  in  this  order,  with  skir- 
mishers in  front,  across  the  country  to  the  left,  the  enemy 
giving  way  with  scarcely  any  resistance,  to  the  Reed's  Bridge 
road,  near  the  bridge.  Thence  marched,  hearing  heavy  mus- 
ketry firing  in  front,  to  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  Lee 
&  Gordon's  Mills  on  the  Chattanooga,  and  Lee  &  Gordon's 
Mills  road,  where  it  encamped  in  line  for  the  night  some  time 
after  dark. 

On  the  19tli,  just  about  8  a.  m.,  the  battle  having  begun 
on  the  right,  the  brigade  was  placed  in  position  in  rear  of 
Gregg's  Brigade,  with  the  artillery.  Captain  Culpepper's  three 
pieces.  At  12  m.  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment, Colonel  Coleman,  and  Twenty-fifth  Arkansas,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Hufstedler,  (Colonel  Coleman  commanding  both 
regiments),  were  ordered  to  support  General  Gregg.    Moved 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  717 

rapidly  foi"ward,  and  getting  near  Gregg's  Brigade  (then  un- 
der a  terrific  fire)  chaxged  impetuously  with  loud  cheers, 
passing  over  the  left  of  Gregg's  Brigade,  and  drove  the  en- 
emy in  rapid  flight  through  the  thick  woods,  across  the  Chat- 
tanooga road,  past  the  small  house  100  yards  on,  and  into  the 
corn  fields  beyond,  making  a  distance  of,  altogether,  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile.  In  the  last  advance  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Hufstedler  fell  wounded  with  five  balls.  Here,  though 
the  enemy  to  whom  we  had  been  opposed  in  front  were  in 
flight,  broken,  and  in  confusion,  having  sustained  a  heavy  loss 
in  killed,  the  two  regiments  were  halted  on  finding  their  tired 
and  weakened  line  exposed  to  a  fatal  flanking  fire,  especially 
on  the  left,  which  was  unsupported  on  account  of  the  rapidity 
of  their  advance.  With  an  enemy's  battery  near  by  on  the 
left,  and  a  strong  enemy  re-enforcement  approaching,  and 
our  ammunition  neaxly  exhausted,  the  impracticability  of 
longer  holding  this  advanced  and  exposed  position  was  imme- 
diately manifest  and  the  force  was  ordered  back  to  the  woods. 
Here  they  were  reformed,  and  a  fresh  line  having  passed  to 
relieve  them,  were  marched  back  to  nearly  their  original  posi- 
tion tO'  await  ammunition,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  rest 
of  the  brigade,  which  finally  moved  forward  to  the  position  in 
line,  where  it  was  encamped  for  the  night  between  Johnson's 
Brigade   (on  the  right)    and  Hindman's  Division   (on  the 

left). 

*****■» 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  the  brigade  was  placed  in 
line  between  Stewart's  Ejivision  (on  the  right)  and  Hind- 
man's  (on  the  left),  with  a  slight  barricade  of  branches  and 
small  dead  wood  in  front.  Here,  at  about  9 :30  a.  m.,  the 
line  repulsed  an  advance  of  the  enemy.  In  a  few  mintites 
after,  the  brigade,  advancing  with  the  rest  of  the  line,  drove 
the  enemy  steadily  and  rapidly  back,  passing  over  two  suc- 
cessive lines  of  temporary  breastworks,  a  distance  of  about 
three-quarteirs  of  a  mile,  reaching  the  comer  of  the  field,  at 
the  opposite  end  of  which  were  two  batteries  of  the  enemy  on 
a  hill  commanding  the  whole  advance.  General  McNair  and 
Colonel  Harper,  First  Arkansas  (dismounted)  Rifies,  having 
just  been  disabled  by  wounds  (that  of  the  latter  ofiicer  mor- 


718  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

tal),  the  brigade,  already  in  advance  of  the  line,  charged  furi- 
ously upon  the  batteries  diagonally  on  the  right  and  captured 
them,  taking  ten  pieces,  eight  of  which  were  immediately 
sent  with  their  remaining  horses  to  our  rear,  and  the  remain- 
ing two,  then  in  the  woods,  were  carried  to  the  rear  after- 
wards, the  ground  never  having  been  reoccupied  by  the  en- 
emy. 

The  brigade  was  now  considerably  in  advance  of  the  line, 
though  this  was  rapidly  approaching.  Our  left  was  still 
more  exposed  by  the  break  made  by  our  diagonal  charge. 
The  enemy  were  firing  from  the  woods  in  front,  while  within 
200  yards  farther  in  the  woods  a  large  body  of  tlie  enemy 
was  seen  drawn  up  in  good  order.  With  our  forces  reduced 
by  our  rapid  advance  and  ammunition  nearly  exhausted,  it 
was  necessary  at  once  to  abandon  our  position.  The  brigade 
retired  to  the  woods,  procured  ammunition,  and  took  position 
in  line  on  the  left  of  Robertson's  Brigade. 

Here  receiving  an  order  from  Brigadier-General  Johnson, 
the  brigade  (under  Colonel  Coleman,  upon  whom  the  com- 
mand had  devolved)  moved  forward  and  to  the  left  about  a 
half  mile  to  the  support  of  Johnson's  Brigade,  which  was  sup- 
porting Robertson's  battery,  stationed  on  the  brow  of  a  hill 
to  the  right  of  the  Lookout  Valley  road,  at  which  point  our 
forces  were  resisting  with  diiHculty  the  determined  advance  of 
the  enemy  in  heavy  force.  In  a  few  minutes  General  John- 
son ordered  our  advance,  when,  passing  the  line  immediately 
supporting  the  battery  (which  line  also  advanced),  we 
charged  over  the  hill  upon  the  enemy,  and  after  a  protracted 
and  obstinate  resistance  (a  brigade  on  our  right  and  M.ani- 
gault's  Brigade  on  the  ridge  to  our  left  advancing  on  parallel 
lines  to  us),  the  enemy  were  completely  driven  from  the  posi- 
tion. In  this  conflict  we  suffered  much  from  a  flanking  fire, 
arising  from  tardy  support  on  our  left. 

The  artillery  (Captain  Culpepper)  having  assisted  in  re- 
pulsing the  enemy,  at  9 :30  a.  m.  was  placed  in  position  by 
General  Law  with  his  battery,  and  remained  there  during  the 
day. 

I  have  great  pleasure  and  pride  in  saying  that  the  whole 
brigade  behaved  most  nobly  during  the  fighting  of  both  days, 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  719 

being  uniformly  in  advance  of  all  others  in  every  onset.  Its 
losses  and  its  trophies  bear  ample  testimony  to  its  good  con- 
duct. In  another  report  I  propose  tO'  particularize  indi- 
vidual instances. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

D.  Coleman, 
Colonel  Commanding  Brigade. 
To  Captain  Blakemore,  Acting  A.  A.  General. 

ENCLOSUEE. 

Statement  of  captures  made  by  McNair's  Brigade  at 
Chickamauga  on  18,  19  and  20  September,  1863: 

Ten  pieces  of  artillery;  several  caissons  left  on  the  field 
and  brought  off  afterwards ;  six  first-class  ordnance  wagons ; 
six  wagon  loads  of  small-arms  ammunition;  brought  off  the 
field  800  fine  rifles;  piled  up  for  ordnance  wagons  2,000 
rifles;  brought  off  the  field  twenty-six  artillery  horses;  two 
stand  of  colors,  one  Eighth  Kansas,  the  other  not  remem- 
bered. One  was  taken  from  Private  Harry  Barger,  Com- 
pany I,  Twenty-fifth  Arkansas,  by  force,  after  capturing  it 
himself,  by  an  officer,  ranking  First  Lieutenant  of  Mani- 
gault's  Brigade.  D.  Coleman,  Colonel, 

Commanding  McNair's  Brigade. 

From  another  enclosure  in  this  report  it  appears  that  the 
Thirty-ninth  had  an  aggregate  of  232  men  and  15  officers 
present  for  duty,  of  whom  it  lost  100  killed  and  wounded  and 
three  missing.  As  the  full  aggregate  present  never  goes  into 
line  of  battle,  there  always  being  some  sick  and  details  for 
cooks,  stretcher-bearers  and  other  purposes,  the  loss  of  the 
Thirty-ninth  was  certainly  over  one-half. 

Colonel  Coleman's  report  though  written  with  a  soldier's 
modesty,  shows  his  men  were  farthest  to  the  front  on  both 
days,  and  were  necessarily  so  at  the  crisis,  the  capture  of  the 
artillery,  at  the  "Break"  of  the  enemy's  line.  With  this 
sketch  will  be  inserted,  from  Official  Records  of  the  Union 


720  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

and  Confederate  Armies,  Vol.  51,  p.  468,  the  map  whicli  ac- 
companied the  report  of  General  Bushrod  Johnson  and  which 
shows  that  the  two  regiments  of  McKair's  Brigade  (com- 
manded by  Colonel  Coleman)  were  at  the  furthest  point  on 
the  19th  also. 

At  the  close  of  the  Chickamauga  campaign  the  Thirty- 
ninth  was  again  sent  to  the  Southwest  (Department  of  the 
Gulf)  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  operations  in  that  region. 
As  the  emergencies  of  the  situations  in  the  wide  ten'itory 
embraced  in  that  department  demanded  the  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  Eeynolds',  and  finally  to  Ector's  Brigade,  Colonel 
Coleman  commanding  most  of  the  time. 


EESACA  to  ATLANTA. 


In  the  spring  of  1864,  the  regiment  was  again  brought 
back  to  ISTorthern  Georgia,  and  joined  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  who  had  succeeded  General  Bragg  in  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  at  Eesaca,  on  8  May.  It  imme- 
diately became  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  from  that  hour 
until  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  it  may  be  truthfully  said  the  men 
of  the  Thirty-ninth  were  under  fire  every  day.  That  long 
drawn  battle,  or  series  of  battles,  between  Johnston  and 
Sherman  from  Dalton  to  Atlanta  has  no  equal.  The  strug- 
gle between  Lee  and  Grant  from  Spottsylvania  to  Petersburg 
was  in'  fierceness  of  fighting  and  skill  in  strategy,  perhaps 
eqvially  as  brilliant,  but  the  area  of  operations  was  much 
more  circumscribed  and  the  contending  armies  much  nearer 
their  base  of  supplies.  The  battles  of  Resaca,  Altoona,  New 
Hope  Church,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  many  others  of  only 
less  magnitude  were  of  the  most  desperate  character,  and  in 
all  of  them  the  Thirty-ninth  bore  an  active  and  honorable 
part.  Its  ranks  had  become  thin,  recruiting  had  long  since 
become  exhausted,  but  every  man  in  it  was  a  veteran,  with 
whom  fighting  had  become  a  habit,  and  war  the  normal  condi- 
tion of  life. 

Following  the  fall  of  Atlanta  came  General  Hood's  ill- 
starred  campaign  to  ISTashville,  in  the  hope  of  compelling  Sher- 
man to  recall  his  army  to  protect  his  lines  of  communication. 
But  it  was  too  late;  the  South  had  expended  its  strength, 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  721 

while  the  North  -was  just  beginning  to  utilize  its  vast  and  in- 
exhaustible resources. 

NASHVILLE. 

At  the  battle  of  Nashville  the  Thirty-ninth  was  on  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  line,  where  Lieutenant-General  Stewart  in 
his  report  refers  to  its  work  as  exhibiting  the  "usual  intrepid- 
ity of  this  small,  but  firm  and  reliable  body  of  men."  The 
disastrous  results  of  that  campaign  are  known,  but  in  all  prob- 
ability the  privations,  the  hunger,  cold  and  apparently  hope- 
less condition  of  that  brave  remnant  of  the  gallant  army  on 
that  retreat  in  mid-winter  will  never  be  fully  known  or  appre- 
ciated except  by  those  who  participated  in  it.  Until  Nash- 
ville, the  Thirty-ninth  had  never  met  defeat. 

SPANISH  FOET. 

But  the  end  was  approaching ;  the  inevitable  was  near.  Yet 
the  hearts  of  these  devoted  Southern  Mountaineers  did  not 
fail.  Once  more  they  were  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf  and  there  participated  in  the  closing  operations  of  the 
war  in  that  part  of  the  Confederacy.  It  was  near  Mobile,  at 
Spanish  Fort,  in  resisting  the  assaults  of  the  enemy,  that  the 
Thirty-ninth  fought  its  last  fight  and  where  a  large  number 
of  the  few  survivors  were  killed  or  captured — the  remainder 
cutting  their  way  through  the  overwhelming  ranks  of  the  en- 
emy, only  to  hear  that  Lee  and  Johnston  had  surrendered, 
the  Confederacy  had  fallen,  and  the  Cause  for  which  they  had 
SO'  long  suffered  and  fought,  was  lost.  On  4  May,  1865,  at 
Meridian,  Miss.,  under  the  command  of  that  superb  soldier 
and  accomplished  gentleman,  General  Dick  Taylor,  the  men 
of  the  Thirty-ninth  laid  down  their  arms  and  that  regiment 
ceased  to  exist.  But  its  glory  survives;  the  memory  of  its 
achievements  will  never  die.  When  our  comrades,  who  in 
such  greater  numbers  swelled  the  armies  of  Virginia  and 
there  won  eternal  fame,  recall  and  record  their  sufferings,  vic- 
tories and  glories',  may  they  never  forget  their  brethren  who 
in  the  distant  West  and  Southwest  maintained  full  high  the 
fame  of  the  Old  North  State. 
46 


722  NoKTH  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  while  in  the  first  pitched  battle 
in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  all  of  its  field  officers  were 
shot  down  and  carried  from  the  field,  they  all  survived  the 
war,  notwithstanding  their  constant  active  service,  and  the 
numerous  bloody  engagements  in  which  they  fought;  and 
lived  to  serve  their  country  well  in  those  dark  and  dreadful 
days  of  Reconstruction  which  followed — a  period  in  many 
respects  more  trying  to  our  people  and  requiring  more  steadi- 
ness and  moral  courage,  perhaps,  than  that  of  actual  hostili- 
ties. 

David  Coleman  was  born  in  the  county  of  Buncombe  5 
February,  1824,  and  died  in  Asheville  5  Marclj,  1883.  He 
was  the  son  of  Wm.  Coleman,  and  his  wife,  Cynthia  Swain,  a 
sister  of  Gov.  Swain.  He  was  prepared  for  college  at  Newton 
Academy,  near  Asheville,  an  institution  celebrated  in  that 
day  for  its  high  standard  of  scholarship,  and  the  character 
of  the  youths  who  received  instruction  in  it.  He  then  en- 
tered the  University,  where  his  vigorous  mind,  his  taste  for 
letters,  and  his  fondness  for  the  classics,  soon  attracted  at- 
tention. Shortly  before  the  time  when  he  would  have  grad- 
uated he  entered  the  United  States  navy  and  served  therein 
with  distinction  until  his  resignation,  about  the  year  1850, 
having  attained  the  position  of  Lieutenant  Commander.  He 
saw  much  service  abroad,  having  been  attached  to  the  Afri- 
can, Mediterranean  and  South  American  squadrons.  He 
was  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  vessel  to  which  Jie 
was  attached  took  an  active  part  in  the  bombardment.  Upon 
his  resignation  he  returned  to  Asheville  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  His  native  ability,  rare  acoomplisbments,  accom- 
panied by  a  fine  presence  and  remarkably  courtly  bearing, 
soon  secured  for  him  a  high  place  in  his  profession  and  in  the 
public  esteem.  In  1854  he  was  a  Democratic  candidate  for 
State  Senator,  and  defeated  the  late  Nicholas  Woodfin,  who 
had  for  many  years  represented  the  district  and  was  sup- 
posed to  be  invincible ;  but,  the  "boy  from  the  navy,"  as  his 
political  opponents  called  bim,  was  victorious.  In  1856  he 
was  re-elected,  defeating  his  contemporary,  Zebulon  B. 
Vance,  the  only  defeat  Vance  ever  received  in  a  popular 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  723 

election.     In  1858  Coleman  and  Vance  were  rival  candi- 
dates for  Congress ;  this  time  Vance  being  the  victor. 

Colonel  Coleman  ardently  espoused  the  doctrine  of  Seces- 
sion, being  one  of  the  few  leading  men  in  the  West  who  took 
that  position.  At  the  beginning  of  hostilities  he  at  once  of- 
fered his  services  to  the  Confederate  and  State  Governments, 
and  sought  duty  in  the  navy,  which  it  was  then  hoped  to  or- 
ganize. He  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  some  ship, 
the  name  of  which  is  not  now  recalled,  but  the  delays  in  its 
equipment  and  the  vigilance  of  the  Federal  blockade  were  too 
much  for  his  impatient  spirit,  and  he  entered  the  army,  being 
appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  battalion  which  afterwards  became  the  Thirty- 
ninth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops. 

After  the  war  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
and  was  at  once  recognized,  and  so  continued  to  be  until  the 
day  of  his  death,  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  bar  in  the  State. 
He  was  for  some  time  solicitor  of  the  Western  circuit,  and 
with  General  Olingman,  represented  the  county  of  Buncombe 
in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1875.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  public  questions  of  the  day  (it  is  needless  to  say  which 
side  he  espoused)  and  was,  perhaps,  the  most  influential 
man,  except  Governor  Vance,  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
State.  He  was  the  ideal  Southern  soldier  and  gentleman, 
and  the  devotion  of  his  men  to  him  was  phenomenal.  He 
never  married. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Harvey  H.  Davidson  was  bom  in  the 
county  of  Haywood,  on  27  March,  1814,  and  died  at  his  resi- 
dence in  Clay  county  on  1  July,  1889.  He  was  the  second 
son  of  Wm.  M.  Davidson,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Vance,  a 
daughter  of  Colonel  David  Vance,  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
In  fact,  Colonel  Davidson  was  descended  from  good  figh1> 
ing  stock  on  both  sides,  his  grandfather  Davidson  having 
also  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  strength  of  mind  and  firmness  of  character,  and  had 
the  faculty  of  inspiring  confidence  and  affection  beyond  that 
of  most  men.  His  cousin.  Governor  Vance,  once  told  the 
writer  that  Colonel  Davidson  had  a  greater  fund  and  finer 
sense  of  humor  than  any  man  he  had  ever  met.     These  quali- 


724  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

ties  made  him  exceedingly  popular  in  every  relation  of  life. 
When  a  young  man  he  emigrated  tO'  Texas,  but  soon  returned 
to  his  native  State  and  settled  in  Cherokee  county.  His  peo- 
ple soon  chose  him  for  their  sheriff  and  continued  him  in  that 
position  until  he  entered  the  Confederate  army.  After  one  6t 
two  contests  opposition  to  him  ceased,  as  itwas  seen  to  be  hope- 
less. A  fever  supervened  his  wound  at  Murfreesboro,  and 
upon  the  retreat  of  the  Confederates  from  that  field  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  was  sent  to  Camp  Chase,  where 
he  spent  many  weary  months  in  captivity.  When  exchanged 
his  arm  was  found  to  be  useless,  and  his  health  so  impaired 
that  he  could  no  longer  serve  in  the  field,  and  he  resigned. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  his  residence  on  his 
farm  in  Cherokee  county,  taking  an  active  and  leading  part 
in  public  matters — representing  the  county  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  1865-'67.  In  1880  he  removed  to  Clay  county 
and  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  in  his  favorite  pur- 
suit of  agriculture.  He  died  as  he  lived,  an  upright,  useful 
citizen,  universally  beloved.  He  left  surviving  him  a  large 
number  of  descendants. 

Of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Reynolds,  unfortunately,  there  is 
no  data  of  his  subsequent  career,  except  that  with  his  father, 
General  A.  W.  Reynolds,  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  to 
Egypt  and  was  for  several  years  in  the  service  of  the  Khedive.- 
He  died  shortly  after  his  return  to  America.  He  was  not  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  but  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point 
and  an  accomplished  soldier. 

Major  Paschal  C.  Hughes  was  born  in  Macon  county  IS 
October,  1834,  and  died  in  Cherokee  10  December,  1878, 
leaving  surviving  him  his  widow  (who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davidson),  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  studied  law,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  soon  became  known  through^ 
out  the  Western  counties  as  a  safe  and  reliable  counselloi' 
and  faithful  business  lawyer.  His  character  in  every 
respect  was  of  the  highest;  and  while  he  never  sought 
public  honors  he  always  commanded  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  classes  of  the  community.  The  same  stern  sense" 
of  duty  and  exalted  courage  which  characterized  him  as  * 


Thikty-Ninth  Regiment.  725 

Boldier,  marked  hie  civil  life  and  made  him  that  best  of  all 
citizens — a  good  and  useful  man. 

Jas.  D.  Harden,  Adjutant  of  the  regiment,  was  bom  in 
Alamance  county,  but  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment  in  Com- 
pany C,  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Eegiment,  was  a  resident  of 
Cherokee  county.  In  the  famous  charge  at  Chickamauga,  on 
Sunday,  he  was  shot  through  the  neck  and  was  left  for  dead 
on  the  field  as  his  comrades  swept  forward  in  the  charge;  but 
after  months  he  was  sufficiently  restored  to  return  to  serrice, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  Quartermaster,  and  as  such  faith- 
fully served  his  country  in  the  armies  of  the  West  until  the 
end.  He  now  resides  at  Cheraw,  South  Carolina.  He  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  Judge  Mclver,  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  that  State. 

The  vmter  has  ventured  to  give  these  short  and  imperfect 
notices  of  the  leading  spirits  of  his  old  regiment.  They  are 
entitled  to  have  their  namies  and  deeds  inscribed  upon  the  an- 
nals of  their  people ;  and  if  this  sketch  shall  have  contributed 
anything  to  the  perpetuation  of  the  glory  of  the  services  they, 
and  the  men  whom  they  led,  rendered  their  country  in 
the  times  of  its  greatest  need,  he  will  be,  in  some  measure, 
reconciled  to  the  imperfections  of  his  efforts. 

Theo.  F.  Davidson. 

v4.SHBVILLE,    N.  C, 

4  May,  1901. 


ADDITIONAL  SKETCH  THIRTY-NINTH 
REGIMENT. 


By  first  lieutenant  JOHN  M.  DAVIDSON,  Company  C. 


I  herewitli  give  my  recollections  of  the  organization  and 
movements  of  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  Eegiment. 
I  know  that  in  many  respects  it  is  incomplete,  but  I  trust  I 
can  give  to  the  Veterans'  Association  of  North  Carolina  some 
facts  which,  perhaps,  with  what  others  remember,  may  be  the 
means  of  placing  the  grand  old  regiment  in  the  front  rank, 
where  it  belongs. 

The  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiment  was  organized, 
as  a  regiment,  at  Clinton,  Tennessee,  19  May,  1862,  accord- 
ing to  Act  of  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States.  Prior  to 
that  time  it  was  known  as  "Coleman's  Battalion,"  and  as 
such  had  been  organized  and  drilled  at  Asheville,  N.  C,  and 
Camp  Hill,  near  Asheville.  David  Coleman  was  elected 
Colonel,  Hugh  H.  Davidson  LieutenantColonel,  and  shortly 
thereafter  Frank  A.  Reynolds  was  appointed  Major.  The 
regiment  remained  a  while  at  Clinton,  drilling  and  doing  reg- 
ular camp  dvity,  with  a  Georgia  regiment,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Jackson,  and  a  section  of  artillery,  General  Gauly 
Reynolds  acting  as  Brigadier-General.  Our  first  move  was 
to  the  fair  ground  at  Knoxville,  a  portion  of  the  regiment 
being  detailed  to  guard  bridges  on  the  East  Tennessee,  Vir- 
ginia &  Georgia  Railway,  and  from  there  we  went  to  Lou- 
don, Tennessee,  where  we  remained  some  time.  Lieutenant 
Hymes,  of  Louisiana,  was  made  drill-master,  and  gave  us 
thorough  exercise  every  day. 


CUMBERLAND   GAP. 


In  September,  1862,  we  received  marching  orders  to  pro- 
ceed to  Cumberland  Gap,  Tenn.  After  arriving  there  the 
Twenty-ninth  and  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina,  and  an  Ala- 


728  North  Carolina  Troops,  l861-'65. 

bama  regiment,  were  ordered  to  Baptist  Gap.  Captain  Ter- 
rell was  with  us,  commanding  a  company  of  a  hundred  Cher- 
okee Indians,  who  did  good  picket  duty.  The  three  regi- 
ments were  ordered  to  proceed  to  another  gap,  below  Baptist 
Gap,  where  the  Federals  were  expected  to  pass,  but  as  we  did 
not  find  them,  on  the  second  or  third  day  we  moved  back  to 
Baptist  Gap,  and  when  nearing  the  Gap  heard  heavy  firing 
by  the  Indians,  and  were  ordered  to  double-quick.  Upon 
arriving  at  the  base  of  the  mountain  we  were  deployed  as  a 
skirmish  line  and  after  advancing  a  short  distance,  met  a 
squad  of  Indians  bearing  off  their  Chief  and  Lieutenant, 
mortally  wounded,  who  died  that  night.  The  Federals  saw 
us  approaching  and  retreated  across  the  mountain,  without 
the  fire  of  another  gun.  The  next  day  I  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  Company  C  to  guard  Lieutenant  Anderson  who, 
with  a  detail  of  a  hundred  men,  was  ordered  to  cut  the  timber 
off  the  road  leading  over  the  Gap,  Captain  Dyche,  of  Com- 
pany A,  and  Captain  Bell,  of  Company  B,  being  placed  as 
guards  on  the  sharp  bluffs  on  either  side  of  the  Gap.  I  had 
Company  C  advanced  as  pickets,  and  some  of  the  Indians  as 
scouts. 

We  spent  an  exciting  day,  as  the  Federals  were  in  the 
valley  only  a  short  distance  away.  Tbe  Indian  scouts  cap- 
tured three  of  their  pickets  and  reported  to  me  with  their 
prisoners,  who  were  the  worst  frightened  men  I  ever  saw. 
Their  captors,  the  Eed  Men,  wore  feather  plumes  on  their 
heads,  giving  them  a  savage  appearance.  I  ordered  the  pris- 
oners taken  to  headquarters,  after  assuring  them  that  the  In- 
dians would  not  scalp  them.  We  remained  on  the  moun- 
tain several  days,  doing  heavy  picket  duty,  when  a  courier 
brought  the  news  that  General  Morgan,  commanding  the 
Union  army,  had  evacuated  Cumberland  Gap.  Then  came 
the  bugle  call,  and  we  began  the  race.  General  E.  Kirby 
Smith  had  us  on  the  double-quick  (in  Raines'  Brigade),  but 
we  could  not  overtake  the  fleeing  army,  which  gave  us  the  slip 
near  the  Salt  works.  General  Smith  then  shaped  his  course 
towards  Frankfort,  stopping  a  few  days  at  Danville,  a  beau- 
tiful little  city  in  a  wealthy  and  refined  community.  I  was 
put  in  command  of  Company  C,  and  detailed  to  guard  a  very 


Ti-iiRTY-NiKTH  Regiment.  729 

large  distillery,  owned  by  a  prominent  Union  man.  My  in- 
structions were  to  treat  him  and  his  family  kindly  and  res- 
pectfully, and  to  protect  his  property  at  all  hazards.  I  had 
with  m©  Lieutenants  Moss  and  Hall,  and  eighty  men.  We 
gave  the  old  man  such  satisfaction  that  one  day  he  gave  us  all 
a  magnificent  dinner.  The  tables  were  loaded  with  turkeys, 
chickens,  roast  pig,  etc.,  which  was  a  great  treat  to  a  set  of 
hungry  old  Confederate  soldiers.  We  were  waited  on  by  his 
three  daughters,  forty  of  us  seated  at  a  time,  the  other  forty 
to  guard. 

IN   KENTUCKY. 

In  a  few  days  the  army  was  on  the  march  to  Salvisa  (  ?) 
and  was  several  hours  in  advance  before  we  received  orders  to 
move.  When  the  company  was  formed  in  line  to  start  the 
old  distiller  mad©  a  speech  of  thanks,  and  filled  every  man's 
canteen  vdth  fine  ol'd  rye  whiskey,  four  years  old.  As  we 
left  we  gave  three  cheers  for  our  kind-hearted  host. 

Having  to  march  all  night,  I  gave  orders  for  the  men  to  be 
very  careful  with  the  "good  spirit,"  and  let  moderation  be 
their  guide.  Our  tramp  during  that  long  night  was  light- 
ened by  an  occasional  sip  from  the  canteens,  and  as  we  occa- 
sionally overtook  some  poor  old  soldier  fatigued  and  broken 
down,  we  would  administer  a  small  dose  of  the  rye  and  in  a 
little  while  he  would  rise  and  fall  into  line  with  a  bright  step. 
When  we  arrived  at  Salvisa,  in  the  afternoon,  the  skirmish 
was  over  and  the  Confederates  were  holding  the  town.  Our 
command  had  left ;  we  could  not  ascertain  by  what  route,  but 
proceeding  upon  the  theory  that  the  right  hand  pike  was  the 
safest  we  took  it.  After  marching  about  a  mile  we  were  over- 
taken by  a  squad  of  cavalry,  commanded  by  Major  Wash. 
Morgan,  who  were  leaving  in  a  hurry  as  the  Federals  were 
after  them.  He  recognized  me  and  advised  me  to  break  for 
a  thicket  near  by  and  hide  like  partridges  until  dark,  and 
then  slip  across  the  fields  and  take  the  other  pike  for  Har- 
rodsburg.  Presently  the  Yankee  cavalry  came  dashing  by. 
We  took  a  good  look  at  the  "blue-coats,"  but  had  no  disposi- 
tion to  disturb  thean.  As  soon  as  darkness  came  on  we 
crawled  out  of  the  brush,   and  finding  the  pike,  marched 


730  North  Caeolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

nearly  all  night,  stopping  only  to  take  a  nap  at  midnight,  and 
for  a  sumptuous  breakfast  of  fat  bacon  and  hard-tack  at  day- 
light, arriving  at  Harrodsburg  the  following  night.  During 
the  march  that  day  a  lady  treated  us  to  as  much  com  cake  and 
buttermilk  as  we  could  eat.  I  acted  rather  indiscreetly  and 
ate  so  much  it  made  me  sick,  but  the  soldiers  secured  a  man- 
ger for  me  in  the  "Hotel  de  Horse,"  and  soon  had  me  on  foot 
again.  Early  next  morning  the  troops  began  coming  in 
from  the  battle  of  Perryville,  that  had  been  fought  the  even- 
ing before.  We  found  our  regiment  and  were  soon  moving 
to  Camp  Eobinson,  crossing  the  Kentucky  river  where  we  had 
protection  from  the  high  bluffs  to  resist  the  approach  of  the 
enemy.  The  next  day  being  Sunday,  our  brigade  assembled 
around  some  straw  piles  and  were  highly  entertained  by  a  ser- 
mon from  Kev.  Mr.  Wexler,  Chaplain  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
Regiment.  The  Yanks,  however,  did  not  intend  that  we 
should  protract  our  religious  services,  and  by  midnight  we 
were  on  the  move.  As  we  passed  Camp  Dick  Robinson  our 
way  was  brilliantly  lighted  by  the  burning  of  the  commissary 
stores.  Large  warehouses  filled  with  bacon  were  producing  a 
"meat-teoric"  light.  Many  of  the  soldiers  fixed  bayonets  and 
plunging  into  the  fine  blazing  hams,  shouldered  arms  and 
marched  on. 

Our  next  stopping  place  was  Frankfort,*  where  we  were 
kept  scouting  and  skirmishing.  One  evening  our  brigade 
was  moved  out  on  the  pike  near  a  little  place,  Shelbyville,  I 
think,  but  the  Federals  only  made  a  feint.  While  we  were 
absent  the  balance  of  the  army  was  at  the  capital,  making  a 
Confederate  Governor,  viz:  Governor  Haws,  of  Paris,  Ky. 
Unfortunately  he  did  not  have  time  to  deliver  his  inaugural 
address,  as  it  was  unsafe  for  him  to  stay  long.  He  was 
mounted  on  a  fine  Kentucky  charger  and  was  honored  with 
a  position  in  front  of  the  army.  As  we  marched  out  by  the 
penitentiary,  the  band  played  "Dixie."  I  thought  that  if  we 
were  in  "Dixie's  Land"  we  should  be  allowed  to  "take  our 


*  Note— The  occupation  and  evacuation  of  Frankfort  preceded  the  bat- 
tle of  Perryville.  Lieutenant  Davidson  is  accurate  as  to  events,  but  in 
tbis  instance  lias  reversed  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  occurred. — Ed. 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  731 

stand."  We  passed  through  a  beautiful  little  town  about 
midnight,  halting  for  a  few  moments,  and  heard  a  female 
call  to  her  neighbor  across  the  street,  "Skeedaddle."  A 
sweet  voiced  lady  spoke  to  us  from  a  second-story  window, 
saying  that  she  was  for  the  Confederacy,  but  that  her  friend 
and  neighbor  was  a  Unioiiist  and  was  rejoicing  at  the  Con- 
federate retreat. 

JSTothing  of  interest  occurred  on  our  march  from  Ken- 
tucky. We  passed  out  as  we  entered,  through  Cumberland 
Gap,  stopping  at  Lenoir  on  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia  Railway. 

A  few  days  after  our  arrival  at  this  point,  Sergeant-Ma j  or 
Theo.  F.  Davidson  was  relieved  from  duty,  being  under  age, 
and  was  appointed  on  General  R.  B.  Vance's  staff.  Our 
next  move  was  to  Loudon,  Tennessee,  only  a  few  miles  south 
of  Lenoir,  where  we  went  into  camp  and  remained  for  some 
time,  guarding  bridges,  drilling,  etc. 

MUEFEEESBOKO. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December  w©  moved  to  Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee,  where  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  was  fought  (30 
and  31  December).  It  was  in  this  fight  that  our  Brigadier- 
General  (Raines),  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier,  was  killed. 
During  a  charge  he  fell  from  his  horse,  and  the  riderless  ani- 
mal galloped  on  into  the  Federal  lines.  The  Twenty-ninth, 
Thirty-ninth  and  Sixtieth  North  Carolina  Regiments  lost 
many  brave  soldiers.  Colonel  Coleman  was  severely  wounded 
in  the  leg.  Colonel  H.  H.  Davidson  received  a  bullet  in  the 
arm,  shattering  the  bone  near  the  elbow.  His  wound 
was  so  painful  that  he  was  thrown  into  a  fever  and  could  not 
be  moved,  and  w,as  captured  by  the  enemy. 

After  the  retreat  the  army  went  into  winter  quarters  near 
Shelbyville.  Our  Brigadier-General  having  been  killed.  Col- 
onel R.  B.  Vance,  as  senior  Colonel,  was  put  in  command  for 
a  while.  Colonel  W.  B.  Bate,  of  Tennessee,  was  promoted 
to  Brigadier-General,  and  put  in  command  of  our  Brigade. 
General  A.  P.  Stewart  commanded  our  Division  of  Polk's 
Corps.     The  winter  was  spent  in  recruiting,  drilling,  review- 


732  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ing  and  camp  duty.  On  one  occasion  General  Polk,  in  re- 
viewing his  corps,  selected  the  beautiful  flag  presented  to  the 
Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiment  by  the  ladies  of  Ashe- 
ville  to  be  placed  at  the  reviewing  stand,  which  produced  a 
little  envy  in  the  minds  of  the  troops  from  some 
other  States.  While  the  regiment,  was  marching  out  to  take 
its  place,  and  William  Breedon,  the  Ensign,  was 
proudly  bearing  his  beautiful  banner,  some  one  called  out 
"Hurrah  for  the  Tar  Heels."  As  we  had  not  then 
learned  our  new  name,  the  Ensign  took  it  is  an  insult,  and 
stepping  out  of  the  ranks,  stuck  his  flagstaff  up  in 
the  ground  and  dared  those  offering  an  insult  to  North  Car- 
olina to  step  out  two  at  a  time  and  he  would  whip  the  entire 
regiment.  This  caused  a  yell  of  laughter,  and  Bree^ 
don,  realizing  the  joke,  raised  his  banner  and  marched  on. 
The  corps  made  a  fine  display.  A  large  number  of  ladies 
from  Shelbyville  were  present  and  were  delighted  with  the 
movements  of  the  troops. 

General  A.  P.  Stewart  commanded  the  Division,  issued 
orders  for  a  thorough  training  of  the  company  officers.  We 
were  placed  under  a  West  Point  officer,  who'  organized  us  into 
a  class,  and  we  had  to  make  "Hardee's  Tactics"  our  constant 
companion  for  some  time.  We  recited  every  day,  and  were 
then  formed  into  a  squad  and  put  through  the  practical  part 
of  the  lesson.  We  had  a  good  class  and  as  every  one  did  his 
best,  made  good  progress  in  co^mpany  and  battalion  drill. 
Our  instructor  must  have  reported  progress  to  the  General, 
for  one  day  as  I  was  drilling  the  company,  General  Stewart 
and  his  staff  approached.  He  alighted  and  walked  by  my 
side  for  some  time,  and,  when  we  had  completed  the  move- 
ment, ordered  a  halt  and  tendered  us  his  thanks  for  our  cor- 
rect movements  and  proficiency.  On  the  day  following  the 
regiment  was  marched  out  to  the  parade  ground,  as  we  sup- 
posed for  our  usual  drill.  Colonel  Coleman  formed  us  in 
line  of  battle  and  gave  the  commands,  "Order  Arms,  Parade 
Rest."  We  thought  him  very  kind  in  not  trotting  us  around 
that  old  field,  but  in  a  few  moments  discovered  General 
Stewart  advancing  with  his  staff.  They  were  saluted  by  the 
Field  Officers,  and  after  a  short  consultation.  Adjutant  Har- 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  733 

den  took  his  position,  called  attention,  and  proceeded  to  read 
the  following  order:  "Lieutenant  J.  M.  Davidson,  Com- 
pajiy  O,  will  take  charge  of  and  drill  the  regiment."  I  did 
not  feel  the  least  bit  elated  over  the  order,  but  it  had  to  be 
obeyed.  I  went  to  Colonels  Coleman  and  Eeynolds  for  ad- 
vice, but  they  only  said  take  the  regiment  through  any  evo- 
lution you  can.  I  decided  on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  move- 
ments in  Hardee's  Tactics — that  of  breaking  the  regiment  to 
the  rear  into  columns  of  companies.  There  were  seven  or 
eight  hundred  men,  divided  into  ten  companies.  I  was  not 
honored  with  a  horse  and  had  never  attempted  to  drill  more 
than  a  single  company.  I  took  my  position  in  front  of  and 
near  the  centre  of  the  regiment,  and  gave  the  command  to 
move,  but  omitted  to  first  give  the  precautionary  command. 
Of  co'urse  the  order  was  not  obeyed,  they  could  not  move, 
being  at  order  arms  and  parade  rest.  The  General,  specta- 
tors and  regiment  smiled  audibly.  Discovering  my  mis- 
take, I  gave  my  voice  a  high  piteh  and  commanded :  "Atten- 
tion, battalion,  shoulder  arms,  by  the  right  of  companies  to 
the  rear  into  column,  march."  All  moved  out  nicely,  and  I 
wheeled  them  around  the  old  field  and  attempted  to  throw 
them  into  line  at  a  double-quick,  but  while  stepping  back- 
wards my  heel  struck  a  little  grub  or  bush,  which  gave  me  a 
hard  fall,  my  sword  flew  out  of  my  hand  and  stuck  up  in  the 
ground  several  feet  away.  As  I  went  down  I  yelled,  "Halt !" 
and  General  Stewart  called  out,  "Rise,  Captain,  and  try  it 
again."  I  succeeded  in  getting  the  regiment  into  line  again, 
and  saluting  the  Colonel,  begged  to  be  relieved  of  the  com- 
mand. General  Stewart  said  that  as  I  had  done  so  well,  ex- 
cepting the  fall,  he  would  let  me  off. 

Captain  Allen,  of  Company  D,  was  called  out  next,  and  at- 
tempted to'  go  through  the  same  movement,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, gave  the  command,  "By  the  right  of  Companies  to 
the  rear,  March!"  and  each  Captain  marched  his  company 
to  the  rear  until  we  struck  a  dense  cedar  thicket,  when  some 
one  yelled,  "Down  on  your  marrow  bones  and  charge  the 
cedar  thicket."  Captain  Allen,  who  had  a  feminine  voice, 
called  out  in  his  distress:  "Colonel,  what  is  the  matter  with 
the  men  ?"   The  Colonel  assured  him  that  the  men  were  obey- 


734  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ing  his  commands.  He  replied :  "Colonel,  for  God's  sake, 
stop  them  and  get  them  out  of  that  thicket."  Colonel  Cole- 
man managed  to  extricate  us,  and  we  were  reformed  in  the 
old  field  again.  Captain  Allen  got  along  very  well  with  the 
remainder  of  the  evolution,  and  was  relieved.  General  Stew- 
art made  us  a  nice  speech,  thanking  us  for  affording  him  so 
much  amusement,  and  saying  that  it  had  been  a  very  pleasant 
day,  and  that  it  was  necessary  for  soldiers  to  have  a  little  fun 
occasionally.  So  ended  my  first  and  last  attempt  at  battal- 
ion drill. 

ijsr  MISSISSIPPI. 

The  corps  was  soon  after  transferred  to  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf,  and  went  into  camp  at  Meridian,  Miss.,  where  it 
remained  during  the  winter  of  1863.  In  June,  1863,  we 
were  ordered  to  YazoO',  Miss.,  and  near  Canton,  Miss.,  the. 
Thirty-ninth  was  transferred  to  MclSTair's  Brigade,  French's 
Division.  This  brigade,  with  the  exception  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth,  was  composed  of  Arkansas  troops,  who  were  good  sol- 
diers, and  they  treated  the  "Tar  Heels"  so  kindly  that  all  the 
survivors  of  the  old  veterans  have  a  warm  place  in  their  hearts 
for  each  other. 

From  the  Big  Pond,  near  Canton,  we  marched  to  Bird- 
song's  farm,  near  Vicksburg.  General  Johnston  was  endeav- 
oring to  get  into  Vicksburg  to  assist  General  Pemberton  in 
getting  out.  On  4  July  we  were  ordered  to  cook  three  days' 
rations  and  to  move  that  nigtht  at  midnight  via  Edwards'  Sta- 
tion. During  the  day  we  heard  continuous  and  heavy  can- 
nonading at  Vicksburg,  and  that  night  as  the  troops  were  get- 
ting ready  for  their  dangerous  march,  a  courier  arrived  with 
the  sad  intelligence  that  General  Pemberton  had  surren- 
dered to  Grant,  and  that  the  Federals  were  moving  on  John- 
ston. The  command  was  given  to  march,  and  slowly  and 
sadly  we  started  for  Jackson,  Miss.,  where  we  rested  for  a 
few  days.  Here  Johnston  made  a  stand,  with  Breckin- 
ridge's Division  on  the  left,  resting  on  Pearl  river,  and 
French's  Division  on  the  right.  About  6  or  8  July,  Grant 
came  up  with  a  heavy  skirmish  line  and  began  shelling,  feel- 
ing for  our  lines.     Breckinridge's  Division  was  hidden  in 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  735 

the  chapparal,  and  a  masked  battery  planted  in  line  with  the 
railway.  Company  C,  with  a  portion  of  the  regiment  had 
been  on  duty  in  the  trenches  for  forty-eight  hours,  and  had 
been  relieved  to  rest  for  a  short  time  in  a  railroad  cut,  where 
we  were  in  perfect  safety  and  had  a  full  view  of  the  masked 
battery  and  our  skirmish  line.  The  Federals  thought  they 
had  discovered  a  gap,  through  which  they  had  but  tO'  march 
to  the  capital.  They  advanced  in  four  lines,  in  perfect  or- 
der, keeping  step  as  if  on  dress  parade.  Just  as  they 
reached  the  railroad  the  cotton  bales  and  brush  were  thrown 
from  the  six  fine  brass  cannon  and,  the  command  ringing 
out,  every  piece  fired  at  once.  At  the  same  time  Breckin- 
ridge's men  arose  like  ghosts  in  front  and  poured  in  a  heavy 
shower  of  minie  balls.  The  destruction  of  life  was  awful; 
they  fell  like  grain  before  the  reaper.  We  in  the  cut  saw  it 
all.  It  lasted  scarcely  fifteen  minutes,  and  over  seven  hun- 
dred dead  were  left  on  the  railroad  track.  The  survivors 
hastily  retreated  to  the  timber  in  their  rear.  Grant  was 
pressing  us  all  along  the  line,  shelling  the  city  every  night. 
It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  shells  passing  like  blazing  me- 
teors overhead,  with  a  whizzing  sound,  as  they  went  on  their 
deadly  missions,  crashing  into  the  roofs  of  buildings  and  fre^ 
quently  setting  a  house  on  fire.  In  a  few  days  Johnston  fell 
back  across  Pearl  river,  placing  torpedoes  under  the  pontoon 
bridge.  These  exploded  as  the  Federals  attempted  to  follow, 
and  we  heard  afterwards  that  many  had  been  killed.  Grant 
followed  us  no  further  after  the  capture  of  Jackson,  but  re- 
turned to  Vicksburg  and  we  marched  unmolested  to  Bran- 
don, Miss. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

In  September  we  moved  tO'  Tennessee  to  assist  General 
Bragg,  arriving  at  Ringold  on  the  17th,  and  starting  at  once 
for  Ohickamauga.  We  passed  over  the  hills,  where  heavy 
skirmishing  was  in  progress,  and  crossed  Ohickamauga  at 
Reed's  Bridge.  General  Rosecrans,  with  his  powerful  army, 
made  an  attack  on  the  Friday  after  we  arrived.  Darkness 
put  a  stop  to  the  fighting,  and  we  slept  on  our  arms  that  night, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  were  in  line  again.     I  had 


736  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

been  acting  as  Quartermaster  for  several  months,  and  my 
wagon  train  was  at  Alexander's  Bridge,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  Chickamauga. 

While  Bragg  was  holding  a  council  with  his  Generals  un- 
der some  large  pin©  trees,  about  8  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  Federal 
artillery  sent  several  shells  through  the  tops  of  the  trees,  and 
the  council  immediately  dispersed,  Bragg  sending  the  Gener- 
als to  their  respective  commands.  Colonels  Coleman  and 
Eeynolds  dismounted  and  the  former  ordered  me  to  take  the 
horses  to  his  servant,  D.  Love,  and  then  proceed  to  the  wagon 
yard  and  have  all  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice. 
As  I  departed  with  the  horses,  Colonel  Eudler,  of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Georgia,  marched  in  by  my  right  flank,  faced  his 
regiment  to  the  front,  and  gave  the  command  tO'  fire.  A  f eiw 
minutes  later  he  was  brought  out  wounded  in  the  foot. 

It  seems  that  a  gap  had  been  left  open  to  the  right  of  our 
brigade,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Georgia  was  sent  in  to  close 
it.  Greggs'  South  Carolina  Brigade  was  in  front  of  Mc- 
ISTair's  and  was  being  hard  pressed.  Colonel  Coleman,  of 
the  Thirty-ninth  ITorth  Carolina,  and  Major  Noles,  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  Arkansas,  saw  an  opportunity  to  aid  Gregg  and, 
raising  the  "Rebel  Yell,"  charged  in  without  orders  and  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  the  enemy  back.  I  witnessed  all  the  first 
moves,  and  could  see  our  brave  boys  as  they  charged.  My 
squad  was  in  a  ravine,  where  we  went  tO'  protect  the  horses, 
and  as  our  lines  pressed  iorward  it  gave  me  an  opportunity 
to  slip  across  Chickamauga,  where  I  found  my  teamsters 
mounted  ajid  ready  to  move. 

A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Bradley,  from  Haywood 
county,  of  Company  C,  had  a  strange  presentiment  on  the 
night  before  the  battle.  Only  a  few  moments  before  the 
fight  opened  he  told  me  that  he  would  be  killed  by  the  first 
volley,  gave  me  a  message  for  his  mother,  and  bade  me  good- 
bye. I  tried  to  reason  him  out  of  his  strange  illusion,  but 
he  said  that  he  was  sure  of  his  fate,  as  it  had  all  come  to  him 
last  night  while  we  were  sleeping.  That  evening  I  walked 
over  the  ground  where  our  regiment  went  into  the  fight,  and 
not  more  than  ten  paces  from  where  he  bade  me  farewell  I 
found  his  body,  lying  near  eight  or  ten  others.     He  had  fallen 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  737 

on  his  face  on  a  large  flat  rock.  I  turned  him  over,  unbut- 
toned his  coat  and  found  that  his  breast  had  been  pierced  by 
three  minie  balls. 

The  battle  raged  incessantly  all  day,  ceasing  only  with 
darkness  and  beginning  again  next  morning,  which  was  Sun- 
day. The  Confederates  charged  again  and  again,  and  in  the 
evening  carried  Snodgrass  Hill,  scoring  a  great  victory  for 
the  Southern  arms.  Eosecrans  fell  back  in  great  confusion 
and  disorder  to  Chattanooga. 

After  the  battle  our  corps  was  sent  back  to  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf.  I  was  detailed  as  Brigade  Quartermaster  and 
Commissary  to  keep  supplies  for  the  wounded  at  our  field  hos- 
pital, and  remained  fourteen  days  after  our  command  left. 
On  the  day  I  was  relieved  I  went  over  the  field,  and,  in  com- 
pany with  several  nurses,  some  of  whom  had  been  through  it 
all,  inspected  the  ground  our  brigade  had  occupied.  We 
counted  237  bodies  that  had  been  missed  by  the  burial  party, 
and  my  recollection  is  that  the  dead  were  about  equally 
divided  between  the  Blue  and  the  Gray. 

IN  MISSISSIPPI^  ALABAMA  AND  FLOEIDA. 

When  my  work  was  over  I  turned  in  my  horse  at  Ringold 
and  boarded  the  train  for  my  command,  which  I  found  at 
Brandon,  Miss.,  where  we  remained  until  about  1  February, 
1864,  and  were  then  moved  to  Dog  River  Factory,  near  Mo- 
bile, Ala.,  and  from  thence  to^  Pollard,  Ala.  From  there  we 
were  ordered  to  Yellow  River,  Fla.,  near  Pensacola  Bay,  as  it 
was  feared  the  Federals  contemplated  a  flank  movement.  We 
went  into  camp  about  forty  miles  southeast  of  Pollard, 
on  a  beautiful  plateau  overlooking  the  river.  Owing  to  the 
number  of  rattlesnakes  in  the  vicinity,  it  was  called  "Rattle- 
snake Camp."  We  had  a  battle  with  the  snakes  on  the  even- 
ing of  our  arrival,  and  killed  a  dozen  or  more,  several  very 
large  ones.  As  the  ground  was  covered  with  pine  knots  and 
logs.  Colonel  Coleman  had  bonfires  around  the  guard  line  all 
night,  so  we  could  see  the  reptiles  and  prevent  their  getting 
too  close  for  comfort.  In  spite  of  our  care.  Captain  Mount 
and  I  slept  with  a  little  "rattler"  that  had  crawled  under  our 
47 


738  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

blanket  and  was  not  discovered  until  necxt  morning,  when  he 
was  speedily  killed. 

The  country  being  sparsely  settled,  we  had  a  heavy  picket 
line,  and  orders  were  issued  to  fire,  without  challenge,  on 
anyone  approaching  after  dark.  While  officer  of  the  day,  I 
learned  that  three  of  the  men  were  out  foraging,  and  going 
to  the  post  where  I  thought  they  would  try  to  pass,  I  notified 
the  sentinel  and  Corporal  of  the  Guard  to  be  very  careful,  and 
if  they  saw  or  heard  two  or  three  advancing,  not  to  fire,  but 
challenge  in  a  low  tone.  While  giving  these  instructions  I 
heard  them  coming  and  called  out,  "Who  comes  ?  Give 
your  names  and  company,"  which  they  did,  and  were  ordered 
to  advance.  I  then  explained  that  by  violating  my  positive 
orders  I  had  saved  their  lives,  and  that  they  must  keep  secret 
the  fact  that  they  had  been  out,  or  I  would  be  court-martialed 
for  disobedience.  That  was  over  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  my 
conscience  has  always  been  clear  that  I  did  right  in  saving  the 
lives  of  my  comrades. 

The  glades  were  full  of  deer  and  bees  and  the  river  and 
lakes  abounded  in  fish.  One  day  Colonel  Coleman  detailed 
three  squads  of  six  men,  one  to  hunt  deer,  one  to  hunt  wild 
honey,  and  the  other  tO'  fish.  I  was  placed  on  the  latter,  and 
Dr.  Hatcher,  our  Surgeon,  was  in  command.  Our  inst-ruc- 
tions  were  to  report  at  6  p.  m.,  at  which  time  all  came  in 
from  different  directions;  the  first  party  with  three  fine 
bucks,  the  second  party  marching  in  single  file,  each  man 
with  a  bucket  of  choice  honey,  and  our  party  groaning  under 
their  loads  of  fish.  It  goes  without  saying  that  we  were 
greeted  with  a  shout.  Dr.  Hatcher  caught  a  large  turtle, 
which  we  had  to  make  a  second  trip  for.  Our  spoils  were 
divided,  the  turtle  going  to  the  headquarters  mess  and  all  the 
commissioned  officers  were  invited  to  take  dinner  with  the 
Colonel  next  day,  where  we  feasted  on  turtle  soup.  Our 
time  was  spent  so  pleasantly  in  Florida  that  we  were  loath 
to  leave,  but  about  1  May  orders  were  given  to  cook  three 
days'  rations,  and  by  5  o'clock  p.  m.  we  had  bidden  farewell 
to  "Rattlesnake  Camp"  and  were  on  the  road  to-  Pollard, 
forty  miles  distant,  where  we  embarked  on  the  train  and 
started  north  to  assist  in  the  Dalton  campaign,  arriving  at 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  739 


Eesaca,  on  the  W.  &  A.  Railroad,  8  May,  1864.  (I  failed  to 
Btate  that  General  McWair  had  been  wounded  at  Chicka- 
jnauga,  and  General  Reynolds  now  commanded  our  Brigade. ) 
T\\fo  Arkansas  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Williamson,  that  had  just  come  in  on  the  oars,  were  disem- 
barked and  started  forward  on  the  double-quick.     They  met 

and  checked  the  advance  of Division  of  Hooker's 

Corps,  and  later,  being  reinforced  by  Grisby's  Kentxickians, 
with  General  Hardee  in  personal  command,  repulsed  them 
completely.  All  of  Reynold's  Brigade  had  arrived  by  the 
9th.  Johnston  had  established  his  lines  with  Polk's  Corps 
on  the  left,  the  Thirty-ninth  being  stationed  on  the  extreme 
left,  resting  on  a  Bluff  of  the  Oostanaula  river.  We  were 
entrenched,  protecting  a  nearby  battery.  The  Federals  got 
the  range  of  our  battery  and  opened  fire,  which  our  battery 
returned.  Little  damage  was  done  to  the  guns  or  men,  most 
of  the  shells  passing  overhead,  but  the  artillery  horses,  sta- 
tioned in  a  hollow  in  the  rear  of  the  line,  were  nearly  all 
killed.  Heavy  skirmishing  and  cannonading  were  kept  up 
during  13  and  14  May.  At  about  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  the 
14th,  we  and  the  troops  of  Polk's  and  Hood's  Corps,  were  or- 
dered to  charge.  A  brush  fence  had  been  placed  along  the 
bank  of  our  ditches,  which  we  had  tO'  climb  over.  Ensign 
Bryson,  of  Company  K,  and  Sergeant  Corbin,  of  Company  I, 
and  myself,  were  the  first  over,  Bryson  calling  for  the  Thirty- 
ninth  to  rally  on  the  colors.  Just  as  he  spoke  a  cannon  ball 
took  off  his  arm  and  he  dropped  the  flag.  Sergeant  Corbin 
was  knocked  down  by  the  concussion,  and  I  was  left  standing, 
but  so  shocked  for  a  moment  that  I  had  no  power  to  move.  In 
0,  short  space  the  regiment  was  in  line  and  Sergeant  Shelton 
(I  think  it  was)  picked  up  the  colors.  We  went  at  a  double- 
quick  across  a  field  and  just  before  we  entered  the  timber  the 
command  was  given  to  lie  down  (in  order  to  get  our  breath), 
and  then  forward  we  went,  catching'  up  with  Captain  Craw- 
ford, commanding  Company  I,  of  the  skirmish  line.  An 
Alabama  regiment  was  in  front  of  us.  In  a  few  moments  we 
were  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  it 
was  so  dark  we  could  not  see,  and  the  enemy's  line  could  be 


740  North  Carolina  Troops,  186] -'65. 

traced  by  the  flash  of  their  guns.  The  roar  of  the  artillery 
was  deafening,  the  battle  raging  along  the  whole  line,  and 
continuing  long  after  nightfall. 

We  were  contending  for  a  hill  west  of  the  town,  trying  to 
prevent  the  Federals  from  getting  possession  of  it.  Shortly 
after  nightfall  we  were  ordered  back  to  our  trenches.  I  re- 
mained behind  to  see  if  the  blue^coats  would  try  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  hill  in  the  darkness.  As  the  regiment  moved 
away  the  enemy  tried  to  see  how  many  minie  balls  they  could 
send  toward  us.  I  never  heard  such  a  singing  of  bullets.  I 
was  standing  near  a  large  white-oak  stump,  behind  which  I 
quickly  dropped  and  made  myself  as  small  as  possible  until 
the  firing  ceased.  A  number  of  them  then  advanced  with  axes 
and  commenced  cutting  down  timber  and  making  breastworks* 
I  was  near  enough  to  hear  them  talk  distinctly.  As  a  large 
tree  came  crashing  down,  I  though  it  a  good  time  tO'  move  and 
made  a  bee-line  for  our  trenches.  Quite  a  niimber  of  men 
were  huddled  together  recounting  what  each  had  done  and 
seen,  and  as  I  came  up  I  heard  Colonel  Coleman  inquire  foi* 
me.  He  was  told  that  I  was  last  seen  just  as  we  started  back, 
and  he  remarked :  "Poor  fellow,  I  fear  he  was  killed  by  that 
last  heavy  volley."  Just  then  I  sprang  into  the  middle  of  the 
group  exclaiming:  "Here  I  am."  "LieutenantDavidson, where 
have  you  been  ?'■  asked  the  Colonel.  I  replied  that  I  had  re- 
mained to  see  if  the  Yankees  would  take  our  hill,  which  they 
had.  "Oh,  no,"  said  he,  "they  have  not."  I  told  him  to  step 
out  and  listen  and  he  could  hear  the  sound  of  axes.  "I  know 
they  have  it,  because  I  staid  behind  until  they  came  up,-  and 
during  the  fall  of  a  tree  made  my  escape."  I  said  nothing 
about  hiding  behind  the  stump.  He  complimented  me  very 
highly  for  my  bravery;  and  later  some  one  (I  never  knew 
who)  wrote  to  the  Atlanta  Intelligencer,  giving  an  account  of 
my  "bravery." 

Sunday  morning,  15  May,  we  were  ordered  back  and  were 
engaged  all  day  in  heavy  skirmishing.  Although  we  had  no 
works  to  protect  us,  we  would  not  allow  the  Federals  to  raise 
their  heads  over  their  new  breastworks.  A  head,  hat  or  band 
exposed  would  be  a  target  in  an  instant  for  a  dozen  rifles.     I 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  741 

had  a  very  hard  and  dangerous'  position,  being  placed  in 
charge  of  a  detail  to  keep  the  regiment  supplied  with  car- 
tridges. We  used  a  cave  in  a  bluff  near  the  river  for  our 
magazine,  and  to  reach  the  line  had  to  pass  a  point  exposed  to 
the  enemy's  fire.  We  vrould  start  with  a  haversack  full  of 
cartridges  on  each  shoulder,  and  make  a  quick  run  to  a  large 
poplar  tree,  our  first  resting  place,  where  we  would  stop  to 
blow,  and  from  thence  to  a  pine  log,  and  then  along  the  line 
to  the  men,  where  we  would  distribute  the  ammunition  and 
return  to  the  cave  on  a  run.  We  kept  this  up  all  day,  and 
strange  to  say  not  one  of  the  detail  received  a  hurt.  That 
night  we  returned  to  our  works,  and  the  army  fell  back,  the 
Thirty-ninth  being  on  the  extreme  left  and  was  the  last  to 
leave.  About  daylight  the  Federals  discovered  that  the  army 
was  leaving,  and  began  to  shell  us.  Colonel  Coleman  gave 
the  command  to  break  for  the  bridge  and  every  man  save 
himself.  We  had  waited  a  little  too  long,  and  the  bridge  was 
on  fire  in  six  places.  It  was  a  fiery  ordeal.  The  shells 
were  crashing  and  bursting  overhead,  and  striking  the  rail- 
way bridge,  a  short  distance  above  the  wagon  bridge.  We 
marched  down  the  W.  &  A.  Railway  until  we  got  out  of 
range  of  the  shells,  and  presently  came  to  a  little  stream 
at  the  field  hospital.  The  men  were  all  dirty  and  thirsty, 
with  tongues  swollen  and  black  from  powder,  and  they 
marched  into  the  branch  and  drank  like  horses,  and  then 
washed  tlieir  faces  and  began  to  comb  their  tangled  hair  as 
coolly  and  unconcerned  as  though  the  fighting  was  over.  Most 
of  the  army  was  at  Lay's  Ferry.  The  Federals  had  flanked 
and  were  endeavoring  to  cut  us  off  at  Calhoun,  but  General 
Johnston  kept  them  in  check.  We  marched  down  to  Cal- 
houn, six  miles  south  of  Resaca,  where  we  found  the  Sixtieth 
North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
several  of  my  old  friends  from  Buncombe  county — Colonel 
Tom  Weaver,  Jesse  Gilliland,  and  others.  We  marched  to 
Adairsville,  ten  miles  South  of  Calhoun,  and  while  there  the 
Federal  cavahy  approached  and  engaged  ours.  I  went  with 
Colonel  Coleman  and  others  to  an  elevation  where  we  could 
see  the  charge  and  counter-charge. 

On  18  May  Johnston's  army  started  for  Cassville,  via 


742  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

Kingston,  Polk's  Corps  going  by  the  old  Cassville  road.  At 
the  latter  point  the  General  held  a  council  of  war  and  decided 
to  make  a  stand.  We  were  engaged  on  the  19th,  20th  and 
21st,  but  the  second  or  third  day  the  Yankees  succeeded  in 
getting  the  rang©  of  our  lines  and  shelled  us  out  of  the 
ditches,  which  caused  another  movement,  and  the  Southern 
Army  fell  back  to  Cartersville.  Major  Eagle,  of  an  Ar- 
kansas regiment,  and  I,  were  put  in  command  of  a  sham 
working  party.  We  had  about  a  hundred  men,  and  kept  up 
a  constant  pounding  all  night.  About  daybreak,  as  the  bands 
were  playing  "Yankee  Doodle  and  "The  Bonnie  Blue  Mag," 
we  skeedaddled.  I  did  not  know  how  we  could  get  tO'  Car- 
tersville being  exhausted  with  fighting  all  day  and  pound- 
ing on  the  breastworks  all  night,  pretending  to  the  "Yanks" 
that  we  were  getting  ready  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 
After  proceeding  about  a  mile  we  found  a  regiment  of  cavalry 
and  a  battery  of  artillery  to  act  as  our  rear  guard.  Several 
times  the  cavalry  formed  in  line,  and  a  piece  of  artillery 
would  unlimber  and  fire  a  few  shells  which  would  check  the 
Federals,  and  our  poor,  worn-out  squad  would  stagger  along. 
We  finally  reached  Cartersville,  crossing  the  Etowah  river, 
on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  halted  in  a  pine  grove  near  Horse 
Shoe  Bend,  where  we  breakfasted  on  hard-tack  and  bacon  and 
were  told  to  rest  for  five  minutes.  A  guard  of  soldiers 
formed  around  us,  and  the  five  minutes  were  extended  to 
two  hours.  We  were  then  marched  up  the  river  a  few  miles 
to  Cooper's  Iron  Works,  where  we  found  our  brigade. 

From  Cooper's  Iron  Works  we  were  ordered  to  Acworth 
and  were  at  Powder  Springs,  on  23  May,  1864.  While  on  the 
march,  we  were  transferred  from  Reynolds'  Arkansas  Brig- 
ade to  Ector's  Texas  Brigade.  We  were  going  on  the  double- 
quick  to  assist  G-eneral  Pat  Clebum  in  a  fight  near  Dallas, 
but  on  the  night  of  the  23d  were  halted  at  JSTew  Hope  Church, 
and  next  day  began  fortifying.  On  25  May  the  celebrated 
battle  of  Wew  Hope  Church  was  fought,  which  continued  day 
and  night  until  the  28th  or  30th.  On  a  dark,  rainy  night  we 
began  leaving.  JSTearly  half  of  the  men  lost  one  or  both  shoes 
in  the  mud,  which  was  ten  inches  deep.  In  passing  over  a 
slough  on  a  pole  bridge  I  stepped  off  in  the  darkness  and  fell 


Thirty-Ninth  Regiment.  743 

into  a  pool  of  mud  and  water.  I  was  not  hurt  by  the  fall, 
hut  had  to  carry  away  a  load  of  Georgia  mud  with  me.  How- 
ever, as  we  had  been  in  the  ditches  several  days  in  mud  and 
water  up  to  our  knees,  I  considered  that  a  small  matter. 
Our  next  halt  was  at  Lost  Mountain,  where  every  man  was 
allowed  a  jigger  of  whiskey;  but  as  it  was  made  from 
sorghum  seed  it  acted  as  a  fine  emetic,  and  oh !  how  sick  we 
were.  It  was  a  pathetic  sight  to  see  at  least  five  hundred 
men  vomiting  at  the  same  time,  and  none  able  to  assist  his 
comrades.  After  getting  rid  of  the  stuff  we  soon  felt  well 
again. 

About  4  June  the  enemy  appeared,  and  for  several  days 
there  was  heavy  skirmishing.  We  moved  out  between  Pine 
Mountain  and  Kennesaw,  and  it  was  there,  on  14  and  15 
June,  while  establishing  the  lines,  that  our  beloved  corps 
commander.  General  Polk,  was  struck  in  the  breast  with  a 
cannon  ball  and  killed.  The  entire  corps  was  greatly  dis- 
tressed, as  he  was  universally  loved  by  his  men.  On  the  same 
day  he  was  killed,  I  was  disabled  and  taken  to  Marietta.  I 
never  did  any  more  field  duty,  but  spent  several  months  in 
the  hospitals  of  Atlanta,  Macon,  Augusta  and  Columbia,  and 
was  finally  placed  on  the  "Light  Duty  Roll"  and  assigned  to 
duty  under  Dr.  Joel  Hall  as  clerk  in  the  ge.neral  hospital  at 
Salisbury,  IST.  C,  where  I  remained  until  Johnston  surren- 
dered, and  I  was  paroled  at  Salisbury. 

A  few  days  after  the  surrender,  I  met  my  brother-in-law. 
Rev.  David  White,  Chaplain  of  the  One  hundred  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  also  two  nephews,  Captain  D.  Lowry 
and  Sergeant  Robert  Vance,  of  the  same  regiment.  I  was 
invited  to  visit  them  in  their  camp.  Chaplain  White  was 
to  preach  the  farewell  address  to  his  brigade  the  next  day. 
He  requested  his  Colonel  (Colonel  Holland)  to  grant  him  the 
special  favor  of  sitting  in  the  pulpit  with  him  during  the 
services,  and  to  allow  his  rebel  brother  to  occupy  the  seat  with 
him.  The  Colonel  granted  his  request  and  at  the  tap  of  the 
drum  we  all  three  marched  to  the  stand  together  and  took  our 
seats.  It  was  the  first  mingling  of  the  Blue  and  the  Gray  I 
witnessed  after  the  surrender,  and  I  seemed  to  be  the  ob- 
served of  all  observers. 


744  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

I  will  now  close  my  imperfect  recollections  of  the  history  of 
the  Thirty-ninth  Worth  Carolina  Regiment,  which  I  dedicate 
to  the  Old  Veterans  of  North  Carolina,  my  native  State ;  and 
I  pray  God's  blessings  upon  every  one  of  them. 

God  grant  that  we  may  all  meet  again  at  the  last  bugle  call, 
and  be  crowned  as  valiant  soldiers  of  the  Cross. 

John  M.  DAvrosow. 
Kingston,  Ga., 

4  May,  1901. 


FORTIKTH   REGIMENT. 


1.  John  J.  Hedrick,  Colonel. 

2.  Geore:e  Tait,  Lieut. -Colonel. 


3.  William  Blount  Rodman,  Capt.,  Co  C. 

4.  T.  C.  Davis,  Sergeant,  Co.  G. 


FORTIETH  REQinE/IT. 

(third    AKTILTjERY.  ) 


By  sergeant  T.  C.  DAVIS,  Company  G. 


'"Go,  warrior,  go,  thy  country  calls  thee 
Now  unto  the  embattled  plain 
Where  gorgeous  plumes  and  glittering  creHts 
Are  waving  o'er  the  noble  slain." 

This  r^ment  was  organized  at  Bald  Head  (Smith's 
Island,  ]Sr.  0.,)  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  1  De- 
cember, 1863,  from  heavy  artillery  companies  organized  the 
first  year  of  the  war,  which  had  been  in  active  service,  build- 
ing forts,  batteries  and  other  defences  of  ITorth  Caroliija 
coast  and  rivers,  at  Hatteras,  the  Pamlico,  Neuse  and  Cape 
Fear  rivers,  by  the  appointment  of  John  J.  Hedrick  (Major 
of  Engineers)  Colonel;  George  Tait  (Captain  of  Company 
K,  formerly  Major  of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina)  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel;  William  A.  Holland  (Captain  of  Company 
G),  Major. 

The  stafE  and  company  officers  and  their  successors  by  pro- 
motion from  time  to  time  in  the  order  named  as  gathered 
from  memoranda  of  participants  in  the  operations  of  the  reg- 
iment, were: 

James  B.  Hancock^  Adjutant. 
Thomas  Hill,  Surgeon. 
Charles  A.  Mitchell,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
John  G.  Blouht,  Quartermaster. 
William  D.  ISTbal,  Sergeant  Major. 

CAPTAINS. 

Company  A,  from  Lenoir  County,  William  Sutton,  A.  W. 
Ezzell.     Enlisted  men,  124. 

Company  B,  from  Beaufort  County,  William  H.  Tripp. 
Enlisted  men,  126. 


746  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Company  0,  from  Beaufort  County,  W.  B.  Eodman,  John 
E.  Leggett.     Enlisted  men,  120. 

Company  D,  from  Pamlico  County,  James  S.  Lane.  En- 
listed men,  121. 

Company  E,  from  Eichmond  and  Kobeson  Counties,  Mal- 
com  MclSTair,  Malcom  H.  McBryde.     Enlisted  men,  127. 

Company  F,  from  Wilson,  Edgecombe  and  Greene  Coun- 
ties, Joseph  J.  Lawrence,  Richard  H.  Blount,  John  C.  Kob- 
ertson.     Enlisted  men,  125. 

Company  Gr,  from  Carteret,  Lenoir,  Wayne,  Duplin,  An- 
son, Chatham,  and  other  Counties,  William  A.  Herring,  Wil- 
liam A.  Holland,  George  C.  Buchan.     Enlisted  men,  135. 

Company  H,  from  New  Hanover  County,  E.  D.  Hall,  Cal- 
vin Barnes.     Enlisted  men,  105. 

Company  I,  from  Beaufort  County,  H.  C.  Whitehurst. 
Enlisted  men,  128. 

Company  K,  from  Bladen  County,  George  Tait,  Daniel 
J.  Clark.     Enlisted  men,  132. 

PIEST  LIEtTTENANTS. 

Company  A,  A.  W.  Ezzell,  John  Williams. 

Company  B,  Macon  Bonner. 

Company  C,  John  E.  Leggett,  John  G.  Blount,  Ashley 
Congleton. 

Company  D,  Adam  Barrington. 

Company  E,  Malcom  H.  McBryde,  John  S.  McArthur. 

Company  F,  Eiehard  C.  Tillery,  Byrd  Lancaster. 

Company  G,  Bridgers  Arendell,  George  C.  Buchan,  Wil- 
liam Hassell. 

Company  H,  Joseph  Price,  James  R.  Sterling. 

Company  I,  Thomas  H.  Satterthwaite. 

Company  K,  Daniel  J.  Clark,  James  W.  Dixon,  Charles 
L.  Bryan. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

Company  A,  James  Kinsey,  John  Williams,  John  Z. 
Davis,  Robert  B.  Vause. 

Company  B,  Selby  Hardenberg,  ISToal  B.  Hodges,  Wil- 
liam H.  Harrison. 


Fortieth  Regiment.  747 

Company  0,  James  B.  Hancock,  John  W.  Whitley,  Ed- 
ward Long. 

Company  D,  Henry  H.  Hooker,  John  J.  Brabble,  Peter 
M.  Briggs. 

Company  E,  John  S.  McArthur,  Archibald  J.  McJSTair, 
John  M.  MoKinnon. 

Company  F,  Walter  Dunn,  Eichard  H.  Blount,  John  0. 
Robertson,  Byrd  Lancaster,  John  L.  Pool,  William  E.  Ed- 
wards. 

Company  G,  George  W.  Davis,  Stephen  Lancaster,  Elbert 
J.  Albertson,  William  F.  Stanley. 

Company  H,  James  R.  Sterling,  James  Price,  James  Mc- 
Evoy,  Joseph  F.  Hellen,  John  H.  Hill. 

Company  I,  Alex.  McJones,  T.  A.  E.  Tuten,  Robert  Wind- 
ley,  Seth  Bridgman. 

Company  K,  James  E.  Kelly,  Edward  W.  Wocrten. 

COMPANY   A. 

This  company  was  organized  in  Lenoir  County,  'N.  C,  in 
1861,  and  ordered  to  Fort  Hatteras,  'N.  C,  where  it  remained 
and  participated  in  the  engagement  at  that  fort  on  28  and  29 
August,  1861,  when  it  was  captured,  with  the  loss  of  several 
men  killed  and  wounded.  This  company,  with  the  other 
prisoners,  was  transported  by  steamer  to  New  York  and  put 
on  Governor's  Island,  where  it  remained  about  two  months, 
then  transported  to  Fort  Warren,  in  Boston  harbor,  where  it 
remained  until  exchanged.  (It  was  here  that  Lieutenant 
Kinsey  and  several  of  the  men  died  from  sickness).  One- 
half  of  the  company  was  exchanged  and  arrived  home  on 
Christmas  day,  1861 — the  remaining  half  was  exchanged 
shortly  afterwards ;  and  again  entered  the  service,  (John  Z. 
Davis  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Lieutenant  Kinsey)  and  was  ordered  to  Fort  Lane,  below 
New  Bern,  on  the  ISTeuse  river,  where  it  remained  until  New 
Bern  was  captured,  14  March,  1862.  Then  it  fell  back  to 
Kinston,  where  it  received  orders  to  go  to  Virginia  as  infant- 
ry, but  through  the  efforts  of  Lieutenant  A-  W.  Ezzell,  the  or- 
der was  countermanded  by  order  of  General  Whiting,  and  the 
company  sent  to  Wilmington  in  April,  1862,  and  did  provost 


748  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

guard  duty.  During  this  time  Captain  Sutton  resigned, 
and  Lieutenant  A.  W.  Ezzell  was  commissioned  Captain  of 
the  company  on  15  October,  1862,  and  Eobert  B.  Vause  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
promotion  of  Lieutenant  Ezzell.  The  company  was  then  or- 
dered to  Fort  Fisher,  where  it^occasionally  skirmished  with 
the  enemy's  gunboats,  and  did  picket  and  garrison  duty 
and  aided  in  constructing  Fort  Fisher,  until  the  Fortieth 
Eegiment  North  Carolina  Troops  was  organized,  at  which 
time  it  was  ordered  to  Bald  Head  (Smith's  Island)  N.  C. 

coMPAiry  B. 

This  company  was  organized  in  September,  1861,  in  Beau- 
fort County,  E".  C,  and  went  in  camp  at  Chocowinity, 
where  it  remained  a  short  time,  from  there  it  was  sent  to 
Fort  Hill,  on  the  Pamlico  river,  eight  miles  below  Washing- 
ton, where  it  became  a  part  of  the  command  of  the  Thirty- 
first  North  Carolina  Regiment  (Infantry),  Colonel  Jor- 
dan commanding.  But  as  it  was  infantry,  this  company 
was  separated  from  it,  and  remained  at  Fort  Hill  until  14 
March,  1862,  when,  at  the  attack  on  New  Bern,  it  was  or- 
dered to  re-inforce  that  city;  but  having  to  remove  the  ar- 
tillery to  Tarboro,  was  delayed,  and  arrived  at  Kinston, 
where  it  met  the  Confederates  falling  back  from  New  Bern. 
From  Kinston  it  went  into  camp  at  Falling  Creek,  near 
Goldsboro,  and  there  remained  until  ordered  to  Fort  Fisher, 
where  it  arrived  in  April,  1862,  and  found  one  casemated  bat- 
tery of  four  or  five  Columbiad  guns  of  short  range,  and  a 
square  Sand  Fort,  armed  with  32-pounder,  smooth  bore  guns, 
and, from  this  it  became  the  strongest  fortification  in  the 
whole  So'Uth. 

On  Sunday  morning,  12  July,  1863,  Captains  Tripp  and 
Whitehurst,  with  their  companies,  were  ordered  from  Fort 
Fisher  to  cross  the  inlet  and  land  on  the  point  of  beach  oppo- 
site Zeke's  Island  and  march  up  the  beach  to  the  steamer 
"Kate,"  a  blockade  runner  then  ashore  on  the  east  side  of 
Smith's  Island  and  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  about  six 
miles  south  of  Fort  Fisher.  The  order  was  promptly  obeyed 
and  they  marched  up  the  beach  under  a  constant  fire  from  the 


Fortieth  Regiment.  749 

blockading  fleet,  and  with  a  Whitworth  cannon  and  rifles 
drove  the  enemy  off,  and  recaptured  the  steamer,  saved  her 
cargo  and  machinery  and  sent  it  across  the  island  to  Wilming- 
ton, for  which  labor  they  received  the  munificent  sum  of  $12, 
in  Confederate  money,  each.  This  company  remained  at 
Fort  Fisher,  doing  garrison  and  picket  duty,  and  aiding  in 
its  construction  until  the  Fortieth  Regiment  iN'orth  Carolina 
Troops  was  organized,  at  which  time  it  was  ordered  to  Bald 
Head  for  duty. 

COMPANY  c. 

This  company  was  organized  in  September,  1861,  at  Wash- 
ington, ]Sr.  C,  and  was  stationed  at  Swan  Point,  on  the  Pam- 
lico river,  where  it  remained  until  the  attack  of  New  Bern,  14 
March,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered  to  re-inforce  that  town, 
but  on  arriving  at  Kinston,  met  the  Confederates  falling  back 
from  New  Bern.  From  Kinston  it  went  in  camp  at  Falling 
Creek,  where  it  remained  until  about  the  first  of  April,  1862, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Fort  St.  Philip,  on  the  Cape  Fear 
river,  where  it  remained  and  did  garrison  and  picket  duty 
until  the  Fortieth  Regiment  was  organized,  at  which  time  it 
was  ordered  to  Bald  Head. 

COMPANY   D. 

This  company  was  raised  in  Pamlico  County  in  1861,  and 
went  in  camp  on  the  north  side  of  the  Neuse  river,  where  it 
did  duty  at  different  points  until  the  fall  of  New  Bern,  14 
March,  1862,  when  it  withdrew  and  fell  back  to  Kinston,  and 
thence  to  Goldsboro.  From  there  it  was  ordered  to  Wil- 
mington, where  it  arrived  about  the  last  of  March,  and  the 
next  day  (1  April)  it  was  sent  down  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
with  other  Artillery  companies  from  the  Pamlico  and  Neuse 
rivers.  This  company  with  Company  G,  was  sent  to  Fort 
Johnson  at  Smithville,  where  it  remained  some  time  doing 
garrison  duty  and  sharing  in  the  duties  of  that  command, 
until  ordered  to  Fort  Fisher  where  it  remained  and  partici- 
pated in  the  building  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  on  the  formation  of 
the  Fortieth  Regiment,  was  assigned  to  it,  and  ordered  to 
Bald  Head. 


750  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 


COMPANY  E. 


This  company  was  raised  in  Richmond  and  Robeson 
Counties,  22  October,  1861,  and  ordered  to  Raleigh.  On  ar- 
rival at  Wilmington  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  the 
company  remained  at  Wilmington  about  three  weeks,  when 
it  was  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river,  for  heavy  artillery  service. 

On  23  February,  1863,  the  warships  Monticello  and  Daco- 
tah  opened  fire  on  Fort  Caswell,  which  would  return  fire. 
This  was  continued  for  some  time,  when  the  ships  withdrew, 
leaving  the  fort  uninjured. 

On  12  July,  it  was  ordered  to  Bald  Head  to  protect  the 
blockade-running  steamer  Kate,  then  ashore  back  of  Smith's 
Island,  and  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  While  marching  up 
the  beach  with  a  Whitworth  gun,  the  fleet  opened  fire  on 
it,  disabling  the  carriage  of  the  gun  so  it  had  to  take  a  posi- 
tion among  the  sand  hills,  until  Company  B,  from  Fort 
Fisher,  with  a  Whitworth  gun,  came  to  its  relief  and  drove 
the  fleet  off,  and  took  possession  of  the  steamer. 

This  company  remained  at  Fort  Caswell  and  did  garrison 
and  picket  duty,  and  shared  in  all  the  duties  of  that  com- 
mand until  the  formation  of  the  Fortieth  Regiment,  when  it 
was  assigned  to  it  and  ordered  to  Bald  Head  for  duty. 

This  was  one  of  the  best  companies  in  the  service,  and  had 
in  it  many  descendants  of  Highlanders  who  fought  under 
Lochiel  at  the  fatal  battle  of  Culloden,  and  who  displayed 
on  the  sands  of  Carolina  the  war-like  spirit  of  their  ances- 
tors. 


company  f. 


This  company  was  organized  in  the  fair  grounds  at  New 
Bern,  N.  C,  on  28  August,  1861.  After  remaining  there  a 
few  days,  was  ordered  to  Fort  Macon,  N.  C,  where  it  re- 
mained until  1  November,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Shell 
Point  on  Harker's  Island,  where  it  remained  doing  picket 
duty  until  about  1  March,  1862,  and  was  then  ordered  back 
to  Fort  Macon,  where  it  remained  and  did  garrison  duty, 
and    participated    in    the    bombardment     and    was     cap- 


Fortieth  Regiment.  751 

tured  at  Fort  Macon,  26  April,  1862,  (witli  two  men 
killed)  when  it  was  paroled  and  sent  to  I^ew  Inlet  on  the 
gunboat  "Chippewa,"  and  landed  at  Fort  Fisher  under  a  flag 
of  truce ;  from  there  to  their  respective  homes,  where  they  re- 
mained until  4  September,  1862,  when  they  were  exchanged 
and  reorganized  at  Goldsboro,  JST  C. ;  from  there  the  company 
went  to  Kinston  and  guarded  the  different  fortifications  on 
the  Neuse  river,  during  General  Foster's  raid  on  Goldsboro. 
This  company  participated  in  the  fight  at  Kinston  on  14  De- 
cember, White  Hall  the  16th  and  Goldsboro  the  17th,  1862. 
The  enemy  being  defeated  fell  back  to  New  Bern.  It 
also  participated  in  Generals  Pickett's  and  Hoke's  cam- 
paigns in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1863 ;  engaged  in  the  fight 
at  Washington,  N.  C,  and  Deep  Gully  and  skirmished  with 
the  ememy  at  various  points  between  Kinston  and  New  Bern, 
until  16  March,  1864,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  where  it  remained  about 
a  month  and  was  then  ordered  to  Fort  Campbell,  on  Oak 
Island  beach,  where  it  remained  until  Fort  Fisher  was  cap- 
tured. Then  it  evacuated  Fort  Campbell  and  fell  back  to 
Fort  Anderson,  where  it  joined  the  regiment  for  the  first 
time. 

COMPANY  G. 

Some  one  has  said  that  in  writing  an  account  of  battles  or 
campaigns,  each  writer's  narrative  must  necessarily  be  more 
or  less  personal  in  its  nature ;  but  I  will  try  to  avoid  it  in  this 
instance. 

This  company  was  organized  at  Morehead  City,  JST.  C,  16 
October,  1861,  and  went  into  camp  at  "Camp  Canal,"  where 
it  remained  until  January,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered  to 
Fort  Thompson,  on  the  Neuse  river,  five  miles  below  New 
Bern,  where  it  remained  and  built  batteries,  did  garrison  and 
picket  duty,  and  participated  in  the  skirmishes  on  the  13th, 
and  battle  on  14  March,  1862.  It  was  the  heavy  discharges 
of  shot  and  shell  from  the  guns  on  Fort  Thompson  that  re- 
pulsed a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  while  charging  on  our 
line  of  works  (defended  by  our  infantry),  and  caused  them 
to  fall  back  under  cover  of  the  woods,  with  a  heavy  loss.   The 


752  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

fight  on  the  14th  continued  about  five  hours,  when  the  enemy 
concentrated  their  land  forces  to  the  right,  out  of  our  sight, 
and  flanked  our  infantry,  and  we  fell  back  to  JSTew  Bern, 
thence  to  Kinston.  There  the  company  was  in  the  general  re^ 
view,  and  on  the  18th  was  ordered  to  Goldsboro,  where  it  did 
provost  guard  duty,  which  was  necessary  at  that  time,  but  nev- 
ertheless irksome.  On  the  28th,  it  was  ordered  to  Wilmington, 
where  it  remained  until  1  April,  at  which  time  it  was  trans- 
ported Avith  six  other  heavy  artillery  companies  from  thePam- 
lico  and  IsTeuse  rivers,  and  landed  at  thediffereoitfortifications 
on  the  Cape  Fear  river.  This  company  was  sent  to  Fort  John- 
ston, at  Smithville,  where  it  built  Fort  Pender,  and  fortified 
the  town  in  the  rear  by  a  line  of  breastworks  and  redoubts 
from  Elizabeth  creek  to  the  Cape  Fear  river,  below  deep 
water  point,  at  the  same  time  drilled,  did  garrison  and  picket 
duty.  While  there  the  company  suffered  the  scourge  of  yel- 
low fever  and  smallpox,  from  which  quite  a  large  number 
died.  During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1863,  the  company 
recruited  to  130  men.  In  addition  to  other  services,  this 
company  kept  guard  at  the  signal  stations  on  the  coast  and 
river,  to  report  signals  displayed,  in  order  that  blockade  run- 
ners might  make  a  safe  entrance  in  the  Cape  Fear  river,  which 
was  a  very  important  service  to  the  State  and  Confederate 
governments.  It  was  while  the  company  was  at  Fort  John- 
son that  the  steamer  Kate,  in  running  the  blockade,  struck  one 
of  the  obstructions  (or  Yankee  catchers,  as  we  called  them), 
in  the  inlet  at  Fort  Caswell,  and  punched  a  hole  in  her  bot- 
tom, from  which  she  sank  at  Smithville.  From  her  this 
company  took  about  ten  thousand  blankets,  besides  arms  and 
merchandise.  A  short  time  afterwards  the  steamer  "Scotia," 
while  trying  to  run  in  port,  got  aground,  and  was  set  on  fire, 
and  burned  down  to  the  water.  The  next  day  this  company 
took  out  of  her  five  thousand  pounds  of  meat  and  other  stores. 
This  company  being  raised  on  the  coast  and  accustomed  to  the 
sea,  quite  a  number  of  them  were  detached  to  go  on  an  expe- 
dition with  five  hundred  men  to  take  one  of  the  fast  blockade- 
running  steamers  and  run  the  blockade  at  New  Inlet,  and  run 
in  at  Cape  Henry  and  pass  Fortress  Monroe  to  Point  Look- 
oxit,  release  our  prisoners  there  (which  were  said  to  be  about 


Fortieth  Regiment.  753 

22,000)  arm  those  for  duty  and  inarch  out  through  Maryland 
and  join  General  Lee's  army  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  This  movement  was  in  agitation  in  the 
latter  part  of  June,  1863,  just  before  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.  This  matter  becoming  known  to  the  enemy 
through  deserters,  it  was  abandoned. 

On  12  July  this  company  was  ordered  to  Bald  Head,  and 
was  subject  to  a  severe  shelling  from  the  fleet,  all  day  (on 
Sunday)  trying  to  recapture  a  blockade  runner  ashore  on 
the  beach,  back  of  the  island-  (this  steamer  was  also  named 
Kate).  We  did  succeed  after  a  detachment  of  Company  E, 
from  Fort  Caswell,  and  a  detachment  of  Company  B,  from 
Fort  Fisher,  with  Whitworth  cannon  came  tO'  our  assistance, 
in  driving  away  the  enemy  and  saving  a  portion  of  the  cargo. 
There  were  several  of  the  blockade  fleets  in  action  on  both 
sides  of  the  island,  and  the  flring  was  severe,  those  on  the 
west  side  being  the  greatest  sufferers,  having  their  gun  car- 
riage and  wheels  shot  away  and  several  men  wounded.  We 
also  rescued  the  blockade-running  steamer  Pungo  from  cap- 
ture after  being  run  ashore  on  Bald  Head  beach,  and  saved  a 
portion  of  her  cargo,  also  several  other  steamers  whose  names 
I  cannot  now  recall. 

COMPANY   H. 

This  company  was  organized  at  Wilmington,  'N.  C,  in  the 
spring  of  1861,  where  it  remained  for  a  few  days,  and 
was  sent  to  Fort  Caswell  at  the  entrance  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river.  There  it  remained  for  some  time,  and  was  ordered  to 
Camp  Advance,  near  Weldon,  where  it  was  attached  to  Colo- 
nel Tew^s  Second  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Infantry,  and 
ordered  to  Richmond,  Va. ;  from  there  to  Fredericksburg, 
where  it  remained  and  did  service  on  the  Potomac  river  and 
other  points  in  that  State,  until  the  spring  of' 1862,  when  it 
returned  to  North  Carolina,  with  General  Holmes'  Division, 
and  was  afterwards  detached  and  sent  to  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
and  was  stationed  at  several  fortifications  on  that  river.  It 
was  at  Fort  Pender,  at  the  organization  of  the  Fortieth  Regi- 
ment, and  assigned  to  it  as  Company  H,  and  ordered  to  Bald 
Head  for  duty.  This  company  was  composed  principally  of 
48 


754  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Irishmen,  and  no  better  or  more  loyal  men,  or  better  soldiers 
could  be  found  in  any  company.  When  work  or  fighting  was 
to  be  done,  they  were  always  ready,  and  would  go  wherever 
ordered. 

COMPANY    I. 

This  company  was  organized  about  the  first  of  February, 
1862,  at  Washington,  N.  C,  was  stationed  at  I'ort  Hill,  on 
the  Pamlico  river,  where  it  remained  until  New  Bern  was 
attacked  14  March,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered  to  reinforce 
that  town.  It  did  not  reach  there  in  time,  so  it  went  in  camp 
at  Kinston,  where  it  remained  until  ordered  to  Fort  Fisher, 
where  it  arrived  about  1  April',  1862,  and  became  a  part  of 
its  garrison.  It  assisted  in  building  Fort  Fisher  and  shared 
in  all  the  duties  of  that  command  until  the  Fortieth  Kegi- 
ment  was  organized,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Bald  Head. 

COMPANY    K. 

This  company  was  organized  in  Bladen  County,  1  May, 
1862,  and  mustered  in  service  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  or- 
dered to  duty  at  Fort  St.  Philip  (afterwards  known  as  Fort 
Anderson),  where  it  remained  a  short  time,  and  was  ordered 
to  Camp  Wyatt,  about  two  miles  above  Fort  Fisher,  where  it 
remained  four  or  five  weeks ;  afterwards  ordered  to,  and  be- 
came a  part  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Fisher,  where  it  did  gar- 
rison and  picket  duty,  protected  blockade  running  as  much  as 
possible,  and  also  assisted  in  building  Fort  Fisher  and  out- 
lying batteries,  in  common  with  other  companies  of  the 
Fortieth  and  Thirty-sixth  Regiments.  This  company  re- 
mained at  Fort  Fisher  and  shared  in  all  the  duties  of  that 
command  until  the  Fortieth  Regiment  was  organized,  when 
it  was  ordered  to  Bald  Head  for  duty. 

President  Jefferson  Davis  visited  our  command  in  the  fall 
of  1863.  At  this  instance,  knowing  all  the  surroundings,  all 
the  detached  heavy  artillery  companies  on  the  Cape  Fear 
river  and  vicinity  of  Wilmington  were  sent  to  Bald  Head 
(Smith's  Island),  and  organized  into  the  Fortieth  Raiment 
of  North  Carolina  troops,  as  above  stated.  The  regiment  num- 
bered about  1,200  men,  which  was  increased  to  1,400.    Gren- 


Fortieth  Regiment.  755 

eral  Beauregard  coinplimente<i  it  for  its  fine  appearance 
and  its  proficiency  in  drilling,  botli  as  artillery  and  infantry. 
Petitions  were  sent  to  our  Major  General  commanding  to 
be  sent  to  Virginia  to  do  field  service.  In  reply,  General 
Whiting  stated  that  "it  was  a  soldier's  duty  to  stay  or  go 
where  he  was  ordered,  and  that  we  were  just  where  the  gov- 
ernment wanted  us  to  be."  So  we  took  the  rebuke,  and 
commenced  fortifying  under  the  directions  of  Colonel  John 
J.  Hedriek,  who  was  a  good  civil  engineer,  under  whom  we 
built  Fort  Fisher  with  seventeen  guns  and  curtains  connect- 
ing with  some  outlying  batteries,  and  also  Fort  Pen- 
der, all  of  which  were  approved  by  Generals  Beauregard  and 
Whiting.  We  built  Fort  Holmes,  with  twelve  guns,  on  the 
point,  opposite  Fort  Caswell,  and  a  6-gun  battery  on  the  creek, 
near  the  Light  House ;  these  were  intersected  by  strong  breast- 
works and  redoubts,  and  we  also"  cleared  tWo  roads  through  the 
Island  in  order  that  we  might  bring  into  position  whenever 
necessary,  the  Whitworth  and  Parrot  guns  which  were  princi- 
pally used  to  protect  blockade-runners  while  trying  to  run  into 
port.  (The  artillery  service  at  the  entrance  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river,  used  every  means  possible  to  protect- blockade  running. 
If  such  service  had  not  existed,  and  kept  the  enemy  out  of  his 
rear,  General  Lee's  army  would  have  ceased  to  exist  at  least 
two  years  before  it  did).  The  Whitworth  guns  mentioned 
were  a  terror  to  the  enemy ;  their  range  was  immense,  their 
accuracy  as  that  of  a  telescope  rifle.  ^Nevertheless,  the  en- 
emy would  shell  us  whenever  they  could.  On  6  March,  1864, 
we  fired  upon  the  blockade  steamer  Peterhoff  while  laying 
back  on  the  beach,  east  of  the  Cape.  After  firing  six  shots, 
most  of  them  taking  effect,  she  ran  out  to  another  blockade 
ship,  and  before  they  could  transfer  her  supplies  she  sunk. 
In  a  few  days  a  heavy  northeast  wind  and  sea  broke  her  up 
and  she  washed  ashore  to  the  beach,  which  was  strewn  with 
debris  of  the  sunken  ship.  We  gathered  up  lots  of  valuables 
to  us.  This  was  the  best  shot  I  witnessed  during  the  war. 
Soon  after  this,  at  night,  a  small-sized  blockade  steamer  ran 
aground  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Holmes.  The  tide  being 
falling,  she  could  not  get  off  before  day.  To  prevent  being 
captured,  the  crew  set  her  on  fire  and  made  their  escape  to 


756  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

another  ship.  The  next  day  we  got  two  cannons  off  of  her. 
On  1  March  while  the  regiment  was  at  Fort  Holmes,  with 
only  a  small  detail  at  Smithville,  Lieutenant  Gushing,  with  a 
boat's  crew  from  the  fleet,  made  a  raid  at  Smithville.  He 
landed  at  the  salt  works  wharf  about  1  o'clock  a.  m.,  taking 
with  him  a  negro  pilot.  He  went  to  Brigadier-General  He- 
bert's  quarters,  he  being  at  Wilmington.  They  captured 
Captain  Kelly,  of  his  staff,  and  made  their  escape,  taking 
with  them  their  prisoner  and  the  negro  pilot,  on  board  the 
blockade.  After  this  a  river  picket,  in  boats,  was  kept 
between  Bald  Head  and  Fort  Caswell,  with  rocket  signals 
to  be  displayed  at  the  discovery  of  any  movements  of  the 
enemy.  We  also  kept  a  picket  station  on  the  beach  at  the 
head  of  "Buzzard  Bay,"  (where  "Corn  Cake  Inlet"  now  is), 
this  being  a  low,  narrow,  flat  beach,  where  negroes  and  de- 
serters from  the  antiy  would  escape  to  the  enemy,  by  hauling 
boats  over  this  beach,  then  la\mching  them  into  the  sea  and 
go  off  to  the  blockade  ships.  This  was  done  until  there  could 
not  be  a  boat  foimd  unless  it  had  been  kept  under  guard  at 
night,  anywhere  in  that  section.  Governor  Vance,  who  was 
a  candidate  for  re-election  against  W.  W.  Holden, 
visited  our  command  in  July,  1864.  The  regiment  went 
on  review  in  honor  of  the  great  "War  Governor."  The  elec- 
tion was  held  in  August  following,  the  result  of  which  was 
that  Z.  B.  Vance  received  almost  the  entire  vote  of  the  regi- 
ment; that  was  this  writer's  first  vote.  On  29  October, 
1864,  Company  A,  Captain  A.  W.  Ezzell,  was  ordered  to 
Fort  Anderson,  about  ten  miles  above  Smithville,  on  the 
Cape  Fear  river,  where  it  remained  until  the  fort  was  evacu-- 
ated  19  February,  1865.  On  24  JSTovember,  1864,  Oom-- 
panies  B,  Captain  Tripp;  C,  Captain  Legget;  D,  Captain 
Lane;  G,  Captain  Buchan;  I,  Captain  Whitehurst,  of  the 
Fortieth  Regiment,  under  the  command  of  Major  Holland, 
with  five  companies  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  under  the 
command  of  Major» Stevenson,  were  ordered  to  Georgia  to 
reinforce  Lieutenant-General  W.  J.  Hardee,  who  was  then 
falling  back  from  Atlanta,  Georgia.  On  reaching  Augusta, 
the  2Yth,  we  went  forward  in  the  direction  of  Waynesboro. 
That  night,  about  12  o'clock,  a  citizen  of  that  town  drove  up 


Fortieth  Regiment.  757 

to  our  picket,  en  route  for  Augusta,  with  information,  that 
the  enemy,  under  the  command  of  General  Sherman,  had 
torn  up  the  railroad  between  Augusta  and  Millen,  which 
cut  us  off  from  General  Hardee's  command.  The  next  day 
we  returned  to  Augusta  and  took  the  train  for  Savannah.  On 
reaching  Charleston,  S.  C,  the  29th,  we  found  the  city  un- 
der bombardment  from  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island,  which 
had  been  going  on  over  five  hundred  days,  with  great  damage 
to  that  city.  The  next  day  (the  30th)  we  arrived  at  Ooosa- 
hatchie,  S.  C,  where  we  were  ordered  to  leave  knapsacks 
and  make  a  forced  march  to  reinforce  General  Gustavus  W. 
Smith  at  Honey  Hill,  near  Grahamville,  S.  C,  where  General 
Foster  had  concentrated  a  large  force  of  negro  troops  from 
Hilton  Head  to  destroy  the  railroad  and  cut  off  reinforce- 
ments from  General  Hardee,  who  was  then  falling  back  to- 
wards Savannah,  Ga.,  but  before  we  had  proceeded  far  we 
were  ordered  back.  The  enemy  having  been  defeated,  fell 
back  to  the  TuUaf uiney  river,  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Thinking  that  they  would  make  a  move  against 
the  railroad  at  Coosahatchie  bridge,  under  cover  of  their 
gunboats,  we  sent  out  a  picket  down  the  river  banks  that 
night,  and  the  next  day  we  saw  no  movements  of  an  advance 
of  the  enemy.  We  were  ordered  to  proceed  on  to  Savan- 
nah, Ga.,  where  we  arrived  on  2  December,  and  took  the  train 
on  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad  and  arrived  at  Rocky  Ford, 
about  fifty  miles  from  Savannah,  about  night,  where  we  join- 
ed General  Hardee's  corps,  which  was  composed  largely  of 
senior  and  jimior  reserves.  Colonel  Washington  M.  Hardy, 
of  the  Sixtieth  ISTorth  Carolina,  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  regiment,  which  was  rear  guard.  Through  the 
negligence  of  Wheeler's  Cavalry,  which  were  deployed  as 
scouts,  we  were-entirely  cut  off,  and  would  have  been  captured 
had  not  Major  Young's  Tenth  ISTorth  Carolina  Battalion  come 
to  our  assistance  when  we  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy, 
driving  them  back,  with  some  loss  on  both  sides.  General 
Sherman's  army  numbered  about  80,000  men  of  the  great 
Northwest.  Their  ancestors,  for  the  large  part,  were  of  the 
emigrants  from  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  He  had  a 
fine  command,  which  lay  between  the  Savannah  and  Ogee- 


758  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

chee  rivers,  which  effectually  protected  his  flanks  from  any 
movements  that  we  could  make  to  flank  him.  We  skirmished 
with  his  advanced  picket  every  day,  but  would  have  to  fall 
back  as  soon  as  his  main  army  would  push  forward  its  flanks 
in  order  to  surround  us.  At  the  junction  of  the  Charleston 
railroad  about  ten  miles  frora  Savannah,  the  skirmish  be- 
came a  general  engagement,  which  lasted  for  some  time,  with 
some  loss  on  both  sides.  On  the  8th,  we  fell  back  inside  of 
a  line  of  works,  about  five  miles  above  Savannah,  which  ex- 
tended from  the  Savannah  to  the  Ogeechee  river,  which  we 
strengthened  by  filling  up  culverts,  flooding  the  water  in  ouo" 
front,  also  running  telegraph  wire,  fastening  it  to  stumps  and 
trees,  besides  palisades  and  cheveaux  de-  frise  in  front  of  the 
regiment  to  prevent  an  assault  on  our  works.  In  this  posi- 
tion we  kept  up  a  fire  from  our  artillery  and  sharpshooters 
from  the  entrenchments  every  day,  and  picketing  at  night. 
This  was  continued  until  the  20th  about  12  o'clock  at  night, 
at  which  time  our  supplies  having  been  exhausted,  we  evacu- 
ated the  works  and  falling  back  to  the  city  crossed  the  river 
on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  made  a  halt  at  Hardeeville,  S.  C. 
Our  picket  that  night  formed  the  rear  guard,  who  policed  the 
city,  burned  the  government  warehouse,  said  to  contain  five 
hundred  bales  of  cotton,  and  crossed  the  river  about  4  o'clock 
a.  m.,  then  cut  the  pontoon  bridge  adrift  and  joined  our  com- 
mand at  Hardeeville,  where  we  remained  until  the  25th 
(Christmas)  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Pocotaligo, 
S.  C.  We  moved  off  at  early  dawn,  and  marched  all  day  in 
a  cold,  drenching  rain,  bivouacking  that  night  at  Graham- 
ville.  The  march  was  resumed  the  next  morning  about  5 
o'clock  and  we  marched  all  day  through  swamps  and  mud. 
The  enemy  was  shelling  the  Coosahatchie  bridge,  so  we 
crossed  the  Tullaf  uiney  bridge,  and  arrived .  at  Pocotaligo 
about  dark.  About  midnight  we  took  the  cars  for  Charles- 
ton, where  we  arrived  the  next  day,  and  were  held  as  rein- 
forcements, in  case  the  enemy  who  had  withdrawn  from  the 
first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  should  attack  that  city.  Among 
the  various  forts  and  batteries  at  Charleston,  was  the  White 
Point  battery  at  the  junction  of  the  Ashley  and  Cooper  rivers 
on  which  were  mounted  two  large  Blakely  guns  which  car- 


Fortieth  Regiment.  759 

ried  six  hundred  pound  rifle  shot.  These  guns  were  brought  in 
at  "Wilmington  on  a  blockade  runner,  the  "Sumpter,"  and 
shipped  to  Charleston  by  railroad.  After  remaining  atCharlea- 
ton  for  a  few  days,  we  learned  that  the  enemy  had  returned  to 
Fortress  Monroe.  On  the  30th  we  were  ordered  to  Wilming- 
ton, ]Sr.  C,  where  we  arrived  about  lOo' clock  p.  m.,  1  January, 
1865,  and  crossed  the  ferry  in  a  snow  storm  and  bivouacked 
at  Camp  Lamb.  The  next  day  we  were  transported  by 
steamer  down  the  Cape  Fear  river,  the  five  companies  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Regiment  to  Fort  Fisher  and  the  Fortieth  to 
Fort  Holmes. 

Permit  me  to  say,  right  here,  that  I  realized  during  that 
Southern  campaign  what  I  always  believed,  that  the  great 
popular  heart  was  not  then,  and  never  had  been,  in  the  war. 
It  was  a  revolution,  of  the  politicians,  not  the  people;  and 
was  fought  at  first  by  the  natural  enthusiasm  of  young  men, 
and  kept  going  by  the  bitterness  of  feeling  produced  by  the 
cruelties  and  brutalities  of  the  enemy. 

During  the  Southern  campaign,  the  companies  of  the 
Fortieth  Regiment  that  remained  at  their  respective  com- 
mands, performed  their  duties  as  usual. 

At  the  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  and  during  the  bom- 
bardment, 24  and  25  December,  1864,  Companies  E  and  K, 
of  this  regiment,  reinforced  that  command,  after  which  the 
enemy's  land  force  re-embarked,  and  withdrew,  leaving  Fort 
Fisher  slightly  injured. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  George  Tait  resigned  his  commission 
on  11  January,  1865,  to  take  a  commission  as  Colonel  of  the 
S-ixty-ninth  ISTorth  Carolina  Regiment.  Colonel  Tait  was 
a  good  disciplinarian ;  he  remained  detached  from  the 
Fortieth  Regiment  after  it  had  formed,  tO'  train,  drill  and 
discipline  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment 
and  afterwards  drilled  and  disciplined  the  Fortieth  Regi- 
ment. Colonel  Tansell,  the  Inspector-General,  pronounced 
the  Fortieth  the  best  drilled  regiment  of  Confederate  soldiers 
that  he  had  ever  seen.  Colonel  Tait  was  a  good  and  brave  of- 
ficer, and  in  his  rank  had  no  superior  in  the  service. 

On  13  January,  we  were  ordered  to*  reinforce  Fort  Fisher, 
(the  second  attack).   Companies  D,  E,  G,  K,  of  the  Fortieth 


760  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Regiment,  embarked  on  the  steamer  Pettaway,  and  arrived 
at  Confederate  Point  about  dark,  where  we  landed  by  wading 
waist  deep  in  water  to  reach  the  beach,  under  fire  from  the 
fleet,  and  took  our  position  at  the  guns  and  palisades  on  the 
land  face  of  the  fort,  where  firing  was  kept  up  at  short  inter- 
vals, until  daylight,  when  the  whole  fleet  drew  up  in  line  and 
opened  fire  on  the  fort  which  returned  the  fire.  This  was  kept 
up  all  day;  at  night  we  formed  a  picket  line  on  the  beach, 
where  we  kept  up  a  fire  with  the  enemy  until  about  4  o'clock 
a.  m.  A  most  furious  enfiladingfire  of  shot  and  shell  from  the 
fleet  caused  us  to  fall  back  inside  the  fort.  The  bombardment 
continued  to  increase,  and  about  8  o'clock  Sunday  morning, 
the  16th,  the  whole  fleet  opened  a  more  terrific  fire  upon  the 
fort.  From  about  11  a.  m.  until  3  p.  m.  the  booming  of 
cannon  and  bursting  of  shells  was  like  the  roar  of  heavy  peals 
of  thunder.  All  the  guns  on  the  land  face  of  the  fort 
were  disabled,  but  two,  and  the  palisades  were  deanolished, 
which  left  our  garrison,  of  about  1,500  men,  almost  helpless 
when  the  assault  was  made  upon  the  fort.  This  occurred 
about  3  o'clock  Sunday  evening  on  the  right  and  left  both,  at 
the  same  time.  We  were  on  the  right  where  the  marines  and 
sailors,  2,000  strong,  charged,  who  were  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss,  after  which  we  were  ordered  to  the  left  to  drive 
back  the  enemy,  who  had  made  lodgment  on  the  fort.  We 
rushed  in  that  direction,  led  by  General  Whiting,  who  com- 
manded the  troops  in  person,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
traverse  and  parapet  in  front  and  recaptured  one  gun  cham- 
ber with  great  loss,  and  on  the  parapet  and  traverse  of  the 
next  gun  chamber,  the  contestants  were  firing  into  each  oth- 
er's faces,  and  in  some  cases  clubbing  their  guns,  being  too 
near  to  load  and  fire.  It  was  in  this  charge  that  General 
Whiting  was  wounded.  The  fight  continued  after  the  en- 
emy entered  the  fort  until  about  10  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  the 
last  traverse  was  taken  and  firing  ceased.  Thus  ended  the 
greatest  bombardment  ever  known  in  modem  warfare.  It 
was  the  largest  hand-to-hand  fight  during  our  civil  war,  and 
the  struggle  inside  the  fort  was  unsurpassed  in  stubbornness. 
Our  casualties  were  not  known  as  the  roll  was  never  again 
called.     Captain  Buchan,   of  Company   G,    was    seriously 


Fortieth  Regiment.  761 

wounded  and  captured  at  Battery  Buchanan  at  the  point  of 
beach,  and  was  carried  to  Point  Lookout,  thence  to  John- 
son's Island,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  prisoner  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Major-General  W.  H.  C.  Whiting  was 
mortally  wounded,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and 
died  soon  afterwards  in  prison  on  Governor's  Island,  ~S.  Y. 
Colonel  Lamb,  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment,  was  also 
wounded  and  captured.  The  enemy's  killed  and  woundeid 
lay  thick  upon  the  battlefield,  especially  in  the  front 
of  the  Fortieth  Regiment,  which  was  in  the  hardest  of  the 
fight.  Surely  the  valor  displayed  by  North  Carolinians  in 
that  effort  to  hold  the  last  gateway  of  the  South  against  such 
overwhelming  numbers,  both  on  land  and  sea,  is  glory  enough 
to  perpetuate  their  names  in  the  annals  of  this  State  for  all 
time.  After  the  battle  was  over,  seeing  so  many  of  our  com- 
rades alive  and  able  for  duty,  was  a  cause  of  deep  gratitude 
to  Almighty  God.  The  next  morning  (the  16th)  the  maga- 
zine in  the  fort  exploded  and  killed  about  two  hundred  of 
the  enemy,  which  was  a  scene  of  inexpressible  horror.  That 
evening  we  were  put  on  board  the  Steamships  De  Mollay  and 
General  Lyon,  and  carried  to  Northern  prisons,  the  sick  and 
wounded  to  Point  Lookout,  and  those  able  for  duty  to  New 
York  City,  thence  transported  by  railroad  to  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
where  they  remained  until  after  the  war,  when  they  were 
paroled  and  sent  home.  The  ofiicers  were  carried  to  Gov- 
ernor's Island,  N.  Y.,  and  releaeed  on  parole  there.  During 
our  stay  in  prison  many  of  our  men  died  from  starvation  and 
exposure. 

On  16  January,  1865,  Companies  B,  C,  H,  and  I,  of  the 
Fortieth  Regiment,  evacuated  Fort  Holmes  and  Fort  Hed- 
rick,  on  Bald  Head,  and  Company  F  evacuated  Fort  Camp- 
bell, on  Oak  Island  beach,  above  Fort  Caswell,  and  were 
transported  by  steamer  to  Smithville,  which  was  reached 
about  daylight,  remained  in  the  town  that  day  and  went  out 
about  two  miles  from  town  at  night.  The  next  day  (the  17th) 
they  joined  Company  A,  of  the  regiment,  at  Fort  Anderson, 
about  ten  miles  above  Smithville,  on  the  Cape  Fear  river. 
The  garrison  was  then  composed  of  six  companies  of  the  For- 
tieth Regiment  and  the  command  from  Fort  Caswell,  number- 


762  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

ing  in  all  about  900  men,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Colonel  John  J.  Hedrick.  This  fort  was  a  weak  affair,  mount- 
ing only  small,  short-range  guns.  We  had  several  skirmishes 
with  the  fleet  at  this  place.  On  17  February  the  enemy,  about 
10,000  in  number,  appeared  on  our  right  flank,  where  hard 
picket  skirmishing  was  had.  The  next  day  a  general  en- 
gagement ensued.  The  enemy  attacked  the  fort  in  the  rear 
with  about  10,000  infantry,  while  Porter  with  a  fleet  of  six- 
teen gunboats  and  ironclads,  lying  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  fort,  quickly  demolished  our  guns.  In  the  land 
attack  we  held  our  own  against  great  odds.  In  this  fight 
Lieutenant  Vause,  of  Company  A,  was  killed,  and  Lieuten- 
ant Davis,  of  the  same  company,  was  mortally  wounded  and 
died  the  same  day.  Lieutenant  Bonner,  of  Company  B,  was 
captured  with  his  skirmish  line.  This  fight  was  continued 
until  the  next  morning,  (the  19th).  Finding  the  command 
in  danger  of  being  cut  ofF  by  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  in 
the  rear,  they  evacuated  the  fort,  carrying  off  all  the  light 
guns,  including  the  Whitworth  cannon,  and  fell  back  towards 
Wilmington.  We  took  a  stand  at  Town  Creek,  where  we  had 
quite  a  little  fight,  but  our  casualties  were  slight.  Colonel 
Simonton's  South  Carolina  Regiment  was  captured.  From 
Town  Creek  we  went  through  Wilmington  towards  Mason- 
boro  sound,  formed  a  skirmish  line,  and  fell  back  through 
Wilmington  (the  22d)  to  Northeast  river,  where  we  had  a 
skirmish  with  the  enemy;  from  there,  fell  back  to  Duplin 
Cross  Roads ;  went  into  camp  at  Rockfish  creek,  remaining 
there  about  a  week,  and  took  the  train  at  Teachey's  depot  to 
Kinston  to  meet  the  enemy  advancing  from  New  Bern,  where 
we  arrived  5  March,  and  engaged  the  enemy  the  next  day, 
.6th,  at  Jackson's  Mills,  between  New  Bern  and  Kinston.  We 
charged  the  enemy  in  front  and  rear  and  drove  them  several 
miles,  and  killed,  wounded  and  captured  about  2,000  prison- 
ers. Our  loss  was  heavy.  Among  the  wounded  was  the  gal- 
lant Colonel  John  J.  Hedrick,  who  was  wounded  while  gal- 
lantly leading  his  regiment  in  a  charge  upon  the  enemy,  and 
retired  from  the  field,  and  Major  Holland  assumed  command 
of  the  regiment.  On  the  8  th  we  attacked  the  enemy  again  in 
a  fortified  position  at  Wise's  Forks,  where  we  charged  them, 


Fortieth  Regiment.  763 

but  were  repulsed  with  a  heavy  loss.  At  this  time  the 
Fortieth  Regiment  was  attached  to  General  Hagood's 
South  Carolina  Brigade.  On  the  12th  we  withdrew  from 
Kinston  and  marched  to  Goldshoro,  passing  through  that 
town  just  as  the  advance  of  the  enemy  from  Wilmington  was 
entering ;  then  to  Smithfield,  where  we  went  in  camp.  Troops 
from  every  quarter  began  gathering,  and  very  soon  we  had 
quite  an  army  to  what  we  before  had.  Went  on  to  Benton- 
ville,  where  the  regiment  covered  itself  with  glory  as  a  part 
of  the  Red  Infantry,  where  on  a  quiet  Sunday  morning,  19 
March,  the  booming  of  cannon  was  heard,  and  very  soon  the 
sharp  crack  of  the  rifles  and  the  vengeful  singing  of  the  deadly 
minie  balls.  The  fight  very  soon  became  general,  and  we  rap- 
idly threw  up  works  and  in  a  few  hours  were  pretty  well  pre- 
pared to  defend  ourselves.  As  the  day  grew  on,  the  fight 
became  desperate,  the  Confederates  generally  successful. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  we  attacked  the  enemy  from  right  to 
left,  swinging  into  line  and  charging  over  our  works  on  the 
enemy's  fortified  line.  Then  it  was  that  while  struggling 
forward  in  that  pine  thicket  we  lost  many  of  our  officers  and 
men,  killed  and  wounded.  But  at  length  General  Colquitt's 
Georgia  Brigade  on  our  right  gave  way,  and  the  enemy  mass- 
ing on  our  front,  we  fell  back  to  our  old  line,  where  we 
checked  their  advance.  JSTow  as  to  this  charge,  before  it 
was  made.  Lieutenant  John  H.  Hill,  of  Company  H,  ad- 
vanced with  the  skirmish  line  to  the  front.  The  regiment 
with  the  brigade,  was  moved  by  the  left  flank  before  charging 
which  threw  it  to  the  left  of  the  skirmish  line,  and  instead  of 
being  in  front  of  our  own  command,  they  were  in  front  of 
Colquitt's  Georgia  Brigade,  leaving  our  front  exposed  to  the 
enemy,  and  when  the  regiment  had  charged  up  to  within  a 
few  paces  of  the  enemy's  breastworks,  they  were  halted  and 
dressed  to  the  right,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy.  The 
command  was  obeyed  with  as  much  coolness,  apparently,  as 
if  on  dress  parade. 

If  they  had  not  been  halted  they  would  have  turned  the 
enemy's  right  flank  and  captured  many  of  their  men,  but 
they  were  so  badly  cut  up  that  some  of  the  companies  lost  all 
their  officers  and  had  so  few  men  left  that  companies  were 


764  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

consolidated  (B  and  I  together,  and  C  and  H  together). 
This  was  a  blunder  and  sacriiice  of  the  lives  of  brave  mem, 
which  either  Generals  Hoke,  Hagood,  or  Major  Holland 
is  responsible  for.  The  Fortieth  Regiment  was  attached  to 
General  Hagood's  South  Carolina  Brigade  until  after  the 
fight  at  Bentonville  when  it  was  transferred  to  General  ding- 
man's  ISTorth  Carolina  Brigade,  both  of  Hoke's  Division. 

General  Hagood,  in  parting  with  the  regiment,  issued  an 
address  to  it,  which  was  read  on  dress  parade,  in  which  he 
enumerated  its  services  and  expressed  regrets  at  parting 
with  so  efficient  and  gallant  a  command.  The  Fortieth  Regi- 
ment lost  heavily  and  did  its  full  duty  in  this  great  fight, 
the  history  of  which  has  never  been  fully  written,  it  being 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  enemy  was  reinforced 
and  had  a  united  command  of  110,000  men,  while  our 
army  of  only  20,000  could  not  remain  longer  in  position ;  and 
on  the  21st  fell  back  to  Smithfield,  where  it  remained  until 
10  April,  when  it  fell  back  to  Raleigh,  Durham  and  Greens- 
boro. The  retreat  across  the  State  was  the  only  hope  to  make 
a  junction  with  General  Lee's  army.  That  hope  was  not 
realized. 

Manifesting  under  defeat  the  same  spirit  of  fidelity  and 
endurance  which  had  characterized  them  in  success,  the  rem- 
nant of  about  100  ofiicers  and  men  composing  this  regiment 
accepted  the  fate  of  war,  and  awaited  the  final  arrangements 
for  capitulation;  and  on  26  April,  1865,  surrendered  with 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  near  Greensboro,  N.  C.  About 
1  May  they  were  paroled  and  dispersed  on  foot  to  their  far 
distant  and  desolate  homes,  through  a  devastated  country, 
made  so  by  the  ravages  of  the  enemy,  until  it  was  so  poor  that 
a  "jaybird  would  starve  flying  over  it,  unless  he  carried  his 
rations." 

But  there  went  not  back  that  long  roll  of 

"Brave  men  who  perished  by  their  guns 
Though  tliey  conquered  not." 

Although  there  were  4*70,000  Southern 'men  (Buffaloes)  in 
the  Northern  army,  it  took  3,000,000  of  men  with  the  larg- 
est navy  on  the  continent,  and  the  world  from  which  to  draw 


Fortieth    Regiment.  765 

their  supplies,  four  years  to  conquer  an  army  of  only  600,000 
Southern  men,  shut  in  from  all  communication  from  the  out- 
side world.  The  recollections  of  such  heroism  should  ever 
continue  to  live  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  our  people. 

The  preparation  of  this  sketch,  giving  the  organization  and 
outlining  the  movements  of  the  Fortieth  Regiment,  (Third 
Artillery)  l^orth  Carolina  Troops,  is  due  to  the  assistance  of 
John  R.  Ross,  Wm.  W.  W.  Hunter,  A.  W.  Whitfield,  A.  J. 
Brown,  Daniel  J.  Clark,  John  H.  Hill,  M.  H.  McBryde, 
members  of  the  regiment. 

The  material  employed  was  gathered  from  memoranda, 
and  such  official  documents  as  were  accessible. 

T.  C.  Davis. 
MoREHEAD  City,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


FOETY-FIEST  REGIMENT. 


1.  A.  M.  Waddell,  Lieut.-Colonel. 

2.  Roger  Moore,  Lieut. -Colonel. 
8.    R.  S.  Tucker,  Captain,  Co.  I. 


4.  J.  Y.  Savaee.  1st  Lieut..  Co  G. 

5.  Norfleet  Smith,  1st  Lieut,,  Co  G. 

6.  Julian  S.  Carr,  Private,  Co.  K. 


FORTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

(third   cavalhy.  ) 


By  orderly  SERGEANT  JOSHTA  B.  HILL,  Company  K. 


The  Forty-first  North  Carolina  Troops  was  a  regiment  of 
cavalry;  in  the  official  enrollment  it  was  thus  denominated, 
but  it  was  commonly  styled  and  known  as  the  Third  Cavalry. 
For  a  great  portion  of  its  honorable  history  it  was  scattered 
over  an  extended  field  of  operations  and  served  as  detached 
companies  of  cavalry. 

It  should  be  understood  that  the  system  adopted  in  number- 
ing the  several  regiments  does  not  represent  the  order  of  the 
organization  of  the  companies  in  behalf  of  the  defense  of  the 
State  and  the  rights  of  the  Southern  people. 

For  example,  ten  regiments  raised  under  what  was  called 
the  "Ten  Eegiment  Bill,"  and  enlisted  "for  the  war,"  as  was 
stated,  were  allowed  to  ante-number  all  previous  volunteer 
organizations,  most  of  them  having  been  enrolled  for  twelve 
months,  although,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  all  finally  served 
throughout  the  struggle.  The  First  Volunteers  by  special 
act  of  the  Legislature,  was  styled  the  "Bethel"  Eegiment.  It 
was  afterwards  xmder  a  new  organization  known  as  the  Elev- 
enth. 

Regiments  like  the  Eighteenth  and  Twentieth  had  been  in 
service  many  months  at  the  forts  before  being  placed  in  regi- 
mental organization;  the  latter  even  containing  companies 
fully  equipped  before  the  attack  upon  Sumter. 

In  like  manner  many  of  the  companies  which  were  organ- 
ized at  Kinston,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  had  already  seen  large 
and  faithful  service,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  surviving  mem- 
bers of  these  gallant  troops,  that  contributed  so  much  to  the 
protection  of  Eastern  Carolina,  will  leave  memorials  of  their 
valuable  services  and  chivalrous  deeds  of  daring. 


768  North  Carolina  Troops,   1861-65. 

There  was  something  attractive  to  the  younger  Southerner 
in  the  life  of  a  bold  dragoon ;  especially  among  those  whose 
circumstances  had  made  them  fearless  horsemen,  and  whose 
life  in  the  open  air  and  participation  in  field  sports  had  ren- 
dered them  the  finest  recruits  in  the  world  for  this  form  of 
military  duty. 

Of  this  class,  the  flower  of  the  young  men  of  the  State,  were 
the  various  "Dragoons,"  "Mounted  Rifies,"  and  similar 
bodies  composed  who  bivouacked  from  the  lower  James  to  the 
Cape  Fear,  content  to  serve  where  duty  called,  under  their 
bold  captains. 

The  fall  of  Hatteras  and  the  fate  of  Roanoke  Island  early 
in  the  war  were  unavoidable  events,  under  the  circumstances. 
Without  ordnance  to  contend  against  a  powerful  fleet  that 
stood  without  range,  and  shelled  at  pleasure  a  garrison  prac- 
tically defenseless,  the  fate  of  Hatteras  was  sealed. 

But  the  capture  of  ISTew  Bern  ought  not  to  have  occurred — ' 
at  least  it  need  not  have  taken  place  in  1862,  long  before  the 
war  was  twelve  months  old,  if  the  authorities  at  Richmond 
had  given  it  help  with  half  the  troops  uselessly  sent  down  af- 
terwards. 

But  the  importance  of  the  position  was  hardly  apprehended 
by  either  side.  Certainly  a  Federal  commander  of  the  order 
of  Jackson,  or  of  Sheridan  would  have  cut  the  great  line  of 
supply  of  Lee's  army,  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Railroad, 
and  overwhelmed  Wilmington  from  the  rear. 

That  this  was  not  done,  must  be  attributed  largely  to  the 
activity  and  energy  of  the  Third  Cavalry,  before  and  after  its 
formal  organization  as  a  regiment,  and  the  other  'commands 
serving  in  like  capacity,  or  as  partizan  rangers. 

The  companies  were  somewhat  unequal  in  size.  As  the 
war  progressed  and  the  Confederate  Congress  insisted  upon 
measures  of  conscription,  those  arriving  at  military  age  fre- 
quently volunteered  in  companies  containing  friends,  or 
raised  in  special  localities.  Some  of  these  were  from  towns 
or  counties  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  recruits  were  not 
easily  available.  Other  companies  were  stationed  at  posts 
favorable  for  accession  to  their  ranks. 

Moore's  Roster  gives  1,158  men  in  the  ranks  of  the  regi- 


FoRTY-FiKST  Regiment.  769 

ment,  tut  as  the  deficiency  of  that  enrollment  are  well  known, 
it  is  probable  that  the  number  was  not  less  than  1,200,  if  not 
indeed  considerably  more. 

John  A.  Baker,  of  ISTew  Hanover,  serving  on  the  staff  of 
Major-General  French,  at  that  time  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  N"orth  Carolina,  with  headquarters  at  Wilming- 
ton, was  commissioned  as  Colonel,  3  September,  1862,  of  the 
Third  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  officially  designated  as  the 
Forty-first  North  Carolina  Troops. 

The  remaining  Field  Officers  were  not  assigned  until 
nearly  a  year  afterwards,  Alfred  M.  Waddell  having  been 
commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel  on  18  August,  1863,  and 
Roger  Moore,  Major,  on  the  same  date.  Previous  to  that  A. 
M.  Waddell  had  served  as  Adjutant,  and  Captain  Roger 
Moore  as  Quartermaster.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  were 
from  Wilmington.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Colonel  Wad- 
dell, 10  August,  1864,  Major  Roger  Moore  was  promoted  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  on  9  December,  1864,  Captain  C. 
W.  McClammy,  of  Company  A,  was  promoted  to  the  vacant 
Majority.  Colonel  Moore  became  commanding  officer,  as 
Colonel  Baker,  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy, 
21  June,  1864,  did  not  rejoin  the  regiment. 

Captain  Thomas  J.  Tunstall,  of  Mississippi,  another  of- 
ficer who  had  been  serving  at  headquarters  of  the  Department 
of  North  Carolina,  was  made  Assistant  Quartermaster,  19 
November,  1862.  Benjamin  W.  Sparks  was  commissioned 
Assistant  Surgeon  1  September,  1862,  and  was  from  Georgia, 
but  on  1  February,  1863,  Dr.  Benjamin  M.  Walker,  of  Ply- 
mouth, was  ordered  to  the  regiment  as  full  Surgeon.  Lieu- 
tenant John  N.  Smith,  of  Texas,  served  as  drill  master  and 
also  as  acting  Assistant  Commissary  Sergeant.  Rev.  S.  M. 
Byrd,  of  Virginia,  was  assigned  as  Chaplain  3  October,  1864. 

The  following  were  the  non-commissioned  staff:  Thos. 
S.  Armistead,  Sergeant  Major,  Plymouth,  Washington  Coun- 
ty; Calvin  J.  Morris,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Bertie  Coun- 
ty; A.  L.  Fitzgerald,  Ordnance  Sergeant,  Caswell  County; 
Neil  M.  Buie,  Hospital  Steward,  Harnett  County;  J.  W. 
Sorey,  Chief  Bugler,  Martin  County ;  Levi  J.  Fagan,  of  Ply- 
mouth, Color  Sergeant. 
49 


770  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

The  several  companies  composing  the  regiment  may  be 
briefly  named  as  follows :  (Most  of  the  names  of  enlisted  men 
can  be  found  in  the  honorable  roll  compiled  by  order  of  the 
State,  and  known  as  "Moore's  Roster,"  but  that  record,  it  is 
well  known,  is  imperfect,  many  rolls  having  perished,  which 
recorded  the  changes  incident  to  time  and  disease  and  the  cas- 
ualties of  war). 

Company  A,  known  originally  as  the  "Rebel  Rangers," 
was  from  New  Hanover,  and  had  seven  commissioned,  nine 
non-commissioned  oflicers,  two  musicians  and  155  privates; 
total,  153.  A.  W.  Newkirk  was  commissioned  as  Captain 
19  October,  1861 ;  C.  W.  McClammy  was  promoted  to  Cap- 
tain from  First  Lieutenant  12  September,  1863,  and  subse- 
quently to  Major  in  1864,  when  D.  J.  Nixon  was  made  Cap- 
tain from  First  Lieutenant.  The  remaining  oiEcers  were, 
as  successively  promoted:  First  Lieutenant,  A.  C.  Ward; 
Second  Lieutenants,  D.  J.  Nixon,  John  W.  Howard,  A.  C. 
Ward,  Louis  W.  Howard,  and  Robert  C.  Highsmith. 

Company  B,  the  "Gatlin  Dragoons,"  of  Onslow  County, 
had  seven  commissioned  and  ten  non-commissioned  oiRcers, 
and  122  privates;  total,  139.  E.  W.  Ward  was  made  Cap- 
tain 28  December,  1861,  and  Bryan  Southerland  succeeded 
him  30  November,  1863,  having  been  promoted  from  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant.  The  other  officers  were  First  Lieutenants 
L.  W.  Humphrey,  John  W.  Spicer,  and  M.  F.  Langly;  Sec- 
ond Lieutenants,  Bryan  Southerland,  (promoted  as  stated), 
J.  W.  Spicer,  David  W.  Simmons,  Stephen  H.  Merton,  D. 
Williams,  and  M.  E.  Langly. 

Company  C,  the  "Caswell  Rangers,"  of  Caswell  County, 
had  four  commissioned,  nine  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
87  privates;  total,  100.  Hannon  W.  Reinhardt  was  Cap- 
tain, (28  February,  1862) ;  First  Lieutenant,  Jno.  W.  Hatch- 
ett ;  Second  Lieutenants,  Stephen  A.  Rice  and  James  A.  Wil- 
liamson. 

Company  D,  the  "Highland  Rangers,"  of  Harne'tt  Coun- 
ty, had  four  commissioned,  eight  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  90  privates;  total,  102.     Thomas  J.  Brooks,  Captain 
was  commissioned  5  March,  1862 ;  First  Lieutenant,  Gr.  W. 


Forty-First  Regiment.  771 

Peaman ;  Second  Lieutenants,  James  M.  McNeill  and  W.  M. 
McNeill. 

Company  E,  the  "Macon  Mounted  Guards,"  from  Lenoir 
find  Craven  Counties  chiefly,  with  members  from  Pitt  and 
Chatham,  had  five  commissioned,  nine  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers, and  64  privates ;  total,  78.  W.  W.  Carraway  and  L. 
H.  Hartsfield  were  Captains,  the  latter  commissioned  7  Oc- 
tober, 1861.  First  Lieutenant,  Isaac  Roberts;  Second  Lieu- 
tenants, Owen  A.  Palmer  and  S.  H.  Loftin. 

Company  F,  the  "Davis  Dragoons,"  from  Burke  County, 
had  nine  commissioned,  six  non-commissioned  officers  (whose 
p.ames  have  been  preserved),  and  96  privates;  total.  111.  T. 
George  Walton  was  made  Captain  7  October,  1861,  and  suc- 
ceeded by  Elisha  A.  Perkins  13  May,  1862.  First  Lieuten- 
ants, Hugh  C.  Bennett  and  J.  C.  Tate;  Second  Lieutenants, 
J.  A.  Stewart,  W.  F.  Avery,  J.  Rufus  Kincaid,  J.  A.  Conley, 
and  Henry  P.  Lindsay. 

Company  G,  the  "Scotland  Neck  Mounted  Riflemen," 
from  Halifax  County,  had  six  commissioned,  seven  non-com- 
missioned officers,  and  108  privates;  total,  121.  Atherton 
B.  Hill,  who  was  made  Captain  9  October,  1861,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Benj.  G.  Smith  promoted  from  Second  Sergeant 
First  Lieutenant,  Norfleet  Smith;  Second  Lieutenants, 
George  A.  Higgs  (afterwards  promoted  to  Captain),  Theo- 
dore B.  Hyman,  and  John  T.  Savage. 

Company  H,  the  "Humphrey  Troops,"  from  Onslow 
County,  had  five  commissioned,  nine  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers, and  85  privates;  total,  99.  Julius  W.  Moore  was 
commissioned  Captain  10  December,  1862.  First  Lieuten- 
ants, Thos.  B.  Henderson  and  A.  G.  Hawkins ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenants, Jas.  Bryan  and  B.  W.  Tl-ott. 

Company  I,  the  "Wake  Rangers,"  from  Wake  County, 
had  eight  commissioned,  eleven  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  88  privates;  total,  107.  Rufus  S.  Tucker,  Qaptain, 
was  commissioned  18  February,  1862,  and  on  his  promotion 
as  Major  and  Governor's  Aide-deCamp  24  January,  1863, 
David  A.  Roberson  was  made  Captain.  First  Lieutenants,  T. 
Jefferson  Utley  and  Joseph  M.  Bowling ;  Second  Lieutenants, 


772  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

W.  W.  Clements,  J.  H.  Allison,  W.  G.  Kiddiok,  and  Allen  K. 
Rogers ;  Bugler,  Jesse  Winborne. 

Company  K,  the  "Clark  Skirmishers,"  of  Martin  and 
Washington  Counties,  with  Beaufort  and  Pitt  contributing, 
had  six  commissioned,  ten  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
68  privates ;  total,  84.  Wm.  Jordan  Walker,  Geo.  W.  Ward 
and  Fred  Harding,  who  was  commissioned  16  May,  1862, 
were  Captains.  First  Lieutenants,  George  W.  Ward,  Fred 
Harding  and  Wm.  Slade;  Second  Lieutenants,  Wm.  Slade, 
Fred  Harding,  J.  E.  Moore  and  Burton  Stilley.  Of 
this  company  the  writer  had  the  honor  of  being  First  Ser-' 
geant,  having  joined  its  ranks  16  May,  1862. 

This  completes  a  review  of  the  personnel  of  a  regiment  re- 
markable  for  the  high  spirit  and  mental  and  physical 
strength,  no  less  than  for  the  moral  worth  and  patriotic  devo- 
tion to  duty  which  characterized  it.  How  many  of  the 
names  on  its  official  roster  and  the  muster-rolls  of  the  privates 
in  the  ranks  were  honored  for  bravery  in  the  service  during 
the  dark  years  of  the  war,  or  have  risen  to  distinction  among 
those  of  their  fellow-citizens  in  various  sections  of  the  State  ? 

It  has  been  already  intimated  that  this  regiment  was  a  bul- 
wark of  protection  for  the  great  railroad  from  Weldon  to 
Wilmington,  and  all  that  portion  of  the  thirty  counties  east 
of  it,  not  completely  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  with  their 
combined  naval  and  military  power  in  the  great  sounds. 

To  many  minds  the  idea  of  soldierly  value  is  confined  to 
the  fleeting  hours  of  the  battlefield,  and  the  efficiency  of  a 
regiment  is  measured  by  the  number  of  men  cut  to  pieces  or 
left  on  the  field,  although  both  may  occur  through  unskillful 
management  of  commanding  officers,  and  may  result,  per- 
haps, in  unnecessary,  even  valueless  slaughter. 

But  there  is  an  infinity  of  duties  besides  the  actual  shock 
of  pitched  battle,  on  a  great  scale.  Cavalry  has  been  well 
termed."the  eyes  and  ears  of  an  army,"  and  well  may  this  be 
said  of  the  Forty-first  JSTorth  Carolina  troops.  In  a 
great  arc,  sweeping  from  the  Cape  Fear  to  the  Black- 
water,  it  was  the  omnipresent  guardian  of  the  people.  A 
large  proportion  of  its  troopers  were  natives  of  the  east  and 
knew  its  roads  and  fords,  its  swamps  and  streams.     Picket-- 


Forty-First  Regiment.  773 

ing  an  enormous  line,  protecting  the  villages  and  settlements 
from  forays,  gathering  supplies,  and  especially  forage  for  the 
needs  of  the  army  of  Virginia  and  the  garrisons  of  the  forts, 
guarding  the  cross-roads  and  fords,  communicating  with 
friends  in  the  lines  of  the  enemy  and  checking  his  approach 
whenever  he  dared  to  advance  beyond  his  gun-hoats,  this  reg- 
iment and  its  gallant  brethren  of  similar  commands,  though 
for  a  long  time  denied  the  laurels  that  fell  upon  Stuart  and 
his  bold  troopers  in  their  own  scene  of  action,  yet  daily  and 
hourly  performed  service  of  the  most  vital  importance  to  the 
maintenance  of  our  communications  through  ISTorth  Carolina 
and  to  the  protection  of  one  of  the  most  important  regions 
of  the  country,  if  not  the  capital  of  the  State  itself. 
■  Propositions  to  have  the  regiment  assemble  at  Garysburg 
and  move  northward  were  repeatedly  declined  by  the  State 
authorities.  But  eventually  the  need  of  cavalry  to  reinforce 
the  right  wing  of  the  army  in  the  defence  of  Eichmond  be- 
came most  urgent.  The  impartial  historian  must  say  that 
the  importance  of  maintaining  cavalry  in  full  efficiency  was 
hardly  fully  realized  in  the  Army  of  IS'orthern  "Virginia.  It 
was  expected  to  take  care  of  itself,  and  so  it  did.  But  as 
supplies  grew  scarce  and  horses  and  men  grew  gaunt  with 
hunger,  few  animals  could  be  found  to  replace  the  fiery  steeds 
of  the  first  squadrons,  and  such  bloody  massacres  as  Bristoe's 
and  Brandy  Station  had  wiped  out  whole  squadrons,  never 
to  be  replaced.  It  is  no  wonder,  then,  that  when  this  regi- 
ment finally  reached  the  lines  of  Petersburg  it  endured  labors 
and  hardships  almost  unparalleled  even  in  that  dread  con- 
flict. 

On  the  other  hand,  with  the  wealth  of  the  world  in  money, 
men  and  horses,  the  Federal  cavalry,  well  trained  and  sup- 
plied with  everything  possible,  was  pushed,  under  Sheridan 
and  Stoneman,  to  its  utmost  effectiveness  in  the  last  cam- 
paigns. 

After  the  fall  of  Eoanoke  Island  in  February,  1862,  Cap- 
tain R.  S.  Tucker's  company,  the  "Wake  Rangers,"  was  sent 
to  guard  Weldon  bridge,  and  afterwards  to  picket  the  Tar 
from  Greenville  nearly  to  Washington.  There  were  at  this 
time  other  North  Carolina  commands  on  similar  duty  sta- 


774  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

tioned  to  the  south;  Evans'  troops  between  New  Bern  and 
Goldsboro,  and  Captain  Nethercutt's  cavalry  across  the  Trent 
in  Jones  County. 

In  November  following,  Captain  W.  W.  Carraway's  com- 
pany, the  Macon  Mounted  Guards,  were  on  duty  at  Kin- 
ston,  and  Captain  Ward's  company  served  for  some  time,  af- 
ter the  capture  of  New  Bern,  in  picketing  the  streams  of  Ons- 
low and  vicinity. 

On  28  September,  1862,  Governor  Z.  B.  Vance  protested 
earnestly  against  calling  off  the  regiment  to  Garysburg,  and 
said  that  without  the  protection  of  the  cavalry  the  finest  pro- 
vision region  of  the  State  would  in  a  few  days  be  desolated. 
So  much  in  earnest  was  he  that  he  was  moved  to  exclaim :  "If 
it  is  not  the  intention  of  the  President  to  protect  us,  we  must 
protect  ourselves." 

In  late  October  or  early  November  a  squad  of  fourteen 
men  of  Company  K,  under  command  of  Levi  J.  Pagan,  Color 
Sergeant,  was  sent  on  picket  about  ten  miles  from  Plymouth, 
which  town  was  largely  garrisoned  by  United  States  troops. 
The  darkness  of  the  night,  together  with  a  blinding  rain,  ren- 
dered it  difficult  to  perceive  the  approach  of  an  active  battal-= 
ion  of  infantry  from  the  enemy's  lines,  which  suddenly  sur- 
roimded  and  captured  the  squad.  Taken  on  foot  to  Ply- 
mouth and  thence  by  transport  tO'  New  Bern,  this  small 
body  of  prisoners  was  held  in  captivity,  though  kindly 
treated,  until  paroled  4  December. 

A  brilliant  exploit  performed  by  the  "Rebel  Hangers," 
Company  A,  subsequently,  is  reported  by  General  W.  H.  C. 
Whiting,  commanding  District  of  Wilmington.  He  says, 
28  November,  1862,  that  Captain  Newkirk's  cavalry  and 
Captain  Adams',  with  a  section  of  a  field  battery,  captured  a 
steam  gunboat  of  the  enemy  on  New  River.  Her  crew  es- 
caped, but  her  armament,  ammunition  and  small  arms  were 
captured. 

Shortly  afterwards  the  "Caswell  Rangers,"  Company  C, 
rendered  brave  and  efficient  service  in  repelling  the  raid  of 
General  Foster  upon  Goldsboro,  and  was  complimented  for 
i's  coclnPFS  in  pction  in  the  report  of  Colonel  Stevens,  of  the 
Engineers,  to  General  Gustavus  W.  Smith,  commanding. 


Forty-First  Rkgiment.  775 

Another  company,  that  of  Captain.  Tucker,  was  in  the  ex- 
pedition under  General  J.  G.  Martin,  who,  with  the  Seven- 
teenth North  Carolina  Infantry,  Adams'  Artillery  and  the 
respective  cavalry  of  Walker,  Booth  and  Tucker,  made  an 
attack  upon  the  forces  of  the  enemy  at  Washington.  Tucker 
assaulted  the  town  independently,  the  other  companies  being 
under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Booth,  who  received  a 
wound  on  that  occasion  that  subsequently  caused  his  death. 

Captain  R.  S.  Tucker's  command  performed  many  difficult 
and  hazardous  feats.  They  had  started  at  early  morning, 
their  gallant  Captain  at  the  head  and  again  and  again  they 
routed  and  dispersed  the  enemy,  only  to  meet  additional  par- 
ties stationed  to  repel  Tucker's  advance.  "Charge !"  was  the 
repeated  order,  which  was  so  successfully  executed  that  the 
loss  was  slight.  Bugler  Winbome  and  a  private  near  the  head 
of  the  command  having  been  dismounted,  and  captured  by  the 
enemy. 

A  portion  of  the  enemy  was  completely  driven  out  of  the 
town  in  this  brilliant  engagement,  but  the  heavy  artillery  of 
the  gunboats  completely  commanded  the  whole  of  Washington, 
which  is  situated  upon  the  river,  and  as  the  occupation  by 
Confederate  forces  involved  the  entire  destruction  of  the 
place,  without  adequate  military  result,  the  command  deemed 
it  proper  to  evacuate  and  return  to  original  lines. 

The  Davis  "Dragoons,"  under  Captain  Perkins,  at  Big 
JSTortheast  Bridge,  near  Jacksonville,  met  a  party  of  Federal 
cavalry,  killing  one  captain  and  five  privates  and  routing  the 
biilmice  without  loss. 

Seven  companies  of  the  regiment  were  concentrated  for 
operations  in  Eastern  North  Carolina  and  on  the  Virginia  bor- 
('pr  early  in  18(i3,  and  so  effectually  did  the  command  make 
i;s  mnrk  that  Genera]  M.  Jenkins,  Brigadier  commanding  on 
the  Bbckwater.  proposed  a  dash  of  Baker's  Regiment  of  cav- 
alry upmi  tbc  onpiTiy's  c-^ip  of  cavalry  on  the  Windsor  road, 
four  or  five  milos  from  Suffolk,  Va. 

Service  along  the  mrrow  Blackwater,  guarding  its  fords 
and  tributaries,  involve' 1  much  exposure  to  malaria  and  inces- 
sant contact  with  the  ene-^iy.  Longstreet  issued  preparatory 
orders  for  his  demonstration  against  Suffolk,  16  April,  and 


776  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

was  particular  to  direct  that  wires  be  stretched  across  the 
roads  leading  to  the  strong  cavalry  camps  of  the  United  States 
troops. 

On  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  by  orders  from  Richmond, 
the  regiment  was  attached  to  Robertson's  Brigade,  A.  IST.  V., 
but  it  was  placed  almost  immediately  on  detached  service  on 
the  Blackwater. 

On  11  June,  1863,  Captain  Milligan,  of  the  Confederate 
Signal  Corps,  announced  that  with  a  detachment  of  the  Forty- 
First  ISTorth  Carolina  he  had  burned  Dillard's  wharf,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  from  Jamestown  Island.  This 
was  a  favorite  landing  place  for  predatory  incursions  of  the 
enemy.  Under  date  of  18  June,  General  D.  H.  Hill  reports: 
"The  Yankees,  with  ten  regiments  of  infantry,  two  of  cav- 
alry and  sixteen  pieces,  have  been  feebly  attempting  to  cross 
the  Blackwater  for  the  last  five  days.  They  have  been  re- 
pulsed at  all  points  with  ease  by  the  forces  of  General  M.  Jen- 
kins, Colonel  John  A.  Baker  and  Colonel  Alf.  Coppens." 

The  regiment  was  now  in  demand  in  various  directions,  re- 
maining but  a  brief  period  at  any  point.  1  July  it  was  or- 
dered to  Old  Church  to  intercept  raiders  coming  up  the  Pe- 
ninsula and  to  watch  the  Pamunkey.  Hard  service  had  left 
about  two  hundred  men  of  the  command  without  horses. 

18  July  the  regiment  was  made  a  part  of  the  division  of 
Major-General  Robert  Ransom.  On  the  20th  of  the  month 
General  Whiting  asked  for  it  from  General  Cooper,  saying, 
"I  need  very  much  an  additional  force  of  cavalry,  can  I  not 
have  Baker's  regiment  from  Petersburg  ?  On  the  22d  he  ap- 
plied for  it  again  to  go  to  General  Martin  at  Kinston  to  stop 
raids  of  the  enemy,  but  the  Union  forces  having  appeared  at 
Murfreesboro,  the  regiment  was  ordered  on  the  27th  to  the 
Blackwater  to  check  an  advance  toward  Weldon. 

In  August  it  was  encamped  at  Ivor,  a  station  on  the  road 
then  called  Norfolk  and  Petersburg,  now  a  portion  of  the 
Norfolk  &  Western  line. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  newspaper  reports,  upon  the 
Gettysburg  campaign  and  others,  had  been  full  of  extrava- 
gant praise  for  troops  of  certain  other  States,  but  North  Car- 
olina had  been  treated  with  neglect  and  even  gross  injus- 


Forty-First  Eegiment.  777 

tice.  A  proposition  was  made  that  official  reporters  should 
accompany  the  army,  or  at  least  that  the  authentic  official  re- 
ports of  officers  on  the  field  should  be  published. 

This  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  General  Lee  by  the 
Hon.  J.  A.  Seddon,  Secretary  of  War,  to  whom  the  great  com- 
mander replied,  on  9  September,  1863,  in  words  which 
should  bring  the  glow  of  pride  to  the  heart  of  every  Caroli- 
nian. "In  the  reports  of  the  officers  justice  is  done  the  brave 
soldiers  of  North  Carolina  whose  heroism  and  devotion  have 
illustrated  the  name  of  their  State  on  every  battlefield  in 
which  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  has  been  engaged,  but 
the  publication  of  these  reports  during  the  progress  of  the  war 
would  give  the  enemy  information  which  it  is  desirable  to 
withhold." 

In  November  the  regiment  was  camped  near  Weldon,  but 
by  the  end  of  the  year  it  was  on  the  ground  where  it  was  or- 
ganized, reporting,  on  31  December,  34  officers  and  554  men 
present  for  duty,  although  the  rolls  have  971  names. 

Early  in  the  new  year,  9  January,  1864,  it  was  engaged  in 
a  skirmish  near  Greenville,  N.  C.  This  incident  was  quite  re- 
markable. In  the  darkness  of  the  night.  Companies  I  and 
K,  which  were  scouting  below  Red  Banks  Church,  suddenly 
engaged  the  enemy  returning  from  the  church,  which  they 
had  set  on  fire.  Amid  sharp  firing  in  close  contact  and  the 
clash  of  contending  sabres,  both  columns  forced  a  way 
through  to  their  respective  lines.  Our  loss  was  an  officer 
and  one  private  killed  and  several  slightly  wounded.  A 
trooper  of  the  enemy,  well  equipped,  imconsciously  fell  into 
our  lines,  and  rode  on  well  satisfied,  until  at  daybreak  a  vigi- 
lant officer.  Lieutenant  Buck  Slade,  perceived  the  stranger's 
predicament  and  divested  him  of  his  steed  and  arms.  Sur- 
prised and  disgusted,  the  astonished  prisoner  broke  down 
completely. 

Toward  the  end  of  January  General  Lee  sent  General  Pick- 
ett with  five  brigades  to  attack  and  attempt  to  recapture  New 
Bern.  The  Firty-first  was  a  portion  of  the  cavalry  ordered 
upon  the  expedition.  This  cavalry  endured  great  hardships 
in  breaking  up  the  railroad  between  Morehead  and  New  Bern, 
in  passing  around  the  town  and  in  crossing  the  river.     This 


778  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

much  was  accomplished,  though  the  general  undertaking  was 
defeated. 

Oh  22  April,  Colonel  Baker  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen- 
eral Lee  for  the  assignment  of  the  regiment  to  General  J.  B. 
Gordon's  Brigade.  But  when  in  camp  near  Weldon  it  was 
ordered  (3  May)  by  Brigadier-General  Walker,  toward  New 
Bern,  and  it  took  part  in  the  feint  executed  by  General  Hoke 
in  that  section.  General  Bearing,  then  commanding  all  the 
cavalry  near  New  Bern,  ordered  it  to  Kinston,  which  was 
reached  on  the  evening  of  7  May.  Thence  by  Hoke's  orders, 
it  proceeded  by  the  highway  to  Weldon.  The  three  compa" 
nies  serving  in  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  were  or- 
dered  2  May  to  join  their  regiment,  which  on  the  15th  was 
ordered  to  move  with  Hoke's  Division  to  protect  the  right 
flank  in  the  movement  near  Petersburg,  of  Beauregard 
against  Butler. 

General  Bragg,  then  in  command  at  Richmond,  complained 
to  General  S.  Cooper  that  Baker's  cavalry  had  been  detained 
by  Beauregard  after  its  orders  to  protect  Richmond,  and  that 
thus  the  safety  of  the  capital  had  been  jeopardized. 

Beauregard  answers  the  complaint  as  follows,  and  inciden- 
tally  expresses  his  high  appreciation  of  the  Carolina  troop' 
ers: 

"General  Bragg  in  his  communication  has  declared  that 
the  Third  North  Carolina  (Cavalry)  was  detained  for  three 
weeks  without  the  shadow  of  authority ;  and  that  by  the  de- 
lays occasioned  by  xinauthorized  assiimptions  in  the  move- 
ments of  troops  the  safety  of  the  capital  has  been  jeopardized. 

"I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  reply  that  on  25  April,  General 
Bragg  authorized  me  to  detain  Baker's  cavalry  until  the  New 
Bern  expedition  should  be  completed,  or  until  it  shoiild  be  re- 
lieved by  another.  The  New  Bern  expedition  terminated  6 
May  and  Colonel  Baker  with  his  command,  started  immedi- 
ately to  Weldon,  which  he  reached  on  the  10th  and  thence  to 
Petersbiirg  where  he  arrived  with  a  portion  of  the  command 
on  the  14th.  On  the  same  day  he  proceeded,  under  my  or- 
ders, with  me  to  Drewry's  Bluff. 

"At  this  time  General  Butler  was  threatening  the  capital 
with  a  force  largely  superior  to  my  own.     There  were  with 


Forty-First  Regiment.  779 

me  including  Baker's,  but  one  regiment  of  cavalry  and  frac- 
tions of  two  others,  viz:  the  Seventh  South  Carolina  and 
a  part  of  the  Fifth  South  Carolina.  These,  with  the  Third 
North  Carolina  were  essential  to  the  protection  of  the  right 
and  left  flanks  of  my  command.  They  participated  in  the  hat- 
tie  of  16  May  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  so  far  from  jeopardizing 
the  safety  of  the  capital  by  delay  in  the  execution  of  orders, 
they  contributed  essential  service  to  its  defense.  All  the 
troops  which  could  be  spared  from  the  capital  were  being 
sent  to  me  to  defend  it  on  the  south  side,  and  it  did  not  occur 
to  me  to  send  forward  the  regiment  to  Richmond,  merely  to 
be  returned,  for  the  important  purposes  already  indicated. 

"Although  the  enemy  was  defeated  on  the  16th,  and  driven 
back  to  his  works  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  he  still  greatly  out- 
numbered me  and  held  a  menacing  position  dangerous  to  the 
safety  of  the  capital.  I  did  not  deem  it  prudent  and  wise 
therefore,  to  send  it  on  the  17th  to  Richmond,  but  directed 
it  to  watch  and  protect  my  flank  on  James  river. 

"22  May,  Colonel  Ferebee,  with  the  Fourth  North  Carolina, 
having  relieved  Colonel  Baker,  was  ordered  immediately  to 
report  to  General  Bragg  at  Richmond,  and  he  did  so  on  the 
evening  of  the  23  d.  The  detention  was  authorized,  I  respect- 
fully submit,  by  the  exigencies  of  the  case  and  demonstrated 
by  the  signal  service  the  command  rendered  on  the  16th  at 
Drewry's  Bluff." 

He  asked  for  a  court  of  inquiry,  but  General  Lee  expressed 
himself  as  satisfied,  dismissed  Bragg's  complaint  and  refused 
a  court. 

On  this  occasion  Colonel  Bnker  ren?its  tl^nt  Ids  marches 
were  thirty  miles  a  day,  and  that  as  sonn  as  nicke's  and  cour- 
iers reached  camp  under  orders  at  niidnioht.  be  started  at  3 
a.  m.  Little  rest  was  there  for  the  wearied  soldier  for  the 
remainder  of  the  bloody  struggle. 

A  few  weeks  later,  21  June,  1864,  the  regiment  l-^st  Coh- 
nel  Baker  by  capture.  He  was  considerably  in  atlv.Tneo  of 
the  regiment,  with  but  one  or  two  men.  It  is  thus  told  by  the 
enemy : 


780      North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

"  June  21,  1864,  5  :10  p.  m. 

"Theo.  Lyman  to  Major-General  Meade: 

"I  have  just  been  to  meet  General  Barlow.  About  a  mile 
from  the  railroad  (W.  &  W.  and  Petersburg)  he  engaged  dis- 
mounted cavalry  and  two  guns ;  took  the  Colonel  of  the  Third 
North  Carolina  Cavalry,  who  thinks  Early  is  behind  on  the 
railroad." 

During  the  month  of  August  the  reorganization  of  the 
field  officers  took  place,  as  heretofore  referred  to,  and  Major 
Roger  Moore  (promoted  later  to  Lieutenant-Colonel)  was  left 
in  command.  The  regiment  was  now  in  the  brigade  of  Gen- 
erf  ul  Rufus  Barringer,  where  it  remained  for  the  rest  of  the 
war.  It  was  in  the  division  of  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  under 
command  of  General  Wade  Hampton,  commanding  the  corps 
of  cavalry. 

It  participated  in  the  brilliant  attack  on  the  enemy  at 
Reams'  Station,  25  August,  1864.  From  General  Hamp- 
ton's report  the  following  is  taken : 

"General  Barringer,  whom  I  had  sent  with  his  brigade  to 
the  east  of  the  railroad,  reported  that  he  had  met  a  strong 
force  of  infantry  with  cavalry.  I  ordered  him  to  picket  the 
road  strongly  and  join  me  with  his  command  at  Malone's 
Crossing.  *  *  *  Colonel  Roberts,  with  his  regiment, 
charged  here  one  line  of  the  rifle-pits,  carrying  it  handsomely 
and  capturing  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  prisoners.  *  *  * 
He  struck  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  with  Barringer's  Brigade  in 
the  center  of  his  force.  Under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and 
musketry  the  line  advanced  steadily,  driving  the  enemy  into 
his  works.  Here  he  made  a  stubborn  stand,  and  for  a  few 
moments  checked  our  advance,  but  the  spirit  of  the  men  was 
so  fine  that  they  charged  the  breast-works  with  the  utmost  gal- 
lantry, carried  them  and  captured  the  force  holding  them. 
This  ended  the  fighting,  my  men  having  been  engaged  twelve 
hours.  We  captured  781  prisoners,  25  commissioned  officers, 
buried  143  of  the  enemy  and  brought  off  66  of  their  wounded. 
Our  loss  was:  Total  killed,  16;  wounded,  75;  missing,  3. 
Of  these  Barringer  had  10  killed,  50  wounded,  1  missing. 


Forty-First  Regiment.  781 

*  *  *  General  Barringer  commanded  Lee's  Division  to 
my  satisfaction,  while  his  brigade  commanders,  Colonel  Davis 
and  Colonel  Cheek,  performed  their  parts  vyell." 

The  following  letter  from  General  Lee  to  Governor  Vance, 
in  reference  to  this  gallant  achievement,  will  live  in  history  as 
one  of  the  fairest  laurels  ever  won  by  sons  of  the  Old  North 
State.     Under  date  of  29  August,  1864,  he  writes: 

"I  have  frequently  been  called  upon  to  mention  the  ser- 
vices of  North  Carolina  soldiers  in  this  army,  but  their  gal- 
lantry and  conduct  were  never  more  deserving  of  admiration 
than  in  the  engagement  at  Reams  Station  on  the  25th  in- 
stant. 

"The  brigades  of  Generals  Cooke,  McRae  and  Lane,  the 
last  under  the  command  of  General  Connor,  advanced  through 
a  thick  abatis  of  felled  trees,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery  and  carried  the  enemy's  works  with  a  steady 
courage  that  elicited  the  warm  commendation  of  their  corps 
and  division  commanders,  and  the  admiration  of  the  army. 
On  the  same  occasion  the  brigade  of  General  Barringer  bore 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  operations  of  the  cavalry,  which 
were  not  less  distinguished  for  boldness  and  efficiency  than 
those  of  the  infantry. 

"If  the  men  who  remain  in  North  Carolina  share  the  spirit 
of  those  they  have  sent  to  the  field,  as  I  doubt  not  they  do,  her 
defense  may  be  securely  intrusted  to  their  hands. 

"I  am  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  Lee, 
General. 
"His  Excellency,  Z.  B.  Vance,  Governor  of  North  Carolina." 

The  dark  and  gloomy  winter,  the  last  of  the  war,  was 
approaching.  The  regiment  was  now  to  endure  the  most  ex- 
treme hardships  of  a  soldier's  life  in  cold,  fatigue,  hunger, 
pain  and  anxiety.  As  the  lines  drew  closer  and  forage  be- 
came scarcer,  the  horses  perished  and  the  few  must  do  the 
work  of  many.  The  middle  of  November  found  the  Forty- 
first,  in  Barringer's  Brigade,  encamped  near  Gladcross'  mill, 


782  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

four  miles  southwest  of  Petersburg,  on  the  Boydton  road. 
Constant  encounters  took  place  on  a  small  scale,  and  on  9 
December  in  an  action  near  Belfield,  the  enemy  was  hand- 
somely driven  back.  General  Hampton  says  in  his  subse- 
quent report  (21  January,  1865)  : 

"The  cavalry  of  the  enemy  which  we  met  was  driven  in 
rapidly  with  loss  and  in  confusion,  and  the  infantry  of  the 
rear  guard  was  gallantly  charged.     *     *     * 

"The  pursuit  on  our  part  continued  during  the  remainder 
of  the  day,  the  enemy  blockading  the  road,  destroying  the 
bridges  and  only  fighting  at  the  obstacles  he  had  placed  in  the 
road.  At  Moore's  Mill  we  drove  him  from  the  bridge,  and 
pushing  on,  we  soon  met  some  cavalry,  charging  and  dispers- 
ing them. 

"The  leading  squadron  of  the  Third  North  Carolina  (For- 
ty-first) dashed  into  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
found  preparing  to  go  into  camp.  Finding  their  whole  force 
there  I  withdrew  to  Moore's  Mill,  two  miles  back,  to  bivouac. 
From  this  point  I  notified  General  Hill  of  the  position  of  the 
enemy.  *  *  *  My  officers  and  men  behaved  admira- 
bly— losses  small — 250  to  350  prisoners  taken.  On  1 
March,  1865,  the  official  report  showed  78  officers  and  1,298 
men  present  for  duty  in  Barringer's  Brigade,  and  the  fact 
that  this  number  is  actually  more  than  one-third  of  the  total 
cavalry  of  Lee's  army,  which  was  reported  at  3,761,  is  a 
proud  evidence  of  the  devotion  to  duty  of  these  gallant  men  in 
the  darkest  hours.  On  27  March  the  Brigade  was  at  Stony 
Creek. 

The  position  of  Lee's  army  is  thus  described  by  Swinton, 
the  fairest  historian  on  the  Union  side :  "The  right  of  Lee's 
intrenched  line  running  southwest  from  Petersburg  covered 
Hatcher's  Run  at  the  Boydton  plank  road.  Thence  it  ex- 
tended for  a  considerable  distance  westward,  parallel  with 
Hatcher's  Run,  and  along  what  is  known  as  the  White  Oak 
road.  This  line  directly  covered  Lee's  main  communication 
by  the  Southside  Railroad.  Four  miles  west  of  the  termina- 
tion of  this  intrenched  front,  a  detached  line  running  also 
along  the  White  Oak  road  covered  an  important  strategic 


FoRTY-FiEST  Regiment.  783 

point,  where  several  roads  from  the  north  and  south,  converg- 
ed on  the  White  Oak  rgad,  from  what  is  known  as  the  'Five 
Forks. 


)  » 


Swinton  further  declares  of  Lee:  "From  his  left,  north- 
east of  Richmond,  to  his  right,  southwest  of  Petersburg,  there 
were  thirty-five  miles  of  breastwork,  which  it  behooved  Lee 
to  guard,  and  all  the  force  remaining  to  him  was  37,000  mus- 
kets and  a  small  body  of  broken  down  horses !" 

As  it  became  evident  that  the  meagre  numbers  of  Lee  could 
not  longer  hold  back  the  immense  hosts  under  Grant,  arrange- 
ments were  quietly  made  looking  to  retreat  in  the  only  possi- 
ble direction,  the  west. 

General  Fitz  Lee  relates  that  on  28  March  he  was  ordered 
from  his  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line  north  of  the 
James  to  Petersburg,  and  to  Southerland's  Station,  on  the 
Southside  road,  nineteen  miles  distant,  on  the  29th.  There 
the  division  of  General  W.  H.  F.  Lee,  containing  Barrin- 
ger's  Brigade,  joined  him. 

On  31  March  they  attacked  a  very  large  force  of  the  en- 
emy's cavalry  at  Five  Forks,  killed  and  wounded  many,  cap- 
tured one  hundred  and  drove  them  to  within  half  a  mile  of 
Dinwiddle  Court  House.  While  Mumf ord  held  the  front  W. 
H.  F.  Lee  and  Rosser  went  to  turn  their  flank,  found  a  stream 
in  the  way,  with  strong  defences,  carried  the  defences,  but 
with  loss  to  Lee  and  Rosser — and  Mumford  also  carried  the 
works  in  his  front.  At  Hatcher's  Run,  a  whole  corps  of  Fed- 
eral infantry  attacked  two  small  brigades  of  Confederate  cav- 
alry. 

General  Fitzhugh  Lee  further  says:  "On  3  April  I  pro- 
tected Anderson's  rear  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  ad- 
vance to  Amelia  Court  House."  In  his  language,  "At  an- 
other of  the  temporary  halts  upon  this  march,  to  check  the 
enemy  in  the  vicinity  of  Namozine  church,  that  very  excel- 
lent North  Carolina  brigade  of  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  Division,  suf- 
fered severely.  The  troops  had  been  placed  in  motion  again 
to  resume  the  march.  This  brigade  was  the  rear  of  the 
column  and  I  was  obliged  to  retain  it  in  position  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  attacking  the  remainder  of  the  command. 

"While  getting  in  motion,  their  rapidly  arriving  forces 


784  JSfoRTH- Carolina  Troops, -ISGl-'eS.   ■ 

soon  augmented  the  troops  it  was  so  gallantly  holding  in 
check,  and  produced  a  concentration  impossible  for  it  to  re- 
sist. Its  commander,  Brigadier-General  Barringer,  was  cap- 
tured while  in  the  steady  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  his  loss 
was  keenly  felt  by  the  command." 

Of  this  event  the  Federal  Major-General  Merritt  claims  (3 
April) :  "The  command  moved  forward  at  daylight  and  oc- 
cupied the  forks  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned  during  the 
night.  The  First  and  Third  Division  (United  States) 
cavalry  marched  in  pursuit  toward  Amelia  Court  House. 
Wells'  Brigade  had  a  spirited  fight  with  Barringer's  Brigade 
of  rebel  cavalry,  routing,  dispersing  or  capturin^g  the  entire 
command,  including  the  rebel  general  himself." 

This  extraordinary  report  is  more  clearly,  correctly  defined 
by  official  returns  from  the  commanders  more  closely  engaged. 
Tavo  entire  divisions  of  cavalry  were  enveloping  the  retreat 
of  the  Confederates,  worn  out  man  and  horse,  by  six  day's 
marching  and  fighting.  Another  and  doubtless  more  correct 
report  from  a  Federal  commander  is  the  following:  "April 
3,  at  night,  went  on  picket  at  Five  Cross  Koads  (called  by 
the  Confederates  Five  Forks),  distance  about  twenty  miles 
from  ISTamozine  church,  and  by  the  aid  of  Major  Young, 
Chief  of  Scouts,  captured  and  brought  into  our  lines  General 
Barringer  and  part  of  his  staff,  the  regiment  being  detached 
from  the  brigade  at  the  time." 

The  few  faithful  horse  that  were  left  were  invaluable  in 
prolonging  the  retreat  to  Burkeville  where  Lee  expected  tO' 
meet  the  train  of  supplies  and  ammunition.  That  by  some 
fatal  blunder,  this  train  had  been  fired  and  all  hope  of  succor 
for  the  starving  horses  short  of  Lynchburg  had  to  be  aban- 
doned, is  now  familiar  history. 

In  his  last  report  General  Lee  says  (Appomattox,  12 
April,  1865) :  "After  successive  attacks,  Anderson's  and 
Ewell's  Corps  were  captured  or  driven  from  their  position. 
The  latter  general,  with  both  of  his  division  commanders, 
Kershaw  and  Custis  Lee,  and  his  brigadiers  were  taken  pris- 
oners. 

"Gordon,  who  all  the  morning  aided  by  General  W.  H.  F. 
Lee's  cavalry,  had  checked  the  advance  of  the  enemy  on  the 


Forty-First  Regiment.  785 

road  from  Amelia  Springs,  and  protected  the  trains,  because 
exposed  to  his  combined  assaults,  which  he  bravely  resisted 
and  twice  repulsed;  but  the  cavalry  having  been  withdrawn 
to  another  part  of  the  line  of  march  and  the  enemy  massing 
heavily  on  his  front  and  both  flanks,  renewed  the  attack  about 
6  p.  m.,  and  drove  him  from  the  field  in  much  confusion." 

Some  of  the  cavalry  escaped  with  Rosser  before  the  end, 
but  in  the  Providence  of  God  the  close  of  the  great  struggle 
had  come.  At  the  actual  surrender,  the  whole  division  of 
General  W.  H.  F.  Lee  numbered  but  298  men  and  officers,  of 
which  Barringer's  Brigade  had  2  officers  and  21  men,  total 
23,  for  parole.  A  few  had  escaped ;  most  of  them  had  been 
taken,  man  by  man,  dismounted  from  horses  which  hunger, 
disease  and  wounds  rendered  incapable  of  supporting  their 
starving  but  dauntless  riders. 

This  narrative  does  not  purport  to  be  a  complete  history  of 
the  varied  experiences  of  the  Forty-first  North  Carolina 
Troops,  but  is  simply  offered  as  a  contribution  towards  an  ac- 
count of  the  various  marches  and  battles  that  illustrate  its 
eventful  career. 

I  am  indebted  to  the  brave  and  courteous  Thomas  S.  Arm- 
istead.  Sergeant  Major  of  the  regiment  from  the  time  of  its 
organization,  for  his  valuable  notes  concerning  the  various 
movements  and  services  of  the  companies  detached,  or  of  the 
regiment  as  a  whole,  from  time  to  time.  His  recollections 
are  vivid  and  lucid,  and  a  more  gallant  officer  never  mounted 
horse.  I  am  also  indebted  to  the  gallant  Burton  Stilley, 
Lieutenant  in  my  own  company,  K,  the  "Clark  Skirmishers," 
for  his  recollections  of  certain  casualties  in  the  regiment  and 
other  information.     Writing  9  August,  1895,  he  says: 

"While  camping  at  Franklin,  Va.,  on  the  Blackwater,  in 
pursuing  Schocknett's  cavalry  toward  Suffolk,  Lieutenant 
Al.  Wiggins,  of  Company  G,  was  killed.  His  horse  becoming 
frightened,  ran  past  the  rear  of  the  retreating  Federal 
column. 

"In  an  engagement  with  Graham's  North  Carolina  Volun- 
teers (Union)  below  Greenville,  IST.  C,  in  the  night,  Lieuten- 
ant Camp  and  Private  Ferrall,  of  Company  G,  were  killed. 
In  an  engagement  on  Sunday  evening,  near  Hanover  Court 
50 


786  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

House,  Sergeant  Jeffreys,  of  Company  I  (Ealeigh)  and  Pri- 
vate Patrick,  of  Company  H,  were  killed,  and  Private  L.  A. 
Jones,  of  Company  K,  severely  wounded.  In  an  engage- 
ment between  Richmond  and  Charles  City,  near  White's  Tav- 
ern, 17  August,  1864,  I  was  wounded  severely  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1894,  had  my  leg  amputated  and  am  still  suffering. 
Also  Privates  H.  M.  Patrick  and  Kenneth  Daniels,  of  Com- 
pany K,  were  killed  by  the  same  shell  that  wounded  me."  Dr. 
Stilley  writes  in  the  strain  of  devotion  to  the  memory  of  glo- 
rious days  and  noble  martyrs. 

It  has  been  deemed  better  to  recite  the  history  of  the  Third 
Cavalry  from  official  sources,  rather  than  to  attempt  to  revive 
the  fading  scenes  of  memory  after  so  many  years,  especially 
as  the  following  circumstances  will  explain  the  separation 
from  my  beloved  comrades,  so  keenly  felt  by  the  writer. 

When  the  regiment  was  on  duty  near  Yellow  Tavern,  Va., 
27  June,  1864,  I  was  sent  as  Orderly  Sergeant  in  charge 
of  a  party  to  secure  forage.  The  wagons  were  only  partially 
loaded  when  the  enemy  suddenly  firing  upon  us,  in  the  mid- 
dle of  a  wheat  field,  brought  on  a  regular  engagement  of  both 
cavalry  and  infantry.  I  was  shot  in  the  right  arm  and  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Petersburg.  The  result  was  a  long  pe^ 
riod  of  suffering  and  inability  for  service.  T.  B.  Slade  was 
then  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant.  In  January,  1865, 
I  was  detailed  as  unfit  for  active  service  and  ordered  to 
report  to  Captain  Crenshaw  at  Magnolia.  Subsequently, 
being  in  the  retreat  of  Johnson's  army  before  the  greatly 
superior  forces  of  Sherman,  my  military  service  was  closed 
near  New  Salem,  N.  C,  when  the  surrender  of  General  John- 
ston near  Greensboro,  put  an  end  to  operations  in  North  Car- 
olina. 

Many  men  of  distinction  in  our  beloved  State  are  to-day 
proud  of  their  membership  in  the  old  Third  Cavalry,  and 
others  have  passed  away  in  the  fullness  of  years.  Among 
those  still  living  is  a  gallant  young  private  of  Company  K, 
known  throughout  the  country  now,  Julian  S.  Carr,  com- 
mander of  the  State  Veterans'  Association,  and  who  has  been 
one  of  the  most  generous  and  devoted  friends  of  Confeder- 
ate veterans. 


FoKTY-FiRST  Regiment.  787 

It  has  been  said,  "To  have  fought  in  the  cavalry  under 
Hampton  is  to  be  more  than  a  Knight  of  the  Garter."  Let 
me  add — to  have  been  praised  by  Lee,  is  to  have  been  hon- 
ored by  the  greatest  hero  of  the  world. 

J.  B.  Hill. 
Paleigh,  N.  C, 

9  April,  1901. 


FORTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

1.    John  E.  Brown,  Colonel.  3.    T.  J.  Brown,  Major. 

S.    C.  W,  Bradshaw,  Lieut. -Colonel.  4.    W.  C.  Brown,  Surgeon. 

5.    Jas.  E.  Crawford,  Captain,  Co.  B. 


FORTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 


By  major  T.  J.  BROWN. 


The  Forty-second  Nortih  Carolina  Kegiment — Infantry — 
was  organized  at  Salisbury,  IST.  0.,  in  April,  1862.  The 
roster  of  officers  was  as  follows: 

FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

Geo.  C.  GiBBs,  Colonel,  22  April,  1862;  Florida;  resigned 
7  January,  1864. 

John  E.  Beown,  Colonel,  7  January,  1864;  Davie  Coun- 
ty, promoted  from  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Chas.  W.  BeadshaWj  Lieutenant-Colonel,  7  January, 
1864;  Davidson  County;  promoted  from  Major. 

D.  A.  Undeewood,  Major,  22  April,  1862 ;  resigned  20 
November,  1862. 

Thos.  J.  Beown,  Major,  7  January,  1864;  Davie  Coun- 
ty ;  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  E. 

W.  H.  H.  Geegoey,  Adjutant,  22  April,  1862. 

J.  J.  Peathee^  Ensign,  16  August,  1864 ;  Lincoln  County. 

W.  C.  Beown,  M.  D.,  Surgeon,  Davie  County. 

J.  W.  Wiseman,  M.  D.,  Assistant  Surgeon,  Davie  County. 

De.  Wm.  McCoeklEj  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Rev.  Samuel  J.  Hill^  Chaplain,  Iredell  County. 

R.  P.  Bessent,  Quartermaster. 

RoBBET  McCoy,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

J.  V.  L.  RoGEES,  Commissary. 

OFFICEES. 

Company  A — C.  W.  Bradshaw,  Captain,  promoted;  J.  BE. 
Koontz,  Captain,  27  February,  1862,  Davidson  County; 
Jos.  Conrad,  First  Lieutenant,  27  February,  1862,  David- 
son County;  A.  E.  Sieeloff,  Second  Lieutenant,    15    May, 


790  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

1862,  Davidson  Ooxmty;  J.  F.  Sink,  Second  Lieutenant,  26 
March,  1862,  Davidson  County. 

Company  B — W.  H.  Crawford,  Captain,  30  January, 
1862,  Eowan  County,  resigned  in  1864,  having  been  elected 
to  Legislature;  J.  E.  Crawford,  Captain,  1864,  Eowan  Coun^ 
ty,  promoted  from  First  Lieutenant;  A.  D.  Wright,  First 
Lieutenant,  27  February,  1862,  Eowan  County;  E.  W. 
Price,  Second  Lieutenant,  27  February,  1862,  Eowan  Coun- 
ty; J.  F.  Dodson,  Second  Lieutenant,  27  February,  1862, 
Eowan  County. 

Company  C — D.  A.  Underwood,  Captain,  28  February, 

1862,  Stanly  County,  promoted  Major  22  April,  1862;  J. 
A.  Howell,  Captain,  22  April,  1862,  Stanly  County,  pro- 
moted from  First  Lieutenant,  killed  at 'Cold  Harbor  in  1864 ; 
Eobt.  A.  Carter,  First  Lieutenant,  22  April,  1862,  Stanly 
County,  promoted  from  Second  Lieutenant,  promoted  to  Cap- 
tain in  1864;  Martin  S.  Efird,  First  Lieutenant,  1  October, 

1863,  Stanly  County,  promoted  from  Sergeant;  W.  A.  Mor- 
ton, Second  Lieutenant,  11  March,  1862,  Stanly  County;  S. 
D.  Mann,  Second  Lieutenant,  22  April,  1862,  Stanly  County, 
promoted  from  Sergeant;  D.  M.  Hartley,  Second  Lieutenant, 
12  September,  1862,  Stanly  County,  promoted  from  Ser- 
geant. 

Company  D — J.  M.  Eoark,  Captain,  28  February,  1862, 
Eowan  County,  resigned  25  November,  1862 ;  E.  E.  Craw- 
ford, Captain,  25  November,  1862,  Eowan  County,  promoted 
from  First  Lieutenant;  L.  W.  Crawford,  First  Lieutenant, 
25  November,  1862,  Eowan  County,  promoted  from  Second 
Lieutenant;  E.  A.  Eusher,  Second  Lieutenant,  28  February, 
1862,  Eowan  County,  promoted,  killed  at  Petersburg;  H.  L. 
Gill,  Second  Lieutenant,  23  December,  1862,  Iredell  County, 
promoted  from  Orderly  Sergeant. 

Company  E — T.  J.  Brown,  Captain,  21  March,  1862,  pro- 
moted to  Major;  Spencer  J.  Hanes,  Captain,  18  March,  1863, 
Davie  County,  promoted  from  First  Lieutenant ;  W.  J.  Ellis, 
First  Lieutenant,  Davie  County ;.  J.  H.  Peebles,  First  Lieu- 
tenant, 21  March,  1862,  Davie  County,  wounded  on  Chowan, 
retired ;  M.  J.  Davis,  First  Lieutenant,  promoted  from  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant;  Jas.  V.  Brock,  Second  Lieutenant,  Davie 


Foety-Seconx)  Regiment.  791 

County;  B.  T.  Naylor,  Second  Lieutenant,  promoted  from 
Sergeant,  Davie  County. 

Company  F — ^Wiley  A.  Clement,  Captain,  21  March, 
1862,  Davie  County;  J.  H.  Clement,  First  Lieutenant,  1 
September,  1862,  Davie  County;  W.  C.  Willson,  Second 
Lieutenant,  resigned  in  1863  on  account  of  wound;  C.  C. 
Sanford,  Second  Lieutenant,  4  December,  1862,  Davie  Coun- 
ty; W.  H.  Bailey,  Second  Lieutenant,  26  June,  1863,  Davie 
County. 

Company  G — J.  A.  Blackwelder,  Captain,  15  March, 
1862,  Eowan  County;  A.  Leazer,  First  Lieutenant,  15 
March,  1862,  Eowan  County;  H.  W.  Miller,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, 1  July,  1861,  Eowan  County,  transferred  from  Sixth 
Eegiment  and  wounded  twice;  W.  L.  Atwell,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, 1  July,  1861,  Eowan  County,  died  1  August,  1864; 
C.  A.  Miller,  Second  Lieutenant,  5  May,  1862,  Eowan  Coun- 
ty, wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Company  H— J.  M.  Hartsell,  Captain,  25  May,  1862, 
Stanly  County;  E.  M.  Hunnicutt,  First  Lieutenant,  25  May, 
1862,  Stanly  County;  J.  Mann,  Second  Lieutenant,  25  May, 
1862,  Stanly  County;  J.  B.  Turner,  Second  Lieutenant,  25 
May,  1862,  Stanly  County,  wounded. 

Company  I — J.  A.  Earnhardt,  Captain,  7  March, 
1862;  H.  M.  Alford,  First  Lieutenant;  C.  L.  Harris,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant;  C  D.  Eedwine,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Company  K — J.  Y.  Bryce,  Captain,  resigned ;  S.  B.  Alex- 
ander, Captain,  12  July,  1862,  Mecklenburg  County,  pro- 
moted from  First  Lieutenant;  B.  F.  Wilson,  First  Lieuten- 
ant 12  July,  1862,  Mecklenburg  County  promoted  from  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant;  Wm.  Hendrix,  Third  Lieutenant,  died; 
J.  H.  Wilson,  Jr.,  Third  Lieutenant,  resigned ;  Adam  M. 
Ehyne,  Second  Lieutenant,  12  July,  1862,  JMecklenburg 
County,  resigned;  W.  J.  Williford,  Second  Lieutenant,  12 
July,  1862,  Mecklenburg  Coimty. 

Many  of  the  officers  of  the  Forty-second  Eegiment  had  en- 
tered the  Civil  War  at  its  beginning,  so  that  they  were  well 
versed  in  military  science  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  regiment.  Among  these  were  Major  T.  J.  Brown  and 
Lieutenant  J.  E.  Crawford,  of  the  Fourth  Eegiment;  Colo- 


792  North  Carolina  Troops,   l861-'65. 

nel  Jno.  E.  Brown  and  Captain  W.  H.  Crawford,  of  the 
Seventh  Eegiment;  Captain  W.  A.  Clement,  Captain  S.  B. 
Alexander,  Captain  E.  E.  Crawford,  Lieutenant  A.  M. 
Ehyne  and  Lieutenant  B.  F.  Wilson,  of  the  First  (Bethel) 
Eegiment. 

The  Forty-second  was  a  splendid  aggregation  of  men,  com- 
posed of  many  of  the  best  men  of  Mecklenburg,  Catawba,  Ire- 
dell, Eowan,  Davie,  Davidson  and  Stanly  counties.  The  per- 
sonnel was  excellent  and  the  troops  were  well  equipped. 

Immediately  upon  organization,  the  men  entered  upon 
military  life  and  great  stress  was  laid  upon  thorough  drill- 
ing in  company,  regimental  and  brigade  tactics.  Eight 
readily  did  the  men  respond  for  they  had  enlisted  to  do  yeo- 
man's service  for  their  invaded  land. 

The  camp  was  located  on  the  Crawford  Farm  south  of  Sal- 
isbury, and  here  part  of  the  regiment  saw  its  first  active  duty 
in  guarding  the  Federal  prisoners. 

About  1  June,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Peters- 
burg, Va.  Thence  it  was  sent  to  Lynchburg,  Va.,  to  guard 
several  thousand  Federal  prisoners — the  fruits  of  Gen- 
eral T.  J.  Jackson's  Valley  campaign.  These  were  enclosed 
in  the  fair  grounds. 

At  Lynchburg  the  regiment  continued  its  daily,  systematic 
drilling  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jno.  E.  Brown,  and  its 
efficiency  was  largely  owing  to  his  untiring  efforts.  It  was  a 
common  saying  among  the  troops  that  "Colonel  Brown  would 
rather  drill  than  eat." 

In  the  Sixteenth  Century  there  was  a  word  "predie"  in  the 
English  navy  much  stronger  than  our  "ready."  It  meant 
not  only  ready,  but  that  the  ship  was  cleared  and  thoroughly 
prepared  for  action.  And  this  was  just  Colonel  Brown's 
idea  of  what  the  regiment  should  be — thoroughly  prepared 
for  the  terrible  struggle  before  them.  By  constantly  drill- 
ing his  men,  they  were  indeed  made  "predie,"  for  never  did 
his  gallant  troops  miscarry  an  order  through  ignorance  and 
in  every  way  they  reflected  credit  upon  their  commander. 

The  Federal  prisoners  were  exchanged  and  about  1  Au- 
gust the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Eichmond.     On  the  way 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  793 

they  met  several  train  loads  of  Lee's  veterans  who  were  being 
hurried  forward,  preparatory  to  the  Maryland  campaign. 

In  Richmond  it  remained  but  two  days,  when  it  advanced 
to  Drewry's  Bluff.  Here,  being  without  rations  for  thirty- 
eix  hours,  tested  the  endurance  of  the  men. 

The  next  move  was  along  the  turnpike  to  Petersburg, 
where  it  encamped  on  the  same  field  with  the  Forty-fourth 
If  orth  Carolina.  General  J.  J.  Pettigrew  inspected  the  For- 
ty-Second and  highly  complimented  its  soldierly  bearing.  It 
remained  here  drilling  and  performed  outpost  diity  at  City 
Point  and  Blackwater  until  late  in  the  fall  of  1862. 

The  next  move  was  to  Tarboro,  IST.  C,  to  meet  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  from  Little  Washington,  which  resulted  in  a 
slight  skirmish  by  the  advance  guard.  The  enemy  having 
retired,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Franklin,  Va.,  with 
headquarters  at  Blackwater  Church.  There  it  did  outpost 
duty  along  the  Blackwater  from  Ivor  Station  on  the  Norfolk 
&  Petersburg  Railroad,  to  Franklin,  engaging  in  skirmishes 
with  the  enemy  frequently. 

In  January  1863,  the  regiment  boarded  the  train  at  Frank- 
lin for  Garysburg,  where  it  was  quartered  until  spring,  with 
the  exception  of  Companies  B,  E  and  F.  These  were  de- 
tached and  sent  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  E.  Brown  to  the 
Chowan  section  of  North  Carolina  to  rid  the  country  of  the 
"Buffaloes."  This  organization  was  composed  of  thieves  and 
cut-throats  who  claimed  to  be  Union  men  and  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Federal  gunboats,  had  established  a  fortified  camp 
on  the  Dillard  Farm.  From  this  point  they  pillaged  the 
country,  and  carried  their  booty  to  the  entrenched  block- 
house. Several  attempts  had  been  made  to  wipe  out  these 
Buffaloes,  but  each  one  had  proven  futile.  General  D.  H. 
Hill  had  ordered  that  their  fortifications  be  destroyed  with- 
out fail,  and  this  Colonel  Brown  determined  to  do  at  all  haz- 
ards. 

A  force  of  pickets  was  stationed  at  Harrellsville,  another 
near  Coleraine,  and  he  established  headquarters  at  Merry 
Hill  with  pickets  extending  almost  to  Plymouth.  A  plan 
was  soon  formed  for  the  capture  of  the  Buffalo  camp — 
crossing    the    Chowan    just    above    Edenton    after    dark. 


794  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Colonel  Brown  started  with  150  men  in  small  row-boats  to 
surprise  the  enemy  at  daybreak.  The  distance  (about  twenty 
miles),  however,  proved  too  great,  and  at  dawn  his  weary 
soldiers  were  not  in  striking  distance,  but  too  near  to  re- 
treat.  Calling  a  council  of  his  officers,  it  was  decided  to  con- 
ceal the  men  in  the  woods  and  watch  the  enemy's  movements 
until  night,  when  an  attack  would  be  made. 

The  Buffaloes  spent  the  day — Sunday — in  target-shooting 
and  general  carousal.  Towards  sunset  they  began  going  to 
their  homes,  and  the  pickets,  with  orders  not  to  fire,  picked  up 
a  number  of  them.  However,  one  fellow  spied  the  pickets, 
dashed  back  to  the  block-house,  and  gave  the  alarm. 

Immediately  the  long-roll  rang  out,  and  the  plan  was  frus- 
trated for  the  time  being.  In  a  few  moments  the  gunboat 
began  dropping  shells  around  Colonel  Brown's  men,  and 
they  set  out  for  camp,  crossing  the  Chowan  before  day. 
Though  foiled.  Colonel  Brown  was  by  no  means  discour- 
aged,  and  planned  another  expedition.  Within  three  weeks 
he  had  surprised  and  captured  the  camp  at  daylight.  After 
driving  off  the  stock  and  burning  the  buildings,  the  men 
were  withdrawn. 

Making  for  the  row  boats.  Colonel  Brown  hoped  to  recross 
the  river  before  the  Federal  gunboats  suspected  his  presence. 
These  were  patrolling  the  river,  and  to  be  caught  in  the  ene- 
my's country  with  one  day's  rations  was  a  gloomy  prospect 
to  the  Confederates.  However,  the  first  detachment  under 
Lieutenant  Ellis  efi^ected  a  landing  on  the  Bertie  shore, 
within  easy  range  of  the  gunboat.  The  second,  composed 
of  about  fifty  men  of  Company  F,  with  Captain  T.  J. 
Brown,  of  Company  E,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  E.  Brown, 
was  forced  to  put  back  into  the  Rockahock  creek.  They 
were  cut  off  by  the  gunboat  anchoring  in  the  mouth  of  the 
creek.  ISText  morning  200  Federal  cavalry,  sent  from  Gates^ 
ville,  were  in  hot  pursuit,  and  with  the  gunboat  dropping 
shells  all  around  him,  Colonel  Brown  reluctantly  aban- 
doned his  boats  and  set  out  to  meet  450  Federal  marines. 
These  had  landed  from  the  gunboats  to  assist  in  Colonel 
Brown's  capture. 

Upon  learning  that  the  marines  had  landed,   and  were 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  795 

coining  up  to  the  row  boats,  Colonel  Brown  planned  an  am- 
buscade. But  the  surprise  was  for  the  Confederates,  who 
were  fired  upon  before  they  knew  the  whereabouts  of  the  en- 
emy. Colonel  ,Brown  formed  his  men  on  one  side  of  an  old 
field  not  more  than  150  yards  from  the  Federal  troops,  who 
were  concealed  in  the  woods  on  the  other  side  of  the  field.  The 
Confederate  advance  was  as  cool  as  if  on  dress-parade.  The 
Federals  held  their  fire  until  the  Confederates  were  within 
60  or  70  yards  and  then  fir^d  a  volley.  Fortunately,  their 
fire  was  too  high  and  a  storm  of  bullets  sped  over  the  heads  of 
the  Confederates.  A  charge  was  made,  with  the  "Rebel 
Yell,"  which  struck  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  Federals,  and 
they  fell  back  into  the  swamp.  Here  Lieutenant  W.  C.  Will- 
son  and  Private  E.  CoUett  were  wounded,  apparently  mor- 
tally. Both,  however,  reovered  from  their  woimds.  Lieuten- 
ant Willson  became  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and  still  survives. 
It  was  learned  afterwards  that  sixteen  Federals  were  killed 
in  this  fight.  Here  for  the  first  time  the  men  charged  with  the 
"Rebel  Yell,"  and  one  Federal  marine  swore  that  there 
must  have  been  500  Confederates  charging,  as  no  fifty  men 
could  make  such  an  awful  noise. 

A  relief  expedition  was  formed  by  the  men  on  the  other 
shore  of  the  river,  and  Colonel  Brown  and  his  men  were 
brought  out  in  safety  by  midnight. 

This  serious  affair  was  not  lacking  in  the  ludicrous.  Cap- 
tain Leggett  (a  plain  boatman)  had  been  carefully 
instructed  as  to  the  mode  of  passing  the  sentry.  If  chal- 
lenged he  must  answer  "A  friend,"  when  he  would 
be  penuitted  to  give  an  account  of  himself.  Being  in  cit- 
izen's garb  and  unarmed,  undoubtedly  he  would  have  been 
permitted  to  pass.  Having  concealed  his  boats,  he  set  out 
to  find  a  Mr.  Davis,  who  would  notify  Colonel  Brown 
that  the  boats  were  ready  to  bring  him  over.  Leggett  had  not 
gone  300  yards  before  the  keen  click  of  a  rifle  and  the  sharp 
challenge  of  a  sentinel  stopped  him  so  suddenly,  that  he  for- 
got his  instructions.  In  his  extremity  he  cried  out,  "Where's 
Colonel  Brown  ?"  Fortunately  for  both  sides,  Leggett  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Brown's  sentinels,  who  at 


796  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-65. 

once  conducted  him  into  the  swamp  to  Colonel  Brown,  and 
he  delivered  his  welcome  message  in  person. 

From  Bertie  County  the  Eegiment  marched  to  Eichmond, 
Va.  On  the  Darbytown  road  it  threw  up  a  heavy  line  of 
breast-^yorks  under  many  disa'dvantages,  being  constantly  ex- 
posed to  the  enemy's  fire,  whose  repeated  charges  were  re- 
pulsed without  diflficulty. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  fall  of  1863,  the  Forty-second 
was  stationed  at  Petersburg.  It  made  many  long  marches 
on  the  Blackwater  under  General  Koger  A.  Pryor,  watching 
the  enemy  and  preventing  their  committing  any  depredations 
along  the  eastern  coast.  It  was  engaged  in  many  skirmishes 
and  small  battles. 

In  October  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Wilmington,  N. 
C,  under  General  J.  G.  Martin.  Here  it  was  brigaded  with 
the  Seventeenth,  Fiftieth  and  Sixty-sixth  North  Carolina 
Pegiments,  all  being  under  the  command  of  General  Martin. 
They  were  under  the  most  rigid  discipline,  and  were  system- 
atically drilled  in  all  the  manoeuvres  of  military  tactics. 
General  Martin  was  a  West  Pointer  and  was  noted  for  the 
great  efficiency  and  rapid  movement  of  his  troops  in  brigade 
drill. 

7  January,  1864,  Colonel  G.  C.  Gibbs  resigned  as  Col- 
onel, and  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  E.  Brown  was  promoted  to 
his  position.  About  1  February,  1864,  General  Martin's 
Brigade  was  ordered  to  Sheppardsvill^,  N.  C,  which  was 
reached  after  a  long  march.  2  February,  with  the  Paris 
Battery  and  a  few  companies  of  cavalry,  the  brigade  attacked 
the  enemy,  capturing  and  destroying  his  block-house.  Driv- 
ing in  the  Federal  pickets,  a  long  and  gallant  charge  was 
made  through  thickets  and  swamps  across  a  plain  under  a 
galling  fire.  Reaching  their  last  line  of  trenches,  they  were 
driven  into  their  fort  and  a  general  engagement  brought  on. 
They  resisted  stubbornly,  every  inch  of  ground  being  fiercely 
contested,  yet  they  were  routed  in  great  dismay  and  did  not 
cease  running  until  under  the  protection  of  their  guns  at 
Fort  Macon.  In  this  fight  were  captured  ten  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, seventy-eight  prisoners  and  all  the  enemy's  ammunition 
and  provisions. 


Fobty-Second   Regiment.  797 

As  General  Pickett's  movement  on  New  Bern  was  un- 
successful, Martin's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  withdraw  from 
Sheppardsville,  and  returned  to  Wilmington  loaded  with  the 
fruits  of  victory. 

In  April  orders  came  to  proceed  to  Weldon,  N.  C,  and 
then  to  Plymouth,  N".  C,  to  relieve  General  Hoke,  who  was 
threatening  Little  Washington.  After  two  weeks  the  brig- 
ade was  hurried  off  via  Tarboro  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  which 
was  threatened  by  General  Butler  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Appomattox. 

General  Grant  crossed  the  Eapidan  with  a  very  large  force. 
General  Butler  with  a  force  of  40,000,  crossed  the  James  to 
Bermuda  Hundreds,  threatening  both  Richmond  and  Peters- 
burg. On  17  May  the  Forty-second  was  engaged  in  a  battle 
near  Swift  Creek,  General  Whiting  commanding,  in  which 
the  enemy  was  forced  back  to  his  base  of  operations  at  Ber- 
muda Hundreds. 

On  20  May  under  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  an  attack  was  made  on 
the  Federal  breastworks  at  Bermuda  Hundreds.  The  Forty- 
second  took  part  in  a  gallant  charge  of  long  distance,  emerg- 
ing from  a  strip  of  woods  in  which  a  line  of  battle  had  been 
formed  on  the  brow  of  a  hill.  Under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery 
the  regiment  advanced  at  double-quick.  From  breastworks  the 
enemy's  infantry  poured  a  galling  fire  upon  the  Confederates, 
but  on  they  marched  down  a  valley  into  an  open  field  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy,  all  the  advantage  of  numbers,  position, 
and  fortifications  was  on  the  side  of  the  enemy,  but  he  was 
driven  from  his  works,  over  which  the  flag  of  the  Forty- 
second  proudly  waved.  The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
heavy,  being  more  than  15  per  cent,  of  the  men  engaged. 
Among  the  wounded  was  Colonel  Jno.  E.  Browa,  who  re- 
ceived a  severe  scalp  wound  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
position.  This  occurred  just  after  the  capture  of  the 
works.  He  was  carried  to  the  rear  under  a  heavy  fire,  his 
faithful  body  servant,  Dave  Brown  (colored),  assisting  in 
removing  him  from  the  field.  He  never  entirely  recovered 
from  this  serious  injury,  and  it  contributed  largely  to  his 
death  in  later  years.  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  W.  Bradshaw 
assumed  command  of  the  regiment. 


798  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

At  Bermuda  Hundreds  a  division  was  formed,  consisting 
of  the  following  brigades :  Martin's  and  Olingman's  North 
Carolina,  liaygood's  South  Carolina,  and  Colquitt's,  of 
Georgia.  These  were  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
E.  F.  Hoke. 

General  Grant  had  ordered  Sheridan's  cavalry,  supported 
by  Warren's  Corps,  to  seize  the  heights  of  New  Cold  Harbor, 
so  on  1  June  Hoke's  Division  was  ordered  to  Richmond  and 
then  moved  into  the  fighting  line  at  Cold  Harbor. 

On  the  same  day,  General  Anderson,  with  Kershaw's  and 
Hoke's  Divisions,  attacked  Sheridan  and  drove  him  back  to 
Old  Cold  Harbor  and  secured  the  heights  around  New  Cold 
Harbor  and  Gaines'  Mill — an  all-important  movement  for 
the  approaching  battle.  These  positions  he  at  once  fortified, 
for  they  were  the  key  to  Richmond.  The  troops  were  halted 
under  the  fire  of  an  unseen  enemy,  but  a  line  of  skirmishers 
was  quickly  thrown  out  and  the  enemy's  picket  line  was 
driven  out  of  reach. 

General  Martin  formed  his  brigade  en  echelon,  which  en- 
abled his  command  to  take  the  most  dangerous  position  on 
the  line  and  hold  it  under  heavy  fire.  Had  it  not  been  for 
this  well  directed  movement  at  the  opportune  moment,  the 
brigade  might  have  been  repulsed  or  captured.  The  skir- 
mishers of  the  Forty-second  had  captured  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  which  position  they  fortified  during  the  night,  using 
their  bayonets  and  pans,  and  were  ready  for  the  conflict. 

It  is  stated  that  General  Lee  learned  that  the  enemy's  main 
effort  would  be  directed  against  Martin's  part  of  the  line,  and 
sent  to  General  Martin  to  replace  his  brigade  with  a  brigade  of 
veterans.  To  this  General  Martin  replied  with  his  compli- 
ments, saying  that  while  his  brigade  were  not  veterans,  they 
were  trained  soldiers  and  would  hold  their  part  of  the  line. 
That  day's  conflict  showed  the  stuff  the  Forty-second  was 
made  of,  for  they  held  their  line  without  flinching  or  waver^ 
ing..  In  this  battle  the  Confederates  gained  a  decisive  vic- 
tory. In  many  places  in  front  of  the  line  of  battle  the  dead 
and  wounded  were  thick  enough  to  walk  on.  It  is  reported 
that  the  enemy  lost  10,000  men  in  twenty  minutes. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  (3  June)  Company  E,  under  Lieu- 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  799 

tenant  Ellis,  and  Company  D,  under  Captain  R.  R.  Craw- 
ford, were  ordered  on  the  picket  line,  and  a  general  engage- 
ment was  brought  on  at  nightfall.  The  Federals  had  thrown 
up  two  lines  of  earth  works  along  and  in  the  woods  about 
fifty  feet  apart.  As  the  picket  moved  forward,  Geo.  Hanes, 
of  Company  E,  of  Davie  County,  was  killed.  He  was  only 
18  years  old  and  had  been  with  the  regiment  but  a  few 
months.  Company  D,  in  the  darkness,  caused  by  the  heavy 
foliage  of  the  trees  at  that  season  of  the  year  (June),  mounted 
the  enemy's  breastworks  and  fell  into  their  lines  without 
knowing  they  were  so  close  at  hand,  so  that  Lieutenant  L.  W. 
Crawford  and  eighteen  men  were  captured.  Sergeant  Jos. 
Baker,  of  Iredell,  and  Private  Moses  Thomas,  of  Mecklen- 
burg, captured  a  Federal  soldier  and  brought  him  out  of 
his  own  line  of  battle.  The  Confederate  picket  was  estab- 
lished on  the  field  of  battle  with  the  dead  and  dying  all 
around. 

The  Confederate  line  of  battle  was  held  until  12  June, 
when  the  enemy  moved  in  the  direction  of  the  Chickahominy. 
A  few  hours  later  the  Confederates  abandoned  their  trenches, 
and,  crossing  the  Chickahominy,  marched  by  the  shortest 
route  to  New  Market  Heights,  near  Malvern  Hill. 

After  resting  there  a  day  and  no  enemy  appearing,  the 
James  was  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge  below  Drewry's  Bluff. 
By  a  forced  march  the  troops  were  hurried  to  Petersburg,  ar- 
riving there  at  2  a.  m.  lY  June,  and  taking  position  east  of 
the  Hare  House.  A  line  of  rifie  pits  was  completed  and  this 
constituted  the  only  defense  of  the  city  against  the  invaders. 
The  Confederates  now  numbered  about  12,000  men  fit  for 
duty.  Next  day  General  Burnside's  Corps  came  up  and  in- 
creased the  Federal  force  to  65,000. 

General  Hancock,  as  ranking  officer,  had  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Federals.  He  threw  his  entire  army  in  line  of 
battle,  charging  the  thin  line  of  the  Confederates,  and  after 
hard  and  stubborn  fighting  he  succeeded  in  breaking  through 
the  lines  of  Wise's  Legion,  which  was  completely  exhausted. 
They  had  fought  for  two  days  without  sleep  or  rest,  and,  now 
overpowered,  fell  back. 

At  this  moment  Ransom's  Brigade  came  up  and  drove  the 


800  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Federals  back  over  the  works,  thus  re-establishing  the 
broken  lines.  Two  charges  were  made  by  the  Federals,  but 
repulsed.  Warren's  Corps  (Federal)  about  this  time  ar- 
rived, increasing  the  enemy's  force  very  largely.  As  yet 
General  Beauregard  had  sent  no  relief  to  the  Confederates, 
and  this  was  indeed  a  trying  condition  of  affairs.  But  the 
thorough  discipline  and  unwavering  courage  of  Ihe  men  were 
almost  unconquerable. 

General  Beauregard's  engineers  had  selected  a  shorter  and 
better  line  of  defense  of  the  city  (Petersburg),  as  the  Con- 
federate force  was  not  sufficient  to  hold  the  old  and  longer 
line.  The  picket  line  was  put  under  the  command  of  Major  T. 
J.  Brown,  who  was  instructed  to  hold  the  old  line  of  defense 
until  the  army  could  take  position  in  the  new  line  in  front  of 
the  city.  This  he  did,  the  move  beginning  about  midnight 
and  being  completed  at  daybreak,  when  the  picket  line  was 
withdrawn.  As  they  fell  back,  they  were  constantly  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy.  During  the  morning  the  Federals 
attacked  in  solid  columns,  about  100  yards  apart,  advancing 
in  the  open  field.  The  Confederates  had  only  one  line  of  bat- 
tle to  withstand  their  repeated  attacks.  The  Forty-second 
held  a  high  position  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  alongside  of  the  ar- 
tillery and  received  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery 
and  infantry.     At  this  time  their  loss  was  quite  heavy. 

Very  fortunately  General  Longstreet's  Corps  came  up  to 
the  relief  of  the  Confederates,  reducing  the  great  odds  against 
them. 

General  Grant,  defeated  in  his  attempts  to  capture  Peters- 
burg by  fighting,  began  to  starve  out  the  Confederates  by 
his  overwhelming  numbers  of  troops.  The  hardships  through 
which  the  men  had  to  pass  were  far  greater  and  more  dis- 
astrous than  the  battles  they  had  fought.  It  was  simply 
awful. 

The  Confederate  line  of  battle  was  enfiladed  on  the  flank 
by  a  direct  fire  of  the  enemy.  Shells  were  falling  all  around 
constantly.  The  troops  were  on  picket  duty  or  defending 
the  breastworks  every  night.  There  was  no  shelter  from 
heat  or  cold,  except  an  oilcloth  stretched  on  four  upright 
sticks.    The  graveyard  was  in  the  rear  and  the  dead  were 


''.^  *ef 


IQ>" 


^^^^          ~~    '^  ^  " 

vS'    f^ 

^mg§^  ^^m 

^ 

(^ 

& 

%     y-^  t^'^  .  ^ 

;■  •  1^       " 

FORTY-SECOND  REGIMENT. 

1.    S.  B.  Alexander,  Captain,  Co.  K.  3.    R.  R  Crawford,  Captain,  Co.  D 

S.    Jacob  H.  KooDtz,  Captain,  Co.  A.  4.    Spencer  Hanes,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  E. 

5.    A.  Leazer,  1st  Lieut.,  Co.  G. 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  801 

buried  daily.  There  were  no  arrangemeiits  for  cooking  on  tlie 
line  and  all  food  was  cooked  and  brought  from  the  rear,  or 
eaten  raw.  On  this  line  the  regiment  spent  nearly  four 
months,  alternating  weekly  with  Colquitt's  Brigade,  in  order 
that  the  men  might  rest  and  wash  their  clothes. 

The  duty  of  the  Forty-second  was  to  defend  the  salient  on 
Hare's  Hill — the  most  difficult  and  dangerous  position  on 
the  entire  line.  It  was  exposed  to  the  constant  fire  of  the 
mortars,  with  no  chance  to  retaliate.  Their  endurance  was 
most  severely  tried,  but  they  displayed  the  fortitude  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  North  Carolina  troops,  for  they  never  fal- 
tered nor  wavered.  At  this  point  Captain  Spencer  Hanes 
received  a  severe  wound,  which  afterwards  caused  his  death. 
Lieutenant  Rusher  was  mortally  wounded.  The  loss  in  the 
regiment  was  very  heavy. 

About  two  days  before  the  "Crater"  explosion,  the  regi- 
ment was  on  the  exact  spot,  defending  that  portion  of  the 
line.  On  the  day  it  occurred  (30  July)  it  had  been  ordered  to 
this  point  again,  but  the  order  was  countermanded  before  the 
position  could  be  taken.  At  the  time  of  the  explosion,  it 
was  on  the  left  (at  Hare's  Hill)  repulsing  the  charges  of  the 
Federals,  and,  being  in  a  position  to  enfilade  their  line,  a 
deadly  fire  of  rifle. balls  was  poured  into  them  by  us. 

In  October  the  regiment  was  sent  north  of  the  James  to  aid 
in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Harrison,  but  was  not  ordered  into 
action.  It  was  then  placed  on  the  lines  on  the  Darbytown 
road,  where  it  constructed  winter  quarters  and  enjoyed  a 
much  needed  rest.  There  were  several  skirmishes,  but  no 
serious  fighting  done. 

While  in  camp  on  the  Darbytown  road,  the  regiment  re- 
ceived a  well-deserved  compliment.  General  Gracie,  of  Al- 
abama, had  been  killed  at  Petersburg  and  it  was  decided  to 
inter  his  remains  in  Hollywood  Cemetery  at  Richmond.  Gen- 
eral R.  E.  Lee  sent  a  request  to  General  Longstreet  for  the 
best  drilled  regiment  in  his  corps  to  perform  the  last  sad 
military  honors  at  the  funeral  of  the  dead  hero.  The  Forty- 
second  North  Carolina  was  detailed  for  this  purpose.  Under 
their  brave  leader,  with  the  Eutaw  band  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 
the  regiment  set  out  for  Richmond.     General  Kirkland  went 

51 


802  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

with  Colonel  Brown,  as  the  regiment  belonged  to  Kirkland's 
Brigade.  The  movements  and  evolutions  of  the  Forty-second 
were  pronounced  faultless — proving  its  superiority  on  parade 
as  it  had  done  in  line  of  battle.  The  congratulations  and 
praise  of  military  men  in  the  city  were  generously  bestowed, 
some  saying  that  it  was  the  best  drilled  regiment  ever  seen  in 
Eichniond. 

23  December,  1864,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C,  and  the  men  were  packed  in  box  cars  with  the 
thermometer  at  zero.  They  kept  from  freezing  by  building 
fires  in  the  centres  of  the  cars  and  closing  the  doors,  com- 
pelled to  endure  the  smoke  in  order  to  keep  warm. 

Wilmington  was  reached  on  the  24th.  After  being  fed 
by  the  good  women  of  Wilmington,  the  regiment  hastened 
its  march  towards  Sugar  Loaf,  where  a  lively  Christmas  was 
spent,  as  it  was  under  the  incessant  fire  of  about  3,600  shells 
an  hour  from  the  Federal  gunboats. 

The  Federals  having  effected  a  landing  at  Fort  Gatling  on 
the  ocean  side,  were  driven  back  to  their  gunboats,  after  a 
brief  engagement.  Thinking  that  they  would  not  return, 
General  Bragg  ordered  the  troops  back  to  Wilmington.  While 
General  Hoke's  Division  was  on  dress  parade,  the  Federals 
again  appeared  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  their  troops  were  landed 
before  the  Confederates  could  get  back  to  Sugar  Loaf.  Un- 
der the  cover  of  night,  the  Federals  pushed  their  forces  across 
the  peninsula* and  cast  up  a  line  of  works  from  the  ocean  to 
the  Cape  Fear  river,  thus  cutting  off  all  land  communications 
between  Hoke's  army  and  Fort  Fisher. 

About  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  15  January,  Kirkland's 
Brigade  was  ordered  to  drive  back  the  enemy's  pickets,  so 
that  Generals  Hoke  and  Bragg  could  examine  his  position. 
This  was  only  partially  successful. 

That  evening  after  a  desperate  fight,  Fort  Fisher  surren- 
dered and  thus  was  closed  the  last  port  of  the  Confederates. 

Sherman  was  rapidly  approaching  from  the  South  and  this 
necessitated  the  speedy  evacuation  of  Wilmington.  Kirk- 
land's Brigade  formed  the  rear  guard  of  the  retreating  army. 
The  Forty-second  occupied  the  place  nearest  the  enemy,  an3 
was  attacked  on  right,  left,  and  rear  by  their  cavalry. 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  803 

In  a  short  time  tlie  Confederates  reached  Goldsboro,  which 
was  apparently  the  objective  point  of  the  three  Federal 
armies.  Sherman  was  approaching  from  the  South  with 
an  enormous  army ;  an  army  was  coming  from  Wilmington, 
and  also  an  army  from  New  Bern.  These  commands,  if  uni- 
ted, would  overwhelm  and  crush  the  little  body  of  troops. 

It  was  seen  that  these  armies  must  be  fought  separately, 
for  their  forming  a  junction  meant  ruin  to  the  small  army 
of  the  Confederates.  General  Hoke's  Division,  supported  by 
the  Sixty-seventh  and  Sixty-eighth  ISTorth  Carolina,  met  the 
army  from  New  Bern  just  below  Kinston  on  the  southeast 
shore  of  the  Neuse  near  Wise's  Fork.  It  was  commanded 
by  General  J.  D.  Cox. 

On  8  March  the  Seventeenth  and  Forty-second  North  Caro- 
lina Regiments  left  their  line  of  battle  during  the  night  and  at 
dawn  were  on  the  enemy's  flank,  driving  him  back  to  the  rear. 
Between  1,500  and  1,800  Federal  prisoners  and  four  bat- 
teries of  artillery  were  captured.  10  March  an  assault  was 
made  on  their  breastworks,  but  this  proved  unsuccessful. 

As  General  Sherman  had  reached  Averasboro,  it  became 
necessary  to  concentrate  all  the  available  Confederate  troops 
in  his  front.  Hoke's  Division  was  withdrawn  and  sent  to 
Bentonville  via  Smithfield. 

Sherman's  army  was  advancing  in  two  divisions  from 
Averasboro  to  Goldsboro  on  parallel  roads  about  eight  miles 
apart.  The  Confederate  army  was  increased  by  Hoke'? 
Division,  while  Sherman  had  several  times  as  many  troops. 
General  Jos.  E.  Johnston  was  now  in  command  and  on  the 
morning  of  19  March,  the  Confederates  attacked  Davis'  and 
Slocum's  Co'rps  at  Bentonville,  and  driving  them  back,  cap- 
tured about  1,000  prisoners' and  several  guns.  Next  day  Sher- 
man's other  corps  was  thrown  upon  our  left  flank,  which  had 
been  in  the  advance  the  day  before.  On  account  of  this 
movement  and  increase  of  the  enemy,  it  was  necessary  to 
change  the  position  of  the  army.  In  order  to  accomplish 
this.  General  Kirkland  deployed  his  brigade  as  a  skirmish 
line  in  front  of  Sherman's  entire  army,  holding  it  in  check 
until  the  Confederate  army  changed  front  to  meet  the  enemy. 
After  this  Kirkland's  Brigade  occupied  the  centre. 


804  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-'65. 

Many  times  the  Federals  charged  the  Confederates,  but 
each  time  they  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  The  battle 
was  stubbornly  and  fiercely  fought,  at  one  time  being  in  open 
field  with  the  odds  greatly  in  favor  of  the  enemy.  But  the 
brave  Confederates  held  their  own  nobly,  and  the  flag  of  the 
Forty-second  waved  proudly  over  the  line  of  battle  in  this,  the 
last  great  struggle  for  Southern  independence. 

Soon  after  this  battle  General  Lee  surrendered  at  Appo- 
mattox, and  General  Johnston  withdrew  his  troops.  Pass- 
ing through  Kaleigh  13  April  and  Chapel  Hill,  he  surren- 
dered to  Sherman  at  Centre  Church,  Randolph  County,  three 
miles  from  High  Point. 

Such  are  some  of  the  facts  in  regard  to  one  of  the  best  regi- 
ments ever  sent  forth  by  the  South  and  never  did  the  world 
see  finer  soldiers  than  the  Confederate  army.  Without  cloth- 
ing, food  and  ammunition— but  with  gallant  leaders  and 
brave  hearts,  they  kept  at  bay  an  overwhelming  foe  until 
crushed. 

We  say — and  we  say  it  advisedly — that  the  superiors  of  the 
North  Carolina  troops  have  never  lived.  The  watchword 
of  the  Forty-second  North  Carolina  was  "Duty,"  and  wher- 
ever duty  called,  they  always  responded  cheerfully. 

Some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  regiment  have  been 
spoken  of  and  before  concluding  this  sketch,  we  must  say 
something  in  regard  to  the  ofiicers. 

Colonel  Jno.  Edmunds  Brown  was  born  in  Caswell  County 
in  1830,  and  was  educated  at  Hampden-Sidney  College,  Va., 
read  law  under  Judge  Pichmond  Pearson  and  began  practice 
at  Charlotte,  N.  C.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment,  of 
which  he  was  Adjutant.  He  next  became  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel of  the'  Forty-second  North  Carolina,  but  was  in  reality 
Colonel  of  the  regiment  almost  from  its  organization,  though 
he  was  not  commissioned  as  Colonel  until  January,  1864. 

Colonel  Brown  possessed  many  of  the  qualities  of  a  great 
soldier.  His  troops  were  drilled  until  they  had  attained  the 
utmost  proficiency  in  the  m'anual  of  arms  and  when  ordered 
to  execute  a  difficult  movement  at  a  critical  moment,  they 
never  faltered  nor  blundered.     He  demanded  of  his  men 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  805 

exact  obedience,  and  tliougli  he  kept  them  under  the  strictest 
discipline,  every  man  in  the  regiment  loved  him  and  would 
have  followed  him  anywhere.  But  he  could  have  accomplish- 
ed comparatively  little  had  he  not  had  such  a  splendid  set  of 
men  under  him.  He  was  a  meek  and  lowly  Christian — one 
who  practiced  just  what  he  professed,  and  his  influence  in  this 
respect  was  widely  exerted  throughout  his  command,  for  in 
the  Forty-second  Regiment  swearing  was  strictly  forbidden. 
Matters  might  be  as  desperate  as  possible  as  when  the  men 
were  on  the  most  strenuous  duty  before  Petersburg.  He  be- 
lieved fully  in  what  a  recent  commander  said  in  battle,  "Don't 
swear,  boys,  but  fight!"  and  fight  the  Forty-second  did! 
After  the  war  he  successfully  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at 
Charlotte. 

Colonel  Brown  was  the  second  of  three  brothers,  the  eld- 
est of  whom  was  Dr.  W.  C.  Brown,  the  Surgeon  of  the  regi- 
ment. Capable  and  skilful,  he  performed  his  duties  well, 
many  times  exposing  his  life  for  the  men.  When  a  large 
part  of  the  regiment  was  sick  with  measles  at  Petersburg,  he 
attended  them  day  and  night.  So  great  was  the  strain  and 
exposure  that  his  health  was  wrecked,  and  he  died  in  Davie 
County  before  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  third  brother,  T.  J.  Brown,  was  Major  of  the  Forty- 
second  and  the  writer  of  this  sketch. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  W.  Bradshaw  made  a  capable  and 
brave  oflGicer.     Charlotte,  N.  C,  is  his  home. 

Adjutant  W.  H.  H.  Gregory  made  an  excellent  officer. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Hill  was  an  excellent  Chaplain ;  Quartermaster 
R.  P.  Bessent  and  Surgeon  J.  W.  Wiseman  were  faithful  and 
efficient  officers. 

Company  A — ^^Captain  J.  H.  Koontz,  a  good  officer,  and 
after  the  war  was  a  successful  farmer ;  Lieutenant  Jos.  Con- 
rad became  a  mechanic;  Lieutenants  Siceloff  and  Sink  en- 
gaged in  farming. 

Company  B — Captain  W.  H.  Crawford,  an  efficient  of- 
ficer, was  a  farmer,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture for  years;  Captain  J.  R.  Crawford,  a  courageous  and 
capable  officer,  is  a  successful  farmer;  Lieutenant  A.  D. 
Wright,  a  printer  and  farmer;  Lieutenant  R.  W.  Price  has 


806  North  Carolina  Troops,  1861 -'65. 

been  a  successful  business  man  in  Salisbury,  N.  C. ;  Lieu- 
tenant J.  F.  Dodson  a  very  successful  farmer,  has  served  in 
the  Legislature  twice. 

Company  C — Captain  J.  A.  Howell,  a  gallant  officer,  was 
killed  at  Cold  Harbor;  Captain  K.  A.  Carter,  a  successful 
merchant  at  Concord ;  Lieutenant  S.  D.  Mann  became  a  mer- 
chant. 

Company  D — Captain  E.  E.  Crawford,  a  most  capable  of- 
ficer, engaged  in  business  in  Salisbury  and  Winston ;  he  is  a 
very  enthusiastic  veteran  and  an  excellent  citizen;  Lieuten- 
ant L.  W.  Crawford,  a  fine  officer,  went  to  the  University  of 
Virginia  after  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  W.  JST.  C.  Con- 
ference and  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate.  He  has  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Lieutenant  H.  L. 
Gill,  a  successful  merchant  in  Iredell  County. 

Company  E — Captain  Spencer  J.  Hanes  was  an  efficient 
and  brave  officer,  a  successfud  farmer  and  tanner.  He  was  a 
splendid  citizen  and  died  a  few  years  after  the  war  from 
wounds  received  in  battle.  Lieutenant  W.  J.  Ellis,  a  gallant 
soldier,  has  been  a  tobacco  manufacturer  and  assistant  post- 
master in  Winston.  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Peebles  became  a 
fanner.  Lieutenant  J.  V.  Brock  was  a  brave  officer,  a  ster- 
ling man.  He  was  a  farmer,  as  was  also  Lieutenant  B.  T. 
Naylor. 

Company  F — Captain  Wiley  A.  Clement,  a  fine  officer  and 
did  his  duty  well.  He  became  a  merchant  and  farmer.  He 
lived  in  Mocksville.  Lieutenant  Jno.  H.  Clement,  a  coura- 
geous and  capable  officer,  became  a  farmer.  He  has  occupied 
a  prominent  position  in  Davie  County,  having  served  in  the 
State  Senate  for  a  number  of  terms.  Lieutenant  C.  C.  San- 
ford  is  a  successful  merchant  in  Mocksville  and  a  most  excel- 
lent citizen.  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Bailey  also  became  a  mer- 
chant in  Davie  County. 

Company  G — Captain  Blackwelder,  a  brave  officer,  was  a 
successful  farmer.  Lieutenant  A.  Leazer,  an  efficient  officer, 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  section  of  the  State. 
He  has  served  in  the  Legislature,  and  as  superintendent  of 
the  State  Penitentiary. 


Forty-Second  Regiment.  807 

Company  H — Captain  Hatsell,  Lieutenants  Huneycutt, 
Mann,  and  Turner  all  became  farmers. 

Company  I — Captain  T.  W.  Eedwine  became  a  commer- 
cial salesman.  Lieutenant  H.  M.  Alford  was  a  successful 
physician  in  Greensboro,  N.  C.  Lieutenants  Harris  and 
Kedwine  both  farmers. 

Company  K — Captain  J.  Y.  Bryce,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Charlotte.  Captain  S.  B.  Alexander,  a  gallant  officer,  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  engaged  in  farming  in  the 
State.  He  has  served  in  the  State  Senate  and  for  two  terms 
represented  the  Sixth  Congressional  District  in  the  House  of 
Representatives.  He  is  the  father  of  the  famous  Mecklen- 
burg "no  fence"  and  "good  roads"  laws.  Lieutenant  B.  F. 
Wilson,  a  splendid  officer,  was  an  excellent  man.  Lieutenant 
A.  M.  Rhyne  became  a  tinner.  Lieutenant  W.  J.  Williford 
was  a  farmer.  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Wilson  still  resides  at  Char- 
lotte. 

T.  J.  Beown. 
Winston,  N.  C, 
36  April,   1901.